Feeling and not acting is what lifts a love scene from commonplace to the realms of realism and romance. Rudolph Valentino 1923
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4 Jul 1938 – Jimmie Fiddler, Hollywood
In this morning’s mail arrived a letter and an enclosure which leaves me gasping. The note to me reads “I couldn’t find Mr. Rudolph Valentino’s address, so I am writing him in your care. Will you kindly forward it to Mr. Valentino. Thank you.” The enclosure reads “Dear Mr. Valentino, Congratulations! I saw your performance in The Son of the Sheik and thought you were grand. This is the first picture I ever saw in my life, and I hope to see every picture you make from now on. Keep up the good work!” I am still trying to decide whether there actually is someone ignorant of Valentino’s death or whether I am being ribbed.
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27 Jun 23 – Attach Valentino’s Money
An attachment against the property of Rodolph Valentino was ordered last week in the Supreme Court in a suit brought by his former attorney, Arthur B. Graham, for a balance of $48,295 alleged to be due for services and disbursements. The attachment was granted on the ground that Valentino is a resident of Hollywood. In his affidavit, Mr. Graham alleges that he conducted all of the actors litigation with the Famous-Players Lasky Corporation, excepting the writing of the brief on the appeal to the Appellate Division; that he represented Valentino in supplementary proceedings brought by his creditors; went to other cities, talked to newspaper men and thus prevented adverse criticism. Mr. Graham values his services at $ 65,000 and says that he has received but $ 20,000. A copy of the attachment was delivered to the uptown branch of the National City Bank where Valentino is said to have a good sized deposit, a copy was also served on The Mineralava Company, which is said to be interested in Valentinos present dancing tour. Other law suits in which Valentino is involved includes an action started last week by he and his wife, Winfred Hudnut through their attorney, Max Stauer, who applied for an attachment against Scotts Preparations, Inc., claiming $ 7,000 for the termination of a series of beauty contests and dancing exhibitions in which they and one of the Scott products were featured. This tour terminated in Chicago two weeks ago , after the president of the company, asked the director of the tour about reports of a $ 2,500 guarantee for each nightly dancing exhibition given by the Valentinos. They were engaged for seven weeks, they explained, in asking for the attachment, at a salary of $ 6,000 a week and $ 7,000 at the end of the tour. The $ 7,000 is the reason for the application for the attachment. The Valentinos had hardly applied for this attachment when Arthur Butler Graham, of 25 West Forty-fifth street, had served a writ of attachment on Pokres for one weeks salary of the Valentinos. Mr. Graham, who represented Mr Valentino last year in the litigation with Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, I started an action to recover $ 40, 000 from Valentino, which he claims for expenses in that case
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15 Feb 1931 – Séance Audience Hears Spirit of Rudolph Valentino
The spirit of Rudolph Valentino returned to earth a few days ago during a séance in a New York office building and announced to a gaping audience that he died not die a natural death, the United Press has been informed. Valentino said, however, that he wasn’t going to tell on anybody that he didn’t want to cause any suffering. The séance was arranged by Major R.T.M. Scott, Chairman of the American Society of Psychical Research. George Wehner described by Major Scott as a reliable medium served as the personal medium for Ruth Roland, former film star and friend of Valentino was one of the guests. Major Scott took an attractive stenographer with him to the séance although he admits she caused him considerable worry. He was afraid the girl would become nervous upon hearing the dead actor’s voice. But it turned out that she wasn’t afraid at all. Twelve questions were put to Valentino and he answered all of them. He was asked “How did you die” “Was there any justification in the rumors of shooting or poisoning”? The spirit of Valentino answered “That is very difficult for me to answer while speaking through the medium, “because it involves many people. I will say that I did not die a natural death. I am not going to divulge any names, I have no desire for revenge, contrary to the opinion of most people have about Italians. I do not wish to have any suffering come to them more than will come to them through natural causes. We cannot do wrong without suffering the consequences. I think I would relieve them if I could”. He was asked if he saw Lon Chaney around anywhere and if any other from people were with him. The spirit answered “he is hobnobbing with Barbara LaMarr and Olive Thomas, I have seen Milton Sills, I have seen my dear June Mathis and her mother Jennie. Valentino said, according to Major Scott that he goes back to Falcon Lair in Hollywood occasionally but not to “haunt it”. He returns to walk around the place and live again the old days in memory. He asked for his opinion for film stars. He answered he does not think anyone has reached Charlie Chaplin’s place in comedy, Gloria Swanson is a great artist and Greta Garbo’s voice is wonderful for expressing emotion. The spirit remarked that if he were alive today, he would go into the talkies. “I had a good voice”, he said or “so people said” Valentino, according to Major Scott said that he is not settled in this present sphere, but he doesn’t know whether he is going to be moved around or not. He believes, however, he will eventually progress to “higher planes”.
