Monthly Archives: Feb 2018

A romantic day for the world’s leading romantic man Rudolph Valentino admits he is a romantic in his own temperament as well as in the parts he takes place before the camera. He loves his wife in spite of the interviews each of them has given to the papers, but the girl of his dreams still is to be discovered.  He intends to cherish this dream without becoming cynical about it whether he ever finds her or not.

“A gentleman must be a gentleman even to his wife” – Rudolph Valentino, 11 Nov 1925

Rudolph Valentino enjoyed the finer things in life and one of them was sailing. Rudy was a member of the Catalina Island Yacht Club and decided to have a yacht build especially for him.  He commissioned Wilmington boat builder Fellows & Stewart to build it.  The yacht was 32 feet outfitted with rose-shaped lamps, mohair-velvet cushions with teak-and-holly- floors, sleeping 8 persons.  The Joe Fellows Boat Shop was established in 1896 by English immigrant Joe Fellows, his business manager, Victor Stewart, and the well-known naval architect Joseph Pugh. In 1917, the Terminal Island-based establishment at Pier 206 was incorporated as Fellows & Stewart, Inc. In 1926 when completed he named his boat the “Charade” that was also called “Phoenix”.  He only used the boat 3 times prior to his death.  In December 1926, Harvey Priester a well-known millionaire purchased the yacht for $2300. At that time the initial sale was revoked because 25 percent of the bid was not deposited. In 1930, his boat sold for $3000 cash in San Pedro Harbor. As of Apr 1970, Valentino’s boat was now owned by his former stand-in docked in Marina Del Rey.  In 1975, it was advertised for $28,000 but it is unknown who was the purchaser. In 1976, it was advertised again for $20,000.   In 1977, Valentino’s yacht was bought by banker Tom Gray and in 1981 he was selling for $47,000. Since that time, there has been nothing found as to whatever happened to his yacht. Remains a mystery…