Monthly Archives: June 2024

Aimee Crocker was born in 1864, Sacramento, California to parents who came from privileged backgrounds and scandalous headlines seemed to be an inherited trait.  When Aimee became older, she seemed to attract attention wherever she went.  When New York City became the epic center for the rich and powerful our young lady became a true socialite. She was young, rich, two dangerous combinations. A true Gilded Age beauty in New York City high society. She socialized with the upper 400 hundred and was friends with society matrons of the day such as Mamie Fish, Caroline Webster Schermerhorn, Tessie Oelrich and Alva Vanderbilt Belmont.  However, the Gilded Age was struggling to survive and yet Aimee somehow managed to make local gossip headlines with her antics. Aimee had no need to worry about money. However, for poor immigrants newly arrived to Ellis Island for a chance at the American dream. One of these immigrants eventually became famous in his own right but success would take time for Rudolph Valentino to achieve.  As a young immigrant who could not speak English, he realized that in order to become successful he needed to make connections, get a job, learn English and survive in anyway he could.  A born survivor and dreamer, he found his way to work at the world-famous Maxim’s de Paris. This restaurant was expensive and everything was done on a grand scale that they were noted for.  Julius Keller, proprietor of Maxims knew that rich Americans savored a European Continental style atmosphere, and they introduced a ballroom that offered dancing with paid dancers and music.  To attract a certain clientele, it was important to hire young and handsome men who knew how to dance and treat and cater to a paying public. Eventually Valentino found work there and often gave “private dance lessons” and soon became a local favourite.  One of these such fans Aimee would become known for participating in private dance lessons in one of the rooms set aside. Eventually she would let it publicly be known he was her protégé’.  However, as time went by Valentino would make his way to California and the rest is a true Hollywood story. 

Reference:

Photo is courtesy of Tracy Terhune Collection