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2017 – Rudolph Valentino Gifted Bracelet
In 2017, Antiques Roadshow, was in Harrisburg, PA and during the taping someone brought in a Rudolph Valentino gifted bracelet. This sterling silver bracelet was addressed to someone named “Rudy” and they did not know who this was. The appraiser valued this bracelet at $2,000– $3,000.
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24 Jul 1925 – Women Resented Him
No one would attempt to deny that Rudolph has had a severe setback. One of the very big directors told me it was his opinion t hat Rudy had been all but assassinated professionally by the too open attempts to advertise him as a lady-charmer. According to the opinion of this director, that has been Rudolph’s trouble. He was touted so heavily as “the great lover of the movie screen” that has aroused the resentment not so much of men as of women. Valentino and other famous silent stars of the time. In every one of these famous stage careers there is a core of tragedy, of futility, and failure.
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23 Mar 1943 – Noted Restaurateur Died
Jacques Bustanoby, 62 who could and did produce dinners at a $100 a plate, who introduced New York City to the novelty of restaurant dancing and established the first bar for women, died yesterday. Once he employed the late Rudolph Valentino at $10 a week to dance with customers.
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12 Oct 1952 – Rudolph Valentino Stand-in
Cerutti’s bartender, Nick Morgen, had a glamourous past for awhile when he worked as a stand-in for Rudolph Valentino when the great lover was the heart throb of the nation.
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10 Mar 1980 – I worked with Rudolph Valentino
For a time in New York, I worked with Rudolph Guglielmi at the afternoon tea dances in Churchills Café. We’d sit at a table with a hostess until there would be a sign from a woman that she wanted a dance. So, we would go over and dance and we received $2 for an afternoon. George Raft said although I could dance those times were more demanding than when he became famous. Rudolph Guglielmi had a carisma that cannot be denied. He was a popular dancer and made the most ackward looking woman glide like a swan while dancing.
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2 Apr 1965 – My Housekeeper Knew Someone who Knew Someone who Knew Valentino
My housekeeper is an expert on the Great Lovers, she used to work for a woman who was a close friend of Rudolph Valentino. “He was very quiet”, says my housekeeper. “He hardly had a thing to say. He used to take off his shoes the minute he came in the door and sit around all evening in his socks. He was absolutely nothing”. Naturally when word got out a few years ago, that the late Aly Khan was coming to dinner across the hall, she went straight to the neighbors cook “Rudolph Valentino was nothing, but I hear this one is the greatest. For goodness sake, just let me get a good look at him. The man she saw sitting at the Vasco Garans dinner party was no matinee idol. He was of medium height and almost on the plump side. He looked tired and middle aged, with a sallow skin and dark circles, and was losing his hairline. Again, he was absolutely nothing says my housekeeper”.
