This is my first post.
Lon Chaney, Jr's. 4-F status during World War II has puzzled me. Even correspondence with biographer Gary Don Rhodes failed to unearth any reason for Chaney's inability to enlist. I have read that Chaney wanted to apply his documented culinary skills as a Marine Corps or Army cook as he made Son of Dracula.. Other posts speculated that alcohol abuse would proscribe enlistment, but that problem was not an obstacle for other troops during the 1940's. Chaney's age, thirty-seven in 1943, made him technically eligible for the draft, but no man much over thirty (especially with children) received "Greetings from Uncle Sam." Chaney may have had other physical limitations in the eyes of recruiters, including height and weight. I have further read that Universal may have been reluctant to spare Chaney's contractual services, but many actors received preferential duties that allowed them to stay close to Hollywood. Maybe a 4-F designation for Lon Chaney, Jr. has become an assumption as opposed to a fact. That Chaney never served in the military, despite his well-documented wishes to the contrary, may have led to erroneous conclusions.
Also, during Chaney's tenure at Universal, he clearly earned a great deal of money. During a period of American History that allowed a family to live comfortably on $500.00 a month, Chaney's four digit weekly salary should have provided him with security. While historians noted that Chaney owned "Lenny's Ranch," they also recorded the actor's fascination with stockpiling frozen meat products and canning all kinds of other food. Chaney's nature seems conservative in the economic sense. In Universal Horrors, the authors implied that Chaney was not financially set when his contract was not renewed following House of Dracula. In light of the fact that the actor soon found employment as a freelancer, I am curious whether or not Chaney struggled following his stint at Universal.
Many thanks for considering these questions.
Andy in Vancouver, WA.
Lon Chaney, Jr's. 4-F status during World War II has puzzled me. Even correspondence with biographer Gary Don Rhodes failed to unearth any reason for Chaney's inability to enlist. I have read that Chaney wanted to apply his documented culinary skills as a Marine Corps or Army cook as he made Son of Dracula.. Other posts speculated that alcohol abuse would proscribe enlistment, but that problem was not an obstacle for other troops during the 1940's. Chaney's age, thirty-seven in 1943, made him technically eligible for the draft, but no man much over thirty (especially with children) received "Greetings from Uncle Sam." Chaney may have had other physical limitations in the eyes of recruiters, including height and weight. I have further read that Universal may have been reluctant to spare Chaney's contractual services, but many actors received preferential duties that allowed them to stay close to Hollywood. Maybe a 4-F designation for Lon Chaney, Jr. has become an assumption as opposed to a fact. That Chaney never served in the military, despite his well-documented wishes to the contrary, may have led to erroneous conclusions.
Also, during Chaney's tenure at Universal, he clearly earned a great deal of money. During a period of American History that allowed a family to live comfortably on $500.00 a month, Chaney's four digit weekly salary should have provided him with security. While historians noted that Chaney owned "Lenny's Ranch," they also recorded the actor's fascination with stockpiling frozen meat products and canning all kinds of other food. Chaney's nature seems conservative in the economic sense. In Universal Horrors, the authors implied that Chaney was not financially set when his contract was not renewed following House of Dracula. In light of the fact that the actor soon found employment as a freelancer, I am curious whether or not Chaney struggled following his stint at Universal.
Many thanks for considering these questions.
Andy in Vancouver, WA.
