Monthly Archives: Aug 2017

Did Rudolph Valentino have brother in Lincoln?  Frank Fisher, 38 years 1145 L Street says he is the famous movie star’s next to oldest brother. He had been estranged from Rudolph, he said. Fisher has lived in Lincoln for five years, he said Tuesday afternoon, and he is employed now as a mechanic at the Yellow Cab Company. Fisher was located on the second floor of the cab company garage by a Journal Reporter late Tuesday afternoon. The man, whose resemblance to photos of the former celebrity is striking, was at work on a cab. He was clad in grease stained coveralls.  “I don’t want to say anything about it”, he declared with a strong Italian accent, when asked about his mooted relationship to Valentino. “He was my younger brother. I packed my things Monday to go to New York when word came he was dead then a telegram came from mother at Hollywood telling me to stay here, that Rudolph’s body would be sent back to Hollywood.  “I don’t want to make any fuss about it”. Fisher continued when drawn on by questions, much against his will. “Rudolph and I have been practically strangers since I saw him last in 1915 when he worked in a golf ball factory in Chicago. Three years ago, he wanted me to come to Chicago and he said would apologize to me. Then this divorce business came up and spoiled it all for I was thinking some of meeting him”. Fisher did not say what caused the contention between himself and the alleged brother, but left it to be gathered that it was personal and entirely within the family. He intimated that treatment accorded the mother by Rudolph turned him against the famous one.  “I don’t want to say anything about it”, Fisher repeated. “Mother said she would wire me very soon and if she thinks it’s all right I will not object to some publicity. But it’s all up to her. She’s the only woman in the world I would trust”. Further information about the relationship between the Lincoln mechanic and the idol of the movies whose death has shaken the movie world, was drawn from Fisher by close questioning and is largely contained in the following: There were three boys and two girls in the family by the name of Gugliemo. The Americanized form is Glacier. Fisher’s alleged name is Francisco Fisheer Gugliemo, but he contracted it to Frank Fisher Glacier. Rudolph middle name was Valentino and his last name Glacier, it was alleged.  Fisher was born in New York,  he said, and after that his parents went back to Italy where Rudolph was born. The latter was quite young when he immigrated to this country. The father died about ten years ago, Fisher said, and the mother had lived in Omaha for several years, but recently went to Hollywood.  R.D.S. Bennett, manager of the Yellow Cab Company in Lincoln declared Tuesday evening that he believed Fisher is telling the truth when he said he is Valentino’s older brother. “Frank has worked for me two years, and he has confided more or less in me. However, I wouldn’t break his confidence by snitching. He doesn’t like to talk about Valentino.”  Bill Tierman, proprietor of another garage where Fisher worked from last January until last Sunday night, going back to the Yellow Cab Company doubts the two are brothers. “I heard alittle about it here in the garage and I think Fisher maybe a relative in some degree, but not a brother.” Fisher was divorced from his wife a short time ago. Attorney Maggi served him. It appears that they reunited for when sought by a reporter at his boarding place, neighbors said that Fisher had gone out walking with his ex-wife. “They knew nothing of his claim to brotherhood with the famous Rudolph”. Fisher was found Tuesday after more than an hour’s tracing of a rumor.  Walter Eaton, policeman remarked that Valentino had a brother in Lincoln. Given the “horse laugh” Eaton was anxious to vindicate his statement and he called the friend who had told him. Next came the friends sister, sister’s friend, and friends friend. Finally, the reporter inquired at the taxi company and gained audience with Fisher who declared simply that he was Rudolph’s brother. Biographical sketches of Valentino mentioned a brother and sister in Italy, but none in America.  Leased wire dispatches Tuesday indicate that Valentino’s mother died several years ago and is buried in France.

It was with boiling indignation that I read the letter “Disgusted. It was full of disrespect to the late Rudolph Valentino yet your correspondent stated, “Far be it from me to say anything disrespectful of one who has passed through the great divide”. We women know what was at the bottom of the letter – pure jealousy,, then he states that the flapper must save some excitement.  Let me tell him that if his life has been as clean as was that of Valentino then he has something to be proud of.

Marie Crossett, Adelaide, Australia

As it must to all men, death came to Rudolph Valentino, sheik. Sitting in his apartment at the Hotel Ambassador, Manhattan last week, he suddenly clapped a hand to his side, fainted.  Taken to the Polyclinic Hospital, he was operated on for appendicitis gastric ulcers. Over the wires of the world buzzed the news. At the hospital door bushels of flowers arrived. Two extra operators were detailed to the telephone switchboard to answer calls concerning Mr. Valentino (when a rumor that he was dead circulated, the calls came at the rate of 2,000 an hour). A maid delivered an Irish linen bed spread and pillow case marked “Rudy” with a card from Jean Acker.  From Paris, came a message “Pray God night and day for your recovery”signed Winifred Hudnut. “This is Pola Negri in California said a brittle voice on the telephone, “How is Mr. Valentino”? Thousands, hundreds of thousands of women everywhere were asking “How is Mr. Valentino”? Mr. Valentino developed pleurisy. He was worse, said one of the telephone girls. Then a blood transfusion was performed. He was resting, sleeping. As dawn came, he awoke seemed restless. At last a scrawled note was laid before the switchboard operators.  One Lucy Vanderbilt broke down sobbing into her instrument “he’s dead, Rudy’s dead”. Traffic was choked with thousands as his body was taken to the undertakers. The corpse of Rudolph Valentino adequately educated, never actually in want, he roved from one occupation to another until fame and wealth came to him as Julio of “The Four Horsemen” When he died he was insured in favor of his producer Mr. Joseph Schenck for $1,000,000.

The death of Rudolph Valentino is one of the greatest tragedies that has occurred in the history of the motion picture industry.  As an actor he achieved fame & distinction; as a friend he commanded love and admiration.  We of the film industry, through his death, lose a very dear friend, a man of great charm and kindliness.