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14 Jul 1926 Muscle Admiring Brooklyn Girl Clashes with Boyfriend
| Monday or Tuesday will prove whether Rudolph Valentino challenge to fight an editorial writer is bona fide or not. “Rudy had wonderful muscles and I’ve seen him in pictures stripped to the waist, and you can’t fake a picture like that” said an indignant Brooklyn girl last night. Men are jealous, that’s what’s the matter. I’d like to see a picture of the fellow who wrote that article. Most editors, I’ve seen are little and wizened and wear glasses. I don’t think they are so very masculine as a bunch, by any means. Rudy does wear allot of jewelry. He’s an Italian and gladiators wore rings and bracelets, you may remember. Most American men would look ridiculous in a slave bracelet. Rudy does not its suits his type. He is almost oriental looking”. But the man with the Brooklyn girl took decided issue. Valentino’s muscles may look good to his women admirers but any trained athlete can see the fellow is soft. He is a soft fop and the fellow who wrote the article is right. I think this challenge to fight is merely a publicity stunt. I bet he never goes near the office of the Chicago Tribute when he gets to the city. Valentino’s second will be guess who? His press agent of course. |
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9 Mar 1937 – Rudolph Valentino Former Co-Star Clara Kimball Young
Twenty years ago, Clara Kimball Young had an annual income of $200,000, but the hand of ill fortune has swept away her wealth. Miss Young began her career on the stage when she was three. When pictures rose above the nickelodeon class, dramatic actresses were in demand and Miss Young rose to great heights in the higher type films. Her first picture “Cardinal Woolsey” made by Vitagraph in 1912, her Camille shocked the folk of yesteryear, but they sat up and took notice just the same. Her outstanding beauty, especially her magnificent dark eyes and her hands were the toast of the world. She received as many as 10,000 fan letters in one day. Perhaps the fan letter fad is passing, for today no star receives as much mail as that. Miss Young lives in Hollywood with her father, Edward Kimball, who is a favorite with the old-timers of the film colony. She has accepted the changes in her life philosophically.
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12 Oct 1923 – Sheik Swamped By Demand for Hair Locks
Rudolph Valentino Silent Film Actor is on holiday in London, has been inundated with requests from English flappers with continuous requests for locks of his hair. He would probably have been balder than Bob Fitzsimmons, if he had complied with each request.
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12 May 1929 – I own it now
On the little finger of his left hand, Joe Herman wears the sapphire ring that belonged to Rudolph Valentino. He wouldn’t sell it nor the Valentino slave bracelet which is also his. At 72nd Bowery under the L opposite the arch of Manhattan Bridge. There within one great room are 62 dealers behind glass showcases arranged in tiers. This location is how Valentino’s jewels got to the exchange.
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24 Jan 1929 -Richard Hudnut Estate Left to his Wife
Richard Hudnut perfume mogul and a former father-in-law to Rudolph Valentino left his entire estate to his wife with the exception of $4000 bequest according to the terms of his will. Mr. Hudnut claimed Foxlair Camp as his legal residence. The will was filed by the National City Bank, New York with Mrs. Hudnut and their stepdaughter Natacha Rambova as executors. The petition gives value of the real estate as $10,000 and personal property $50,000, but it is understood the estate is actually many times over these figures. The will first provides Woodlawn Cemetery Inc of Bronx County shall be given the Hudnut burial lot and $4000. Mr. Hudnut’s first wife is buried there and the will provides that plots shall be provided for other relatives. The remainder of the estate is given to his present wife. The will provided in the event she died before him for $110,000 in specific bequests to nephews, grandnephews and friends leaving the residue of the estate to Miss Rambova. The will states that “for reasons I deem sufficient I have omitted from the provisions of this will” Frank Hudnut (Half-brother), Maude Louis Chaplin (Half-sister), Eugene Beals (Son of the first marriage). Mr. Hudnut had previously given large considerable amounts of money to Mrs Beals the will said.
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1922 Hudnut Summer Home, Foxlair, North Creek, NY
Richard Hudnut, entrepreneur and New York City businessman, often visited the Adirondacks with his family. In 1890, he discovered the Oregon valley in the Town of Johnsburg in Warren County, and by the turn of the century had purchased 1,200 acres of land there. Although it took him 10 years to acquire the estate it was the ultimate summer home. Foxlair was located near North Creek, NY in the Adirondack’s. The main house was 270 foot long and was three stories high with a huge double staircase and a veranda across the front. Foxlair was fashioned in a French Chateau style that was favored by Richard Hudnut and was furnished with European furniture. One of Richard Hudnuts trusted employees Thomas Thornloe was superintendent for the estate as well as over 40 servants on staff, a 9-hole golf course along the valley and a host of barns for carriages and animals. The estate also had a Japanese Teahouse and a nature house built near the river. There was also a large aviary to grace the porch. Every summer during the afternoons, dancing pigeons put on a show for the famous guests who came from around the world to enjoy the great outdoors and the legendary Hudnut hospitality. In 1922, his adopted daughter Natacha Rambova went to Foxlair in seclusion during her future husband’s ongoing legal battle over his movie contract with Famous Players-Lasky.
