
1920 – Once to Every Woman
Initially released 6 Sep 1920 and re-released again in 1922, “Once to Every Woman” is about a selfish spoiled young woman named Aurora Meredith. Aurora has become well-known locally in her small village as having a wonderful singing voice. One day, a wealthy woman has decided to take her under the wing and sponsor her continued music studies in Italy. After three years, on the continent, her sponsor dies, and she is without funds to complete her final year. Desperate Aurora accepts financial aid from an unknown young Italian man named Juliantimo. A bargain was struck and in lieu of payment she will marry him. When Aurora starts to gain fame and recognition, she starts to avoid Juliantimo. Soon with an offer to appear in New York City she immediate accepts and leaves to avoid the young Italian. During a singing appearance she meets the Duke of Devonshire who is besotted with her. The duke asks for her hand in marriage and arranges for her to have a leading role in an upcoming opera.
The night of the opera’s premiere Juliantimo appears in her dressing room and demands she uphold her bargain and marry him. Aurora refuses and orders him out. A discouraged Juliantimo returns to his sea and the Duke of Devonshire along with his fried Phineas Schudder to watch her performance. Towards the end of the performance Aurora notices from the stage Juliantimo has a gun and he fires a shot at her and misses. Turning the gun, he commits suicide. Aurora traumatized by all that has happened and discovers she has lost her voice. Doctors tell her she will never sing again and once her so-called friends find out leave her utterly alone. Aurora realizes how false and fleeting fame is and realizes without love life has no meaning. In the meantime, Phineas has become famous as a poet and tries to see her to no avail. Aurora returns to hearth and family and realizes there is no place but home for her. Aurora’s mother has become ill and begs for her to sing a song and in her sorrow doesn’t realize she has her voice back. But it doesn’t matter she remains in her local village and realizes that giving back is the greatest happiness of all. She starts teaching the village children and reunites with Phineas who gives her all the love she has been looking for.
Directed by Allen Holuber, Jewel Productions, released by Universal Pictures. The lead role was Dorothy Phillips, Rudolph Valentino, Margaret Mann, William Ellingford, Elinor Field. This is a lost film.

In 1919, Pickford-Fairbanks Studios was first introduced to Hollywood. This site was eventually renamed United Artists Studios however, there had been an almost decade long feud between Mary Pickford and Samuel Goldwyn. This studio still exists today and is under a new name “The Lot”.
Rudolph Valentino never worked at this studio but he was friends with the owners.

While Rudolph Valentino did not work at the Goldwyn Studio there is a connection to its owner. Mentor June Mathis was a writer who worked on the movie Ben Hur. In 1926, studio head Samuel Goldwyn was a last minute replacement pallbearer at his funeral.

Nita was an exotic persona and played up to this portrayal.
Natacha Rambova Influence on Paul Poiret Dress Designs
Paul Poiret had many famous women he felt inspired by when designing his beautiful dresses. None more fashionable than Natacha Rambova. Here are several designs who have a Rambova like influence.
“It was my inspiration of artists, in my dressing of theatrical pieces, that I served the public of my day”..Paul Poiret Dress Designer


Dec 1924 – June Mathis & Silvano Balboni Marriage

December bride June Mathis, screen writer and Silvano Balboni cinematographer were married at the Mission of St. Cecilia, Riverside, California.
Their whirlwind romance is an outstanding example of how two professionals seemed destined to meet and have their own happily ever after. It started out as mutual admiration between the couple. Silvano amazed at the personality of Miss Mathis and June was attracted to his dynamic looks. Now they are looking forward to collaborating on future movie projects.
This happily married couple were married until June’s early demise in 1927. Their last movie collaboration was “The Masked Woman”. For this project, June Mathis wrote and directed, and her husband had to come in and finish what his wife started.
1924 – Letter to Editor

Dear Editor,
Rumors vague and rumors that border on fact are current just now about the proposed celluloid “Romeo and Juliet”. In the movie world of fans the burning question is not “Who will play Ben-Hur but who will play Romeo”? Shakespears tragedy of youth and love not some scenario writers will be the motion picture and tha casting of it is of paramount importance. Julie seems to rest with Norma Talmade or Mary Pickford with scales tipping in favor of Norma. Right now, the screen Juliet will inevitably be compared with Jane Cowl’s portrayl last season and she will have to reach the heights to stand the test. But Romeo? Truly may we ask wherefore art thou Rudolph Valentino? That is the final answer is myself who doesnt go over raptures over his name because Rudy is romance to the core. Can you imagine Romeo with Gene O’Briens Irish grin? Therefore, Valentino with his Latin manner and easy grace is the logical choice. Rudy is the great love and the only other suitable candidtate for this role is Ivor Novelio. He like Rudy is to the manner born. but is he will enough known? there is a large matter of conflicting contracts in the way of every fans dream of Talmadge-Valentino “Romeo and Juliet” but there is still hope. Perhaps some day in the not so distant future will see a dream come true.
Yours. Maude Baum, NYC

Lasky Studios was home to famous movie stars and it was Rudolph Valentino who made movies here and in NY. This article from 1923, talks abit about the studios and thought it would be an interesting piece of Valentino history.
1927 – Rudolph Valentino Former Leading Ladies


