The Milwaukee Journal – Jan 14,
1945
Wow! $10,000 Every Week
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (AP) Edgar Bergen his earning 10 grand a week for his radio show Sunday nights at 7. That is
pretty nice moola for talking to one’s self for approximately 20 minutes. Pressed
for confirmation of this amazing stipend, the shiny domed parent of Charlie McCarthy replied:
“Yes, I guess it’s true although I
never see the dough. As a matter of fact, it doesn’t seem any different than
when I was earning $1,000 a week.”
The NBC ventriloquist reflected
that he was none too happy about his success, although he admitted a bit of the
ham entered into this statement.
“I have to be nice to so many
people—sponsors, agents, producers, directors, and—” he
added with a grin—“newspapermen. In the old days when I was playing night
clubs. I only had to be nice to the manager, and if I didn’t like, I could move
on to another date.”
“And back in those days, I could
take a rest whenever I wanted,” he moaned, “but now I sometimes go for two or
three months without a day off.”
Bergen says he never dreamed a ventriloquist
would ever be making so much money.
“My only ambition and joy was to
get out in front of an audience and make ‘em laugh”
The comedian’s magnificent office
in the swank Sunset strip area belies any notion that he lacks shrewdness in
money matters. Here he directs his film and radio work as well as a thriving
alfalfa and date ranch, a booming pottery business, an airport and aviation
school and a foundation to finance nurses’ training.
But often he will stand on the
porch of the office and gaze at a near-by café where he was making $300 a week
a few years back and sigh:
“Ah, the good old days.”
Comments
Post a Comment