This was a family residence until 1938. After Richard Hudnuts death the estate was endowed to the Police Athletic League of NYC as a summer camp for boys. In 1970’s, Foxlair was burned to the ground IAW the Adirondack Park Agencies Master Land Use and Development Plan which required all state land to be kept in a natural state. There are still remnants of the stone foundation to be found and overgrown stone stairways.
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21 June 1917 – Theodore Kostloff in CA
Theodore Kosloff. a graduate dancer from Petrograd and Moscow imperial ballet schools, formerly a member of Serge de Daighlleff’s famous Ballet Russq and latterly at the head of a miniature Ballet Kusse which came to Los Angelos last winter on the Orpheum circuit, has become so enamored of California and the movies that he has Joined the local colony of artists. He is working in conjunction with Cecil de Mille at the Lasky studios at Hollywood. Vera Fredowa, Natacha Rambova, Alexandre Ivanoff and other dancers of the Russian group seen here last winter also have taken quarters in this city on St. Paul street.
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“My tenacity was bred of necessity. I was determined never to return to dancing”. – Rudolph Valentino
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7 Jun 1925 – Mrs. Valentino
Mrs. Valentino busily supervising the presentation of a most beautiful setting, was very gracious when asked to pose. The classic nose, indicates an inquiring turn of mind, according to the artist. The lines below her heart are cubist designs for curls, we guess. Otherwise, quien sabe?
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17 Jun 1928 – Never Heard of Him
A garden has been opened on the roof of the Italian Hospital in London celebration of the birthday of Rudolph Valentino. The garden has been provided by the Valentino Association. The matron of the hospital had not heard of Valentino until recently.
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2019 – New Rudolph Valentino Book Published
Ms. Donna HIll has just published an updated version of her fabulous book on Rudolph Valentino the Silent Idol. This new edition is available for sale on lulu.com for $35.00. I bought my copy and for this price and new pictures, its a must for any Rudolph Valentino fan. Congratulations to Ms. Hill…
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Aug 1926 – A fond memory of Rudolph Valentino
Helen Smith, Des Moines was an ordinary girl that had an experience she will never forget. For the first time she traveled to New York City, on the same railroad as Rudolph Valentino in Aug 1926. Her first introduction was when he first seen her, he replied with an Italian accent “little Irish girl, what is your name”? She relied O’Shaughnessy. With that he smiled and replied, ‘I like the name that was my former wife name before she was adopted by the Hudnuts”. During our conversation “he spoke rather endearingly of his former wife. I’ll always believe he was in love with her”. She recalls only once during the entire trip did, he eat on the diner and no once did he go to the observation car. He hated the eyes of the staring public. “When a curious crowd would look at him with much the same look that a little boy gazed in on a caged animal. Valentino would remark ‘in this work your soul is not your own, neither is your life”.
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4 Apr 1938 – Mystery of the Lucky Valentino ring
When the late Rudolph Valentino’s effects were auctioned off in December 1926, items put on the block included emeralds, rubies, sapphires set in pins and rings and were valued by Executor George Ullman at $50,000. What happened to these jewels after their sale is not known today. But a simple silver ring, which may not even have belonged to Valentino, has helped keep alive the memory of the handsome Italian boy with the hypnotic smoldering eyes, who rose from sweeping out halls in new York to become a $1,000,000 a year movie star and to be known as the greatest lover of the screen before his untimely death at age 31. The modest silver band was found by movie starlet Rochelle Hudson in 1939, 13 years after Valentino’s death. Miss Hudson were in the hills above Falcon Lair, the hill-top home occupied by Valentino at the peak of his fabulous career. The glint of a small object in the path caught her eye and she picked it up and saw it was tarnished. There was a brief speculation on how it happened to there. Without giving it further thought, Rochelle put the band in her picket and continued the hike. Later that day, Rochelle tossed the ring on her dressing table and forgot about it. It was found by a maid who cleaned it with silver polish. As the maid was rubbing the inside of the band, she gasped at the words began to be