Tweet 1940 U.S. Census index for California now available

There's already been a thread on here about the 1940 U.S. census being available, but Family Search just published the first index for the state. It's free as are the images themselves:
https://familysearch.org/1940census/1940-census-california/

One of the interesting things is that it asked for their 1939 total salary, so I'd like to see the comparisons. I was just looking at Ward Bond - he earned $1,200 in 1939, which an inflation calculator tells me is $18,635 today - not much! Plus he had a live-in maid who earned $600, so I'm now sure how he afforded that.

There's already been a thread on here about the 1940 U.S. census being available, but Family Search just published the first index for the state. It's free as are the images themselves:
https://familysearch.org/1940census/1940-census-california/

One of the interesting things is that it asked for their 1939 total salary, so I'd like to see the comparisons. I was just looking at Ward Bond - he earned $1,200 in 1939, which an inflation calculator tells me is $18,635 today - not much! Plus he had a live-in maid who earned $600, so I'm now sure how he afforded that.

Wow, that little search thing works so well. It can't even find Preston Sturges, and I know his address.

Update: after grinding away a good ten minutes, it gives out a 404 not found. It'd be easier and more profitable looking up the areas where Hollywood folk congregated and go from there.

There's already been a thread on here about the 1940 U.S. census being available, but Family Search just published the first index for the state. It's free as are the images themselves:
https://familysearch.org/1940census/1940-census-california/

One of the interesting things is that it asked for their 1939 total salary, so I'd like to see the comparisons. I was just looking at Ward Bond - he earned $1,200 in 1939, which an inflation calculator tells me is $18,635 today - not much! Plus he had a live-in maid who earned $600, so I'm now sure how he afforded that.

That's curious--if he was in all those John Ford movies that year you'd think it'd be more. He was even in GWTW that year! And a brief bit in SON OF FRANKENSTEIN.

I just tried this with several members of my wife's family, with total success. There were several errors of dates and spelling, but that was, of course, the fault of the original census taker.
I didn't see anything regarding income.

I just tried this with several members of my wife's family, with total success. There were several errors of dates and spelling, but that was, of course, the fault of the original census taker.
I didn't see anything regarding income.

The far right columns on the page are for income, I think the column numbers are 82-84.

It works better the more nonspecific you get. Still didn't find Sturges. I suppose travel could be a reason for some missing entries. I found my father even before the search as I had known which city he lived in.

Wow, that little search thing works so well. It can't even find Preston Sturges, and I know his address.

The page he is on has very bad handwriting, so his name was misindexed (as "Stanger"). I did a search on just the first name Preston, born in Illinois and it came up.

Clark Gable and his wife, Carole Gable, were both making "$5,000+". I suppose that was emphasis on the plus. [Unfortunately, I'm now finding that $5000+ seems to have been a standard entry for anyone earning over that amount - shoot!].

Clark Gable and his wife, Carole Gable, were both making "$5,000+". I suppose that was emphasis on the plus. [Unfortunately, I'm now finding that $5000+ seems to have been a standard entry for anyone earning over that amount - shoot!].

Yeah, 5000+ is the top of the range. Interesting to see the house prices.

I found Ronald Reagan bit on this Census

So did Ronnie and Jane Wyman also made 5,000

I think in 1939 Gable was averaging $7,000 a week.