When Harriet Lee blonde, statuesque beauty of the Columbia Network, was crowned “Miss Radio of 1931” and queen of New York Radio-electrical world’s fair she suddenly became one of the radio’s most interviewed personalities. One of the best stories she can
recall from her not so extensive past concerns the time she was fired from her first job. Oddly enough it was her father who fired her. The whole thing was brought about by her girlish hero worship which is amusing when you consider that just a few weeks ago thousands Of people daily emitted “oohs” and “aahs” and gazed reverently at the fair Harriet when they passed her booth at the radio show. Harriet’s hero worship was lavished on Rudolph Valentino. At the time she was working at her first job telephone switchboard operator. In her father’s Chicago automobile salon. Thinking how fun it would be to talk to Valentino she called his Hollywood home one afternoon, even going so far as to reverse the charges. A servant answered, told her that Mr. Valentino was on movie location, and assured her that if the call Was important he would see that Mr. Valentino would telephone her upon his return. “Its very important” she said. Nothing happened until she arrived at home that night when she found her mother in tears. When the return call was not answered at her office, the local operator had found Harriet’s home number and called there. Mrs. Lee answered the call, and hearing that it was California on the line thought at once that something was wrong with Harriet’s grandmother. She had just heard Valentino say “Hello” who is this when, for some reason, she was cut off. Until the young Hero worshipper explained it, her mother still thought something was wrong in the California branch of the family. Mr. Lee decided that it was all too much monkey business so Harriet was fired with honors.
Author Archives: 1920rudy
1 Nov 1931 – Radio Queen fired from first job by father when she phoned Rudolph Valentino
May 1921 Unchartered Seas Review Camera Mag
Metro-Screen Classics Film version of John Fleming Wilson “Unchartered Seas” starring Alice Lake and Rudolph Valentino is released this week. It is the story of a woman who, after suffering years of indignities at the hands of her husband, finally leaves him upon proof that he is a irretrievable coward and turns to “the man she hadn’t married” with whom she endures months of cold and agony while they fruitlessly explore the unchartered Arctic Seas. Privately we don’t care for fake icebergs and unreal miniatures in the scenic, and the terrors experienced by the hero and heroine make one wish that one of the tumbling glaciers would end it all. But when many souls are more dramatic than ours and for them such pictures are made. Let it be said seriously that an excellent aurora borealis effect has been obtained. It is far more convincing than some of the foregrounds upon which it shines. Miss Lake does Lucretia Eastman, the disgusted wife, with dignity. Mature roles suit her better than the flappers in which we have so often seen cast. Rudolph Valentino does little well as Ralph Underwood the romantic explorer who loves the wife of another man.
1 Feb 1923 – Long Distance Telephone Interview with Rudolph Valentino
“Hello Central, give me Long Distance please”. “Long distance”? this is Miss Josephine Stewart editor of the Marion Times-Standard. I want to put in a call for Mr. Rudolph Valentino, Hollywood, California. Yes, Central Rudolph Valentino, you will call him thank you. Thus, began a long-distance telephone interview with Rudolph Valentino at Hollywood Studios. Wires started bussing and thirty minutes later listeners-in heard the following conversation with filmdom’s matinee idol and hear of Paramount’s sensational film Blood and Sand. “Hello, Miss Stewart, ready with Hollywood, California. Valentino’s on the wire “Hello Mr. Valentino”? “This is Rudolph Valentino speaking”. “Mr. Valentino, this is Miss Stewart, dramatic editor of The Marion Times-Standard. I just wanted to ask you a few questions about your film work”. “Alright, I’ll be glad to answer them if I can”. “Well, I’ll be brief and to the point. Pardon me if I am a bit hurried”. “Certainly, go ahead”.
“What is your favorite picture, Mr. Valentino”? I think Blood and Sand, my latest release, is the best, at any rate I enjoyed making it most”. What about “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”? “Well that was a wonderful picture, but I didn’t have the opportunity for dramatic expression as in Blood and Sand”. “Who adapted Blood and Sand to the movie screen”? “Miss June Mathis, and she has handled Ibanez’s story in a remarkably clever manner”. “And who directed. Ro—pardon me, Mr. Valentino most called you Rudolph/ You see I’ve seen you so many times on the screen, I really feel like I know you”. Perfectly agreeable, I’m sure. In fact, I’d a little rather be Rudolph. You were asking who directed? Fred Niblo the man who made the Three Musketeers”. “Isn’t Lila Lee in the cast”? “Yes, and Nita Naldi, too and Miss Naldi’s work can’t be praised too highly. It’s really an inspiration to work with her”. “Do you actually engage in a bull-fight, Mr. Valentino”? “Yes, several times and frankly I’m glad that’s over. When I first went into the arena well, anyway, I won’t forget it soon. Talk about throwing the bull, that bull nearly threw me when we were making the first shots”. “You seem to fit in so well for Spanish parts. Do you like them”? “Sure, I enjoy the Spanish roles. The Spanish atmosphere somehow seems to inspire one to better acting.” “Do you think Blood and Sand will meet the same national success that The Sheik did?” “Well, I can’t say, but the critics that have reviewed the movie have been more than kind. In fact, some of them have grown enthusiastic over the film, and you know how hard-boiled they are. It broke all attendance records at Los Angeles, and Los Angeles fans are rather critical, we feel that this may be taken as a criterion.” “Is Walter Long in the picture?” “I should say he is. And say, he has an exceptionally strong part and does it wonderfully.” “I’ve had several people ask me if you were not once a dancer?” “Oh yes, for quite a while. That’s how I got my chance in The Four Horsemen.” “And how about a love story. Is there one in Blood and Sand?” “A beautiful one. It’s of the exotic Spanish type and there are situations in that will leave you breathless with excitement. By the way, when is Marion showing the picture?” “Friday and Saturday of this week at the Bonita and the whole town seems interested. We are all anxious to see it.” “Pardon me, but your time is up.” “Good bye Miss Stewart and regards to Marion.” “All right, Central. Goodbye Mr. Valentino.”
05 Jun 1922 – Nazimova Not Fugitive
Silent Film Actress Nazimova denied today she was a fugitive from California where she was wanted as a state witness in the trial of Rudolph Valentino who was charged with bigamy. The actress was enroute to New York, said she had not tried to evade service of subpoena in Los Angeles. “I delayed my trip by two weeks in order to give authorities a chance to serve me she said, then I left”. Nazimova accompanied Valentino to Mexicali where he married Winifred Hudnut.
7 Jun 1925 – Concerned
No Dear Reader, Clara Bow is not making faces at Mrs. Rudolph Valentino next door. Miss Bow was busy working at FBO and merely pouted a bit when asked to pose. But when she saw it, she exclaimed “Isn’t that too cute for words” Not the puckering lips and bohemian bob. Delightful
5 May 1923 – Mineralava Contest Fitchburg, MA
7 May 1926 – How Rudy Celebrated His Birthday
A dinner at the home of Pola Negri, in Beverly Hills, was held in honor of Rudolph Valentino’s birthday. On being questioned as to what birthday it would be Rudy sagely remarked that he would be just one year older than he was last year, and it is not a matter to be laughed about. Pola has not yet left for that love test separation, her last reason being that the rate of exchange abroad, or her health, or the health of Madame Eleanora Chalupez, Pola’s mother had suddenly determined the actress to cancel her sailing arrangements a week ago. Rudy meanwhile, is staying up nights reading stories to find one for his next picture. He is considering a Spanish story.