legible “Rudy Valentino 24”. The maid excitedly showed the discovery to Miss Hudson. However, the actress was to young to have known much about the greatest of all movie screen lovers. She had seen only one of his pictures and could not remember the name. Rochelle ran the following ad in the classified section of the Los Angeles Examiner: “Ring found, man’s bearing inscription “Rudy Valentino 24”if the mysterious veiled woman who has made an annual trip to Valentino’s grave can identify herself, I will gladly make a present of the ring to her “BOX H9284”. The news ad first appeared on Tuesday 5 December 1939 and ran for three days with no response. A reporter reading the ad, had given it additional publicity for a story in the news section of the paper. Miss Hudson was surprised. “I expected at least 50 people claimed to be the ‘mystery’ woman she said. “Even if there isn’t such an actual person, at least I thought some of Rudy’s admirers would tr to get the ring”. A short time later, Rochelle gave the ring to a publicity man, Bev Barnett, who made further efforts to find the “woman in Black” without success. Giving up the search he put the ring in a dresser drawer, in his home. In Feb of 1940, Barnett’s home was robbed, and the Valentino ring was among the missing things. The rings history began to get even more interesting from this time on. On 29 October 1940, a neighbor came to the home of Los Angeles Police Officer William F. Mollie and reported that someone was trying to break into her house. Molle went to investigate and in the rear of the house, he suddenly was fired upon by the bandit. The officer emptied his service revolver at the fleeing man and chased him down the street. Policeman Molle testified later “he ran right past my wife, Helen, who was standing on our front lawn. My gun was empty, so I couldn’t have protected her. As I run past her, she handed me another gun. “I caught the man, shoved it in his back and he choked: don’t shoot me anymore. I’ve got enough then he collapsed from two bullet wounds in the abdomen”. The lone-wolf burglar, identified as James Willis, dd from his wounds. In his pockets, was a key which led officers to a warehouse in South Los Angeles and $75,000 in loot. Among it was the Valentino ring. Barnett went down and claimed the ring and recovered everything else that had been taken from his house. Thus, the silver band became known as the lucky ring. “if the ring hadn’t shown up” said Barnett, “I wouldn’t even have known that other stuff was there”. Superstitious Hollywood always loves good luck trinkets. Some time later, Gene Autry was in a dispute with Republic Studio. He filed suit to break his contract. “How about that ring of Valentino’s? he asked, the publicity man. “Let me wear it”. Gene wore the ring during the first trial of his suit against the studio, which eventually resulted in his departure from Republic. After World War II the ring came into possession of Actor Robert Armstrong who eventually sent it to a Mrs. Cooper of Chicago, long a collector of Valentino relics. She in turn, sent it back to Hollywood to James Gleason following the death of his wife, Lucille. There is no great intrinsic value to the ring, and nobody knows if it is even an authentic souvenir of the screen’s great lover. If it didn’t belong to him, where did he get it? Did one of this wives or feminine admirers give it to him? Jean Acker his first wife, has said she knows nothing of it. But then the inscribed date, 24 was after their marriage had been broken up. Rudy married Winifred Hudnut known as Natacha Rambova in Mexicali, Mexico on 14 May 1922. A few days later, the famous bigamy charges hit the headlines because Valentino’s divorce from Jean Acker was not due to be final, until 11 Mar 1923. The excitement died down when Valentino and his exotic bride said the would not live together in California until they could be remarried. They did go through with the second ceremony in Crowne Point, Indiana. This was in 1923. In 1924, the date on the ring, Rudy and Natacha were living in Whitley Heights, in the hills above Hollywood. Whether it ever belonged to him or not, the ring has done more to keep alive the memory of Valentino than any of his treasures that went under the auctions hammer. It probably will keep cropping up again as long as Hollywood believes in good luck
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17 Oct 1938 – Cursed Ring Wearer Refuses to Sell
Miss Marian Fowler appearing with the ballet choris at the Roxie Theater in New York City had met and was entertained by Del Casino, a distant relative of the late Russ Colombo. He wears the ring previously owned by Silent Film Star Rudolph Valentino and left to him by his cousin. He was offered $300.00 for the platinum ring with an agate setting, that originally cost $7.00 but refused the offer.
