Monthly Archives: Apr 2014
“When …
“When asked why she married Valentino, she replied, “It was simply a case of California, the glamour of the Southern moonlight and the fascinating love-making of the man.”–Jean Acker, Former Wife of Rudolph Valentino
27 Aug 1930 – Rudolph Valentino owed some money
A minor Hollywood sensation has been caused by the suit which Alberto Guglielmi and Maria Strade brother and sister of the late Rudolph Valentino have filed against George Ullman. They charge Ullman with mismanagement of the estate and diverting large sums of money for his own use. Ullman, in the answer he has filed to the charges, says that, far from mismanaging the estate, he found it in a debt-ridden condition and spent years ironing it out. It was Valentino who wrecked his own estate, Ullman claims, for he died leaving debits of over $60,000 into a surplus of $100,000 to be distributed among the heirs. A court hearing will take place at the end of this month, and a decision reached as is whether Ullman shall be permitted to continue as manager and executor of the estate.
Over Forties say star of silent film star Valentino still “sends them”
Thousands of Eastern States women of all ages took time off this week to see a short film of the screen’s greatest Latin lover Rudolph Valentino. White –haired Mrs. Fleur, 71 of Panania, was one of those who went to see “The Story of Rudolph Valentino” a 12 minute feature. “I saw him in the old days and I would like to see more of him” she said. “He was a real sheik. He got me in. Clark Gable maybe all right, but he’d never match Valentino.” One sighing woman, aged about 40, said: “When I saw him years ago I said, ‘What a man’ I still say. Matronly women who went to see the film seemed to still revere the (to them) passionate, overpowering Valentino. But many would not have known him in the ‘flapper* era denied having seen him before. And, now, the views of the present-day girl: Usherette Beverleigh Ralion 17, who has seen the film several times, said “I think he is nice. But we did not see enough of him really.” Eighteen year old Pay Cleary, who has seen Valentino films before, said: “I think Rudolph is lovely. I want to see him again. Her young escort, who took a day off from work specially: to see Valentino, said: “I think Valentino is very good. He was beautifully built.”
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5 Apr 1932 – Raid on Valentino Tomb
Ghouls, It Is suspected, have planned to steal the body of Rudolph Valentino for commercial reasons. Five men were recently discovered by a florist attempting to break into the crypt containing the embalmed body of the famous film star, says the Hollywood correspondent or the London “Daily Express.” Death has failed to free Rudolph Valentino from his admirers. Men and women have chipped pieces from! the vault In which his body lira. A marble pedestal has been broken and its chip cold as “Valentino Souvenir.” Visitors to the Cemetery have been restrained from crawling through the stained-glass window two feet from the crypt. And a woman living in the heart of United States recently divorced her husband because he would not let her live near the Valentino Mausoleum.
19 May 1922 – Did Not Use Hudnut Name
The name of Winifred Shaughnessy, used by the second bride of Rudolph Valentino, whose wedding at Mexicali, Mexico, last Saturday prompted the investigation now under way, is her real maiden name, it has been learned from her friends. She is the step-daughter of Richard Hudnut, the NY perfume manufacturer. Her mother, formerly the wife of a Salt Lake City man, later married Edward de Wolfe, brother of Elsie de Wolfe. The De Wolfes, went to San Francisco where Winifred’s mother became an interior decorator and a year ago she married Richard Hudnut. Winifred at one time attained popularity in the Metropolitan Ballet of New York, and later went to South America with the Kostoffs in a dancing act. More recently under the name of Natacha Rambova she was an art director in motion pictures at Hollywood, in which occupation she was engaged at the time of her marriage to Valentino.
Aug 1926 – Valentino’s Last Words Gave Cheer
The actor closed his thoughts against death almost to the end. His last rational words were spoken to Joseph Schenck, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the United Artists Corporation, who was at his bedside at 6:00 a.m. “Don’t worry Chief,” said Valentino. “I will be all right.”
