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In the early afternoon, while the crowds were still moving past the casket, H.E. Hall a volunteer organist, seated himself at a pipe organist, seated himself at a pipe organ recently installed in the funeral parlors and played softly. Some women were moved to tears. Mrs. Jean Commo, 150 East Third Street, who said she was also from the little Italian town where Valentino was born, was one of the first to arrive in the morning. She carried a bronze crucifix which she laid upon the coffin. A woman and two girls were overcome in the course of the first day. The first was Irene Newman, 22 years old, of 8 Lewis Street, Yonkers. She walked up to the casket when she crumpled to the floor. Drs Fuch and Silver of Reception Hospital attended her. She quickly recovered and went home. Dolly Toth, 19, of 143 Knapp Ave, Clifton, NJ fainted as soon as she entered the room. She was revived and with determination walked up to the coffin, where she fainted for a second time. Rose Tviteva, 14, 449 East 185^th Street, Bronx, became hysterical while waiting to view the body. Restoratives were applied to her, and she was sent home. Drs Silver and Fuchs, aided by Dr. Sterling Wyman of the Flower Hospital, and Margaret Dare a nurse of Metropolitan Hospital, were in charge of an emergency hospital established near the bier. Mrs. Richard Rees Whittlemore, widow of the Baltimore Bandit who was recently hanged for murder was recognized in the funeral line last night at 2100 hours. She was in morning and said she had come to pay her respects to Valentino, whom she said she had met once when he was a judge in a beauty contest to select “Miss Baltimore”. Others who were present were James Corbett, former heavyweight champion, and his wife. One of those who wept at the bier was Nellie Savage. She said, she had appeared with Valentino in “The Sainted Devil” and “Monsieur Beaucaire.” The room in which the body laid was nearly filled with floral tributes sent by members of stage and screen. Charlie Chaplin sent a wreath of orchids with a card that read “To Rudy, whom I loved as an artist and a friend”. Other wreaths bore cards from Lois Wilson, Harold Lloyd, Nellie and Mae Savage, Cecil Lean and Cleo Mayfield. June Mathis scenario writer, who was credited by Valentino with having aided him in getting his part in “Four Horsemen”, sent a wreath of roses. Other floral pieces included a spray of lilies from Lola Pierce, one of Valentino’s first dance partners; dahlias and roses from Sam Goldwyn, gladioli, and orchids from Marilyn Miller; a blanket of yellow roses from Joseph Schenck and Norma Tallmadge.  Isabel Clough, 58 West 165^th Street, who went to view the body, carried a spray of gladioli. Explaining why she brought her flowers, she said “I figured that this would be a clever way to get in. I have always admired Valentino and so I thought I would buy him some flowers so that I could see him at once”. Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford returning from Europe were deeply shocked by a radio message they received at sea from Mr. Schenck. Miss Pickford said they would not go the funeral parlors but would attend the funeral. She said she preferred to remember Valentino as she saw him last in life. Morris Gest and Rex Ingram were also returning and were deeply shocked by his death.  Two women were arrested at the funeral parlors on charges of disorderly conduct on Tuesday after they had gotten into arguments with policemen were let off with suspended sentences by Magistrate Goodman in the West Side Court. One wept all the time she was in court and refused to give her name and address. The other defendant described herself as Mrs. Sarah Kaplan, 30 112 East 139^th Street.

Today, we mourn the loss of silent film star Rudolph Valentino who died 100 years ago. His popularity has never faded with new generations of people who appreciate what he brought to the movie screen.

Today, if you’re in the LA area please stop by Hollywood Forever Cemetery where the oldest continuing memorial service Hollywood event will take place at 12:10 pm (PST), Cathedral Mausoleum. I recommend arriving early.

Today, if you’re in the online community the Memorial Service will be shown “live” on Facebook. I will be online watching.

Today, many will be privately grieving his passing and you are not alone.

It’s during this time, I remember my dear friend Pam Colt, who passed away 5 years ago this month. I met her at a Valentino Memorial Service and we became good friends. Also, I would like to personally acknowledge the passing of Ms. Emily Leider a noted author. Lastly Donna Hill a bright star who unselfishly gave and will be forever loved by all who knew her.

One more thing, thank you to the ALL subscribers and supporters of this blog. I appreciate all of you. It has been a labour of love with this blog and my YT channel.

The serenade of a thousand years ago. The song of a hushed lip. Lives forever in the glass of today. Wherein we see the reflection of it. If we but brush away. The cobwebs of a doubting faith.

I read words he wrote; I watch movies he made; I listen to music about him. It has been one hundred years since his passing and the grief I feel is still fresh.

I could not have known him and yet, after all the years I have spent reading about him, looking at his photographs, watching his films, and trying to separate the real man from the legend that grew around him, there are times when I feel as though I did know him.

That may sound strange. How can we feel that we know someone we never met? Perhaps it happens when we spend enough time following the fragments of his life he left behind in moving images in which we can still watch him smile, walk across the room, become angry, fall in love, dance the tango and wish his dance partner were us. There are photographs, interviews, newspaper stories, and recollections from people of a bygone era who personally knew him. Yet a century later those fragments remain.

Rudolph Valentino has been dead for 100 years and during that century other people have continually rewritten him with truth or lies. While using fiction to remake fact and making money off this.

 A century separates us; I care about the man who once occupied a now empty space. When 23 August comes around and I know others may see nothing more than the anniversary of the death of an old movie star. I feel something different. I feel the absence of someone I never met. He’s still in my heart and after all these years I will never apologise and never forget.

There are three sad months out of the calendar year. July was when Rudolph Valentino started to feel ill. August was when his health started to decline. He had an Italians superstition regarding going to a doctor. Inspite of maintaining a healthy lifestyle minus the smoking, drinking and eating, he died. September was when he was buried.

Although it’s always a poignant moment when one stops to reflect on 23 Aug when Rudolph Valentino passed from this mortal world and has remained in our thoughts ever since.

Millions all over the world as far as moving pictures learned with deep regret his passing. A very young man of intense feeling and earnestness, Rudy held his place, without a noted rival in his field. He came to this melting pot country seeking a better way of life. While his early struggles were known he made his way by hard work and talent that showed the world on the silver screen just how remarkable he truly is.  Life on this mortal earth was brief but it was not wasted.

Of course, there were certain people who took advantage of his death by garnering free publicity or behind the scenes stole his personal effects. Colleagues, friends, relatives all talked about how he will be missed, what a great guy and friend he was. No one had a bad word to say about him. Back at Falcon Lair all his animals anxiously waiting for his return but would eventually realize that he was never coming back. They were sold to pay off his debts. Greed was the word of the day. Studios who insured their star for allot of money got that back. United Artists insured Valentino for $250,000. Did they truly care about their star? This author seriously doubts that. All they cared about was how he could make a profit and how they could drum more publicity for their studio now that he was no longer alive. Hollywood ensured they let the fans know they mourned their big profit-making star. Behind the scenes, they were truly glad he was gone since they didn’t have to worry about the drama or the tantrums he caused when things did not go his way while making pictures. So-called friends were backstabbing Valentino and thought now he is no longer alive I can step in and become the next big star. Seems this is no different that when Wally Reid did a victim of the studios. But the people that truly cared and mourned Valentino were his fans. They grieved and were not afraid to let others know how they felt. Fast forward to the twenty-first century, he still has fans of all ages and on 23 Aug, the Valentino community will mourn again.