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11 Nov 1945 – Suicide Attempt Bares Former Dancer Story of Secret Marriage to Valentino
From the shadow of death yesterday came a strange story of a 39 year old former Ziegfeld dancer she married Movie Sheik Rudolph Valentino a year before his death, bore him a daughter and lived in mystery for 20 years. During that time, it was said she paid annual visits to his grave as the legendary “Lady in Black”. The story unfolded yesterday as a result of an asserted suicide attemp by Marion Wilson, glittering Broadway before she came to Hollywood in the history-making 1920’s. It was told by Miss Wilson’s third cousin Perry Combs of Hollywood. While Miss Wilson was in a Santa Monica Hospital suffering from the effects of an attempted overdose of sleeping pills Combs declared: “my cousin told me she and Valentino were married in 1925. She kept it a secret she feared news of the marriage might hurt Valentino as a romantic actor. “She became pregnanat and went abroad to have the baby a girl in either Italy or France. The baby was a girl, now about 19 or 20 years of age and has never been in the United States. Valentino setup a trust fund for her and she grew up with his sister. Combs said the daughter is now in London attempting permission to come to the United States to visit her mother. Although denying miss Wilson known on the stage as Marion Benda, ever married Valentino George Ullman, the former matinees idol manager and room mate at the time of his death in 1926, admitted Valentino and the stately beauty were friends. “Rudy dated her from time to time” said Ullman, “but I’m sure there was no marriage. As for her having a child by Rudy, there were 35 other women who advanced that claim after he died”. Ullman said Valentino and Miss Wilson were out dancing together the night he was stricken with the illness that proved fatal and she was with him when he was put to bed for the last time. “I believe had Valentino married her Ullman said, “I occupying the position I did in his life would certainly have known of the event. He squired her about New York on a few occassions but their relationship was short and formal. Miss Wilson was married to Dr. Blake Watson in 1932, shortly after her divorce from Baron Von Boechlin a German. Released from the hospital late yesterday, Miss Wilson moved to a waiting automobile in a wheel chair and driven to an undisclosed location in North Hollywood. Although at first reluctant to discuss her claims to having been Valentino’s wife, she finally declared “You can go to New Jersey and find out whether I was married to Valentino or not”. Apparently on the verge of collapse Miss Wilson refused to name the city in which such proof might be found. She did, however deny being the “woman in black”. There was never a “woman in black” she wearily declares “that was just a publicity stunt put on by the studio”. Combs, who found Miss Wilson unconscious late Friday, said that during the week she had taken 68 sleeping pills. Friday he added she took 10 more and became despondent intimating she might commit suicide. Combs said he left Miss Wilson on an errand for her and when he returned found her lying on the floor and called police, six more capsules had disappeared from the bottle in his absence Combs said. At the time of Valentino’s death, following production of his final movie “Son of the Shiek” Miss Wilson and her pseudo husband were planning for the future and were hoping he would retire in five years, Combs declared. He said Miss Wilson and the actor were married in France. But what happened to her declaration of look in New Jersey? No response. He said she adopted the stage name of Benda becase she once posed for the artist Wladyslav Benda creater of the famous Benda Mask. She and Valentino were introducted by Ben Ali Haken a Hollywood producer, Combs said. A woman who asked her name not be revealed said Miss Wilson told her Valentino and her had two children. One was a girl 20 years living with Valentino’s sister in London and the Boy a 16 year old serving in the Italian Army.
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28 Sep 1920 – Race King Featured in Kinema Film
When Rudolph Valentino, the Universal player drove his car to victory in the road race between Naples and Rome in 1905, he saw an amateur motion picture photographer grinding an ungainly looking camera at the finish line. The camera was set low to the road Valentino said, and as I swept by I thought for an instant that it was a hand organ and wondered if the monkey would get under my car. After the race, I examined the contrivance, and laughed in a superior sort of way when the fellow assured me that he had a splendid moving picture of me as I passed him at seventy miles an hour. A week later, the photographer sought admittance to the Valentino estate at Taranto and showed his film to the astonished young man. That evening the drawing room of the palatial home was turned into a motion picture theatre. With a crude projecting machine that jumped and flickered dismally, the photographer exhibited his film of the race. Little did Valentino think on that summer’s evening that he would one day be a celebrity of the screen and that he should have the distinction of supporting Dorothy Phillips as one of her leading men in her greatest Universal success “Once to Every Woman”.
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All About Rudolph Valentino 
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