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1914 – Cornelius Bliss, Jr Former employer of Rudolph Valentino
On 15 Apr 1875, Cornelius Bliss Jr. was born and raised in New York City. When his father died he left an estate of over $4million of which he received $1,377,935. Cornelius followed his father into politics. In 1897, he graduated from Harvard. On 23 Dec 1913, Rudolph Valentino arrived in New York. Rudolph had a degree in Science of Farming from the Royal Academy of Agriculture. In 1914, through the help of the Commissioner of Immigration, he gave Rudolph Valentino a Letter of Introduction to Cornelius Bliss, Jr for a job as an apprentice gardener on his Long Island estate. Cornelius wanted his grounds landscaped in Italian. Subsequently Cornelius Bliss hired Rudolph Valentino. Rudolph felt this job was beneath him. Rudolph would study the manners of the rich and famous and because of this he often neglected his work. Rudolph wrecked Cornelius’s motorcycle when he crashed it into a tree. The crashed was caused because Rudolph was very near-sighted and could not see far enough ahead to drive safely. Rudolph was called into Cornelius’s presence and was told he no longer required his services because he changed his mind about the Italian gardens he initially wanted done. So Rudolph went to New Jersey and worked as a gardener but again Rudolph felt the position beneath him and he quit. Rudolph had no place to go. Therefore, he went back to see Cornelius Bliss about getting his old job back. Cornelius admired Rudolph for his honesty and had set him up with an allowance and training with the Central Park Commissioner. Upon completion of his training Rudolph went to register to take his exam he found out that he needed to be a citizen of the United States. Because Rudolph realized that citizenship was granted after living 5 years in the United States he could no longer accept further help provided by Cornelius Bliss, Jr. So Rudolph Valentino once again, left his employ.
In World War I, Cornelius Bliss Jr. was a member of President Wilson’s War Council, and in World War II, was chairman of the Red Cross advisory council on war activities. Also, he was a director of the Bankers Trust Company [since at least 1917] and of the New York Life Insurance Company, and an honorary Governor of New York Hospital.
The next time Cornelius Bliss, Jr. saw Rudolph Valentino again, as he became famous was at his funeral. On 27 Aug 1926, Cornelius Bliss Jr. arrived in New York on the White Star Liner Majestic to attend Rudolph Valentino’s funeral. Asked whether he had seen qualities that would make him famous he replied: “My recollection of him was that he was a fine young man.” On Mar 1949, Cornelius Bliss, Jr. died. The “Oak Hill” Georgian Revival Estate (1916) that Rudolph Valentino worked no longer exists.
18 Jan 1933 – Miss Rambova Home Ransacked
Thieves entered the Majorca home of Natacha Rambova, former wife of Rudolph Valentino and ransacked the establishment. They stole a revolver but did not steal any jewelry. Authorities investigated on the theory that the thieves were looking for papers. Miss Rambova would not comment.
1920 – First National Pictures
First National Pictures was an American motion picture exhibitor and producer. The company, founded in 1917 as First National Exhibitors Circuit, Inc., was formed by the merger of 27 independent motion picture exhibitors. First National was the idea of Thomas Tally. In 1917 they made million dollar contracts with major starts of the day such as Mary Pickford and Charles Chaplain they were the distribution company for Rudolph Valentino’s picture “Alimony”.. In 1919, First National was reincorporated as Associated First National Pictures Inc. In 1922 it opened a studio in Burbank, California, and began producing its own films. Between 1920 and 1925 the company was known as Associated First National Pictures. In 1926, they built a 62 acre studio lot in Burbank. In 1928 Warner Bros. absorbed First National by acquiring the Stanley Company, First National’s majority stockholder. Shortly thereafter, Warner Bros. moved its principal production facility to First National’s Burbank lot. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, First National was still considered a separate production entity and remained so at least until the early 1930s.
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17 Nov 1925 – Closeups
Mrs. Rudolph Valentino will start work immediately on “Do Clothes Make the Woman” for P.B.O.
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24 Oct 1926 – Valentino Manager Writes Valentino’s Story
A book dealing with intimately with the late Rudolph Valentino was issued yesterday by Macy-Masius, publishers. The book by S.George Ullman, for many years the film star’s manager. It is called “Valentino as I knew him.” A preface has been written by O.O. McIntyre. Mr. Ullman traced Valentino’s career and devoted much space to explaining his last illness. On the question of whether Valentino was engaged to Pola Negri at the time of his death, Mr. Ullman said that “he never told me so, and I never asked him”. The author however, added that Valentino had vowed never to re-marry until he had finished his movie career.
“The biggest th…
“The biggest thing that Rudolph Valentino did was die”..–Alice Terry, Lead actress Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse on his death.
7 Feb 1948 Restauranteur Holds Valentino IOU
Manhattan restauranteur Sam Slavin still holds an IOU from Rudolph Valentino for $10.00. He lent Rudy money when the great silent film star worked in Slavin’s place for $12.00 a week. Valentino many times tried to buy it back, but Slavin always refused to sell. And its still there, framed, on the wall of the restaurant.
All About Rudolph Valentino 
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