Famous Players Lasky Studios, Long Island, NY is where Rudolph Valentino filmed two movies there, one of which, “A Sainted Devil” (1924), was ostensibly set in South America but was shot in part in Farmingdale and “Monsieur Beaucaire,” a 1924 Rudolph Valentino movie shot in Queens, NY.
As a reminder on 23 August, Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Los Angeles, CA will once again be the site of the Annual Rudolph Valentino Memorial Service. This is THE OLDEST continuing memorial service in Hollywood paying homage to beloved silent film actor whom this blog is dedicated to – Rudolph Valentino. Like many of his fans, I will be watching via Facebook Live. Please join me as I mourn, remember and never forget.
Rudolph Valentino the greatest screen lover of them all, will have been dead 50 years on Aug 23 but his spirit lives again in a modest walkup apartment on Hollywood Boulevard. Nearly hidden among the shops is a flight of stairs leading to one of the movie colony’s strangest sights a shrine to Valentino. Its keeper is a stunt man who worked with the late star and so admired Valentino that he changed his own name to Rudolph Florentino. After Valentino died, Florentino devoted his life to collecting the stars photographs, momentous and 10 years ago organized them into a shrine. “I want to keep his memory alive” explained Florentino as he showed me through the three rooms bedecked with Valentino possessions. In our room are Valentino’s fencing rods and the hat he wore in the “Four Horsemen” I even tried on Rudy’s navy-blue yachting jacket or at least the NY Tailor’s label inside the jacket said it was his Valentino was a slender, small man. “I have all his publicity photographs” said Florentino bringing out stacks of negatives. The second room holds a library of books about Valentino plus the actor’s own scrapbooks. The third room is decorated like a sheik’s tent – sand, oriental rugs, and lamps and low couches and tables. On the bed where Florentino himself sleeps are Valentino’s cane and sword. Two candles burn beside a picture of Valentino. His scarves, homburg hat, and spats are above the bed. Florentino proudly wears a silver wrist chain inscribed “To Rudy from Rudolph 1925”.
There are three sad months out of the calendar year. July was when Rudolph Valentino started to feel ill. August was when his health started to decline. He had an Italians superstition regarding going to a doctor. Inspite of maintaining a healthy lifestyle minus the smoking, drinking and eating, he died. September was when he was buried.
Although it’s always a poignant moment when one stops to reflect on 23 Aug when Rudolph Valentino passed from this mortal world and has remained in our thoughts ever since.
Millions all over the world as far as moving pictures learned with deep regret his passing. A very young man of intense feeling and earnestness, Rudy held his place, without a noted rival in his field. He came to this melting pot country seeking a better way of life. While his early struggles were known he made his way by hard work and talent that showed the world on the silver screen just how remarkable he truly is. Life on this mortal earth was brief but it was not wasted.
Of course, there were certain people who took advantage of his death by garnering free publicity or behind the scenes stole his personal effects. Colleagues, friends, relatives all talked about how he will be missed, what a great guy and friend he was. No one had a bad word to say about him. Back at Falcon Lair all his animals anxiously waiting for his return but would eventually realize that he was never coming back. They were sold to pay off his debts. Greed was the word of the day. Studios who insured their star for allot of money got that back. United Artists insured Valentino for $250,000. Did they truly care about their star? This author seriously doubts that. All they cared about was how he could make a profit and how they could drum more publicity for their studio now that he was no longer alive. Hollywood ensured they let the fans know they mourned their big profit-making star. Behind the scenes, they were truly glad he was gone since they didn’t have to worry about the drama or the tantrums he caused when things did not go his way while making pictures. So-called friends were backstabbing Valentino and thought now he is no longer alive I can step in and become the next big star. Seems this is no different that when Wally Reid did a victim of the studios. But the people that truly cared and mourned Valentino were his fans. They grieved and were not afraid to let others know how they felt. Fast forward to the twenty-first century, he still has fans of all ages and on 23 Aug, the Valentino community will mourn again.
As both a fan and collector of ephemera on Rudolph Valentino, I often wondered what would happen to the items, I spent a lifetime of collecting. For example, I was able to a mass an entire collection of books about Rudolph Valentino to include the estate catalogue. Because of my health and age, I decided to donate both books and some Valentino ephemera to the Los Angeles Public Library, Frances Goldwyn Meyer Branch Special Collections. This library is developing special collections that will be available for anyone wanting to know more about Hollywood History. They were very happy and receptive to receiving the items and now I am relieved to know future researchers can go to this particular library and read books about Valentino that I collected and cherished.
While this subject may not be on a lot of persons minds, it should be. Because not everybody is going to want what you dearly love to collect. Also, trying to find a new “home” or “sell” will not be easy which is the whole point of this article to get you to think about the now and not when it’s too late.
Beauty saith an ancient and as yet undiscovered proverb is the bunk. Rudolph Valentino than whom there is not one more soul-stirring, is not handsome in the strictest sense of the word. The back of his head is to straight up and down. Unless the camera gets him at just the right angle, his nose is too broad for beauty. Yet he is the idol of femine America. Ask a half dozen women why they find Valentino charming, and you will receive different responses. For example, one Los Angeles woman says “I think Valentino is perfectly fascinating. He looks as if you couldn’t believe a word he said to you”. “Those gorgeous eyes” another will say. Dark and enigmatic, like dull coals smouldering, yet ready to leap suddenly into passionate flame, they are undoubtedly part of his lure. His swash-buckling swagger and courtly bow so stiff and different from other American men, are other Valentino points. But probably his most potent charm, most responsible for his vogue, is his irresistable mingling of naivete and sophistication. Sometimes he looks exactly like a small boy who is being abused, so that every woman instinctively wants to pat his shiny black head and comfort him. Yet she knows perfectly well that he is not a small boy and that it would be rather like patting dynamite. Which of course, makes him very interesting.
All About Rudolph Valentino 
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