Rudolph Valentino was a stylish man about town who enjoyed his movie star success and living the American dream. It is well documented he enjoyed the finer things in life that his hard-earned salary could buy. The newspapers would write articles dedicated to Rudolph Valentino about how immaculately well-dressed he was. Rudy would often travel to Europe to purchase antiques, fine art and clothes. One of his favorite destinations was London specifically to buy specifically tailored suits and his go to store for most of his suits was J. Dege & Sons, LTD, London. This company is world famous for its military tailoring and every suit is made by hand. Founded in 1865, Arthur Dege initially operated a tailoring business at 13 Conduit Street, known as J. Dege & Sons. The original owners Arthur Dege and William Skinner met at merchant Taylor’s school in 1880. Before setting up shop together at the turn of 20th Century as Dege & Skinner. In 1912, tragedy struck when William Skinner died in a riding accident. Jacob Dege who was the son of Arthur Dege was forced to resign because of anti-german sentiment from WWI. Tim Skinner who was the son of William Skinner was placed in charge of the company. Last year, Bonhams, New York held an auction called Lights, Camera, Auction. One of Rudolph Valentino’s suits a cream wool made at the companies location at 13 Conduit Street bought during his honeymoon in 1923 was sold at the auction for $20,000. J.Dege still exists today as one of the premier tailors on Savile Row, London.

Rudolph Valentino’s future has been a matter of furious debate. It has been a question as to whether he should continue to be a sheik and a lady-killer, or whether he should abruptly abandon the whole he-vamp idea and undertake an entirely different line of stories. That was really the question between the two stories that were debated. Had he gone through the plan to make “The Bronze Collar” he would have been seen with a dirty face, but an honest soul. After much mental travail, this project was abandoned. “The Black Eagle” which he is making now, will show him once again as a squire of dames.

Rudolph Valentino former motion picture star, now touring the country dancing, was criticized for his alleged statement that motion pictures today have little consideration for morality. Jacob Silverman of Altoons opposed Sunday opening of film houses, saying the only ones who benefit by Sunday movie shows are the picture producers, and that everyone is entitled to 52 holidays a year.

14 Feb was the perfect day to learn that Edna Stansbury, has been chosen one of Rudolph Valentino’s Valentines. The modern version of the heart-throb of the Flapper Era, Anthony Dexter, was this year’s judge for the 1952 Valentine Girl and her court of sweethearts. Candidates for the honors numbered 760 representatives of Beta Sigma Phi sororities throughout the U.S. and Canada. Dexter chose Mrs. Pat Lawrence a member of California Kappa Nii Chapter at Gendale, as Valentine Girl. Miss Stanbury, named one of the 5th Valentines and her portrait published in the Torch of Beta Sigma Phi. She was also offered a job as a sorority organizer for Nu Phi Mu. The younger group of business women. Had she been able to accept the work she would have toured the United States and Canada helping form Nu Phi Mu chapters. Miss Stansbury was chosen by Theta Chapter of Greely to represent her group but only for her beauty but sparking personality and service to the sorority. She is the daughter of Mr and Mrs. J.W. Stansbury and works for a Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Service.

1. Never play at love unless you feel the urge. Insincere lovemaking is cheating and you cheat yourself most of all.

2. Never try cave-man tactics on the woman you love. That’s a sure way to lose her if she is worth winning.

3. Be patient. Never try to kiss a woman at the first or second time you meet her. And never reveal your purpose, whatever it may be, until she is used to you and trusts you.

The greatest lover of the 20th Century was Rudolph Valentino. Valentino’s dark uncertain charm wasn’t based on the choice of women alone but on the  vote of men themselves. He brought something alive out of the deep forest of sex they didn’t understand. Even today, years after his death, the black haired Valentino is the wolf that most American men would most hate to have to compete with if he were still alive. Remember him, in “The Sheik” to thousands of women Rudy was more than Boulder Dam to make the desert blossom – the desert of emotion in their heart. And after Valentino who was the most devastating male between 1906 and 1950? Francis X. Bushman. But Rudolph Valentino is still the landmark of romance in our Century, for all the fact that if he were alive today he and Ezio Pinza would look like two sophomores. Why is this is true is hard for hard headed and bald heading men to figure out. But there he is, after all these years, the glamorous apostle of cupid even in his grave Rudolph Valentino.  You say his name now and most men laugh. And some women weep. He stood for something they yearned for romance unattainable. And in death they miss him for something they want and haven’t found.