Probably very few people are as recognizable as Bela Lugosi, the original Dracula!
When you think of what an impact this man had on the horror film genre, you would expect that he must have made a lot of money. Not true!
The fact of the matter is, he died a pauper! In fact, Frank Sinatra paid for his funeral! You can read his entire bio here!
I thought you might like to see just what kind of money he made for his films, just as a matter of history!
Salary
Glen or Glenda (1953)
$1,000 (flat rate, 1 day)
$1,000 (flat rate, 1 day)
Vampire Over London (1952)
$5,000 (flat rate)
$5,000 (flat rate)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
$1,500 per week with ten week guarantee
$1,500 per week with ten week guarantee
Genius at Work (1946)
$5,000
$5,000
The Body Snatcher (1945)
$3,000
$3,000
The Return of the Vampire (1944)
$3,500
$3,500
You'll Find Out (1940)
$3,750
$3,750
Son of Frankenstein (1939)
$4,000
$4,000
S.O.S. Coast Guard (1937)
$1,500
$1,500
Postal Inspector (1936)
$5,000 (flat rate)
$5,000 (flat rate)
The Invisible Ray (1936)
$4,000
$4,000
The Raven (1935)
$5,000
$5,000
Phantom Ship (1935)
$10,000
$10,000
Mark of the Vampire (1935)
$3,000
$3,000
Gift of Gab (1934)
$250 (1 day)
$250 (1 day)
The Black Cat (1934)
$3,000
$3,000
Chandu the Magician (1932)
$2,500
$2,500
White Zombie (1932)
$800/week
$800/week
Dracula (1931)
$3,500
$3,500
Not much money for such a well known icon, wouldn't you say? Certainly not by today's standards!
Just a little halloween history for you today!
Now let's have some fresh coffee on the patio, OK?
8 comments:
I had no idea he was in so many films. The only one I saw was Dracula.
Hey Bob...
In many of his films, he was cast in minor roles or in supporting roles.
In fact, in some he didn't even speak! His face did most of the work for him!
Thanks for coming by this morning!
Makes you wonder why actors are paid so much today. Too much!
In 1939 my grandpa worked at an East Texas sawmill for $1.00 a day ... call it 10 cents an hour.
He said for $5.00 you could fill the bed of a pickup with staple foods .... flour, meal, beans etc
40 hours a week x 52 = 2080 hours
10 cents x 2080 = $208 a year
$4000 dollars = 19.23 years pay at the sawmill
I am truly sorry that Mr Lugosi did not make enough money to buy a shack on a few acres and save a few dollars so he would not die a pauper.
Amazing how little they got paid,but if you think about it that was big money back then. Look at vlad's break down.
Coffee for me please.
Hey Momlady...
Some of them are certainly paid more than I think they're worth, but that's just my opinion! What do I know?
Crazy...just crazy!
Thanks for coming by today, my friend!
Hey Vlad...
I'm sure that the fact he was addicted to heroin didn't help at all! Even back then dope must have been expensive!
His whole story is a sad one, as many in Hollywood are!
Thanks for coming by today!
Hey JoJo...
Guess so much depends on the lifestyle you live and the area you live in!
Makes you wonder what he would get paid in today's market!
Thanks, sweetie, for coming by today!
Bela is one of my favorite actors. (not the original Dracula however, Max Schreck was as Count Orlock , but that's a different story)
His story is just as said as my favorite author E.A.Poe
I didn't know he was an addict how sad. A few singer were also addicted to heroin.
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