This article is about Metro Studios where Rudolph Valentino worked on several of his most notable movies. June Mathis was the head writer at Metro.
Nov 1926 – Speaking of Pictures
That last sad journey of Rudolph Valentino across the continent increased my respect for the human heart of the American public. Crowds don’t wait patiently in the rain at four o’clock in the morning out of idle curiosity. The roots of such action strike deeper than that. All the way, from New York City to Los Angeles, the throngs that assembled for a glimpse of the funeral train paid their one greatest tribute to his memory – the tribute of silence. Somewhere on the prairies of Iowa as the dawn which “Rudy” was leaving behind forever began to grey the east, the train paused for a moment on a tiny hamlet. An elderly woman rushed up and thrust a bouquet of flowers into the hands of the porter. “For him” she expolained and then the train was on its way. Reverence not curiosity, does things like that.
25 Mar 2021 – Former Employee of Natacha Rambova Died
It is with sadness that we announce the death of Helen Elizabeth Ducey, on March 25, 2021, at age 96. Born and raised in New Milford, CT, the daughter of Francis and Mary Reynolds, Helen was a lifelong resident of New Milford. Helen was predeceased by her husband of 68 years, Edward M. Ducey. She is survived by her three children and family members: her daughter, Susan Boldi and son-in-law, Fred; her sons, Richard Ducey and Kevin Ducey; grandchildren, Erin Boldi, and Christopher Boldi and his wife, Amanda, and their son, Mario, who is Helen’s only great-grandchild. She is also survived by one sister, Jane Lathrop of New Milford. She was predeceased by her sisters Marion Taylor and Lorraine Keilty. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, John Ducey and his wife Nancy. She leaves many nieces and nephews. A special thank you goes to Cindy Day who gave friendship and care to Helen for such a long time. Helen developed a love of dogs as a young girl, and that love continued as an adult with her beloved poodles and Yorkies. Helen developed a fashion sense starting when she was a schoolgirl helping to make her own stylish outfits. Her fashion style matured along with the times and she often modeled outfits at the boutiques and department stores at the urging and to the delight of the salespeople. She had a green thumb and, along with her late husband, Edward, filled the outdoors with beautiful trees, shrubs, and flowers; yellow roses were her favorite flower. She and Edward also loved to decorate both inside and outside every Christmas, and their house overflowed with holiday decorations.
One of the many happy times in Helen’s life was when she served as chauffeur/companion to Natacha Rambova, a dancer, playwright, and actress who was once the wife of silent screen star Rudolph Valentino. Miss Rambova, who lived in New Milford for several years prior to her death, didn’t drive, so she relied on Helen for transportation and companionship on weekly trips to New York City, as well as on brief outings around New Milford. When Natacha Rambova passed Helen took care of her beloved Yorkies.
31 Oct 1928 – I slept in Valentinos Haunted House



1923 – NY Editor Gossip
The Valentinos have been in New York for a few days this month. We have lunched with Mrs. Valentino and heard the most interesting things about their Dancing Tour. The crowds have been tremendous more so in fact, that she has been forced to go thru into the theaters ahead of Rudy. Attempting to enter the theater with him, she has had her clothes torn. He later goes thru the crowd with an erstwhile football player on either side of him. A veritable center-rush. Because they played small towns many one-night stands they enjoyed the luxury of a private car and Mrs. Valetnino says it amazed her how people in the little towns and hamlets they pssed thru knew when their train was due. The train stations would be crowded and the cheers alwys brought Signor Valentino out on the observation platform. One night her aunt who travelled with them return to the track where their car was and found young girls balanced on top of soap boxes, peeping thru the windows. Such popularity must often be difficult to bear. The shads of their car had to be pulled down all the time unless they desired an audience. Even breakfast has to be eaten by electric light. There are many times when gold fish have more privacy than motion picture stars. Mrs. Valentino is incidently one of the most beautiful women we have ever seen. Her face is pale and her lips are painted scarlet. Her hair is braided and coiled silkly over her ears. This day she wore a severly tailed dress of a rough gray and black with a smart black turban. Unusual and striking in appearance.
1924 – Letter to Editor
Dear Editor,
Isn’t there something you can personally do to rid us of the Valentino imitators? They are becoming awful here to say the least. In the first place the very fact they are willing to be groomed to take his place proves them incompetent; if they have any ingenuity at all they would create a vogue of their own and not try to shine by his reflected glory. they remind us of what Fabre refers to in his “bugology” as procressaries because of their habit of following one another. No single one of his imitatiors has sufficient initiative to branch out and create a demand for himself. To begin with, few are so capable as Rudolph Valentino and from general observation and consensus I should say that he can handle more work turn out better work and earn larger dividends on the capital invested then any other star in his profession. Therefore, it would seem that he is worth conceding a few favors to. Don’t lets lose the greatest artist we have on the screen today just because of a broken contract with Lasky Studios. Some laws are stupid and mean’t to be broken. Why not break this one for the good of the public or at least for the amusement of the public? Famous Players-Lasky corporation is incapable of treating him fairly, why don’t they release him and let some other movie film company sign him up? Anything so that we may have our brilliant and lovable Julio and our handsome and gallant Gallardo back again. Hoping you will interest yourself in our behalf.
Very Truly,
August Temple, Bay City, MI
29 Sep 2021 – Silent Movie Day Blogathon
On 29 Sep 2021, has been named as National Silent Movie Day and for those who truly love this genre of film will be a treat. I will be participating in the blogathon so stay tuned. There are allot of exciting events that will allow us all to enjoy so when you get a chance go to this website: National Silent Movie Day
Enjoy..
15 Sep 1924 – NY Gossip






























































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