For Patreon Supporters- This month as we approach the upcoming anniversary of Rudolph Valentino’s untimely passing, we will start out by delving into Frank E. Campbell and his NY Funeral home.
For those wishing to become a supporter to this blog and view exclusive content here is the link https://www.patreon.com/allaboutrudy Email allaboutrudolphvalentino@eclipso.eu Thank you for your support & See You Next Month. Dr. C.R.For Patreon Supporters – This month we are going to talk about Rudolph Valentino in 1928.
For those wishing to become a supporter to this blog and view exclusive content here is the link below.
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Email allaboutrudolphvalentino@eclipso.eu
Thank you & See You Next Month.
Dr. C.R.
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This year’s 93rd annual memorial service is a tasteful tribute to a great silent film star that once again, brings the Valentino Community under one big sky both physically and virtually in a time of challenges in order to comply with county public ordnance. The committee decided to go back to a time when it was held outside in order to accommodate fans.
The whole service from start to finish still shows the world that inspite of a global problems affecting everyone. People will still mourn a great actor that left this world too soon. The speakers, singers and video tributes were again mindful of why there was a virtual and physical presence that we still adore him and feel he left this world all too soon. We greeted one another and cried when Ava Maria was song so beautifully and when the 23rd Psalm was spoken we knew another year has gone too soon. May next year’s service show that we still care and will never forget. I would like to thank the Valentino Committee and Tracy Terhune for putting together such a wondeful service.
Seventy-five years later, at least one mystery remains: the identity of the original Lady in Black, who arrived each year on Aug. 23 at 12:10 p.m.–her face obscured by a veil–to silently lay roses at Rudolph Valentino’s crypt. Today, as every year, this question arises as fans, freaks, collectors, an octogenarian silent movie organist–and perhaps a new Lady in Black–gather in the main alcove of the Cathedral Mausoleum at Hollywood Forever Cemetery to mourn the silent screen’s “Great Lover” on the anniversary of his death. The Valentino Memorial Service is part reverence, part cheese. Over the decades, this classic example of Hollywood self-memorialization has evolved a culture of its own, luring cultists, the curious and even the lunatic fringe, eliciting from attendees an almost religious fervor. The spectacle of the memorial service has become outrageous over the years, said Valentino memorabilia collector Tracy Terhune, 44. “It became like a circus,” said Terhune, who works in the accounting department of Universal Studios. People were drinking water out of the wall-mounted vases used for flowers, he said, burning incense and conducting seances. “People were saying they were carrying Valentino’s child, even though he had been dead for 20 years.” The annual ritual–performed at 10 minutes past noon, the exact moment of Valentino’s death from natural causes in 1926 at age 31– is one of Hollywood’s oldest and most famous. The event has continued in one form or another at the cemetery for the last 75 years (only once, when the cemetery was crumbling and close to closing, did the memorial migrate to the Silent Movie Theater on Fairfax Avenue.) Today, in the mausoleum, the ceremony is to include talks by Hollywood historian Marc Wanamaker and Carrie Bible, a film buff and voluntary Lady in Black, who will talk about her predecessors. Eighty-nine-year-old Bob Mitchell, who claims to be the only silent-movie organist still alive, will accompany a compilation of romantic clips from Valentino films. Then, the Valentino pilgrims will walk down the echoing marble hallways to lay flowers and plant lipstick kisses on the crypt of the world’s first celluloid heartthrob. At dusk, which falls at about 8 p.m., visitors will spread their blankets on the lawn to watch the Valentino movie “Monsieur Beaucaire,” projected on the side of the mausoleum. Mitchell will play a generator-fueled Hammond organ, with a special speaker that will imitate the sound of the Wurlitzer pipe organ once used at all the silent-movie houses in Southern California. Just a few years ago, when the old cemetery was crumbling and close to bankrupt, it looked like the long-running memorial service was nearly dead. But in 1998, a new, publicity-savvy owner gave the cemetery–and the event–a new lease on life. Tyler Cassidy, a Midwesterner from a family in the “pre-need” funeral business, bought the place for $375,000. He saw the potential of the 62 green acres abutting Paramount Studios, and of a place with more dead movie stars than any other spot on the face of the Earth. Interred in its cool mausoleums and smooth lawns are celluloid greats such as Douglas Fairbanks Sr., Cecil B. DeMille, Tyrone Power–and, of course, Valentino. Cassidy had heard tales of the service and the mysterious ladies in black. Still, he was surprised when an old man turned up at his door one day, saying he ran the memorial service, and would like to do it again for a fee. He gave Cassidy his program, which appeared to have remained constant since the 1950s. The man’s name was Bud Testa. “I was very happy to see him,” Cassidy said. “He was such a character. He was definitely old Hollywood, even in his speech and his dress you could tell he was from the Golden Era. He was still charging 1950s prices.” Cassidy listened to the old PR man and decided to take him up on his offer. (Testa lives in a Glendale rest home; he was unable to give an interview.) Cassidy was taken aback the first time he witnessed the event. “It was out there,” he recalled. “I didn’t know what to think. I was new to Hollywood. I didn’t have a sense for that kind of flavor. It seemed like the event had so little to do with Valentino. But it definitely it had its own culture. “Rather than judge it, however, Cassidy decided to respect it. Mitchell has played at the service for two decades, and still plays several times a week at the Silent Movie Theater. In his youth, he played silent films four to five times a week for four years, including for two Valentino films, “The Eagle” and “The Cobra.” That career ended in 1929, the year the last silent were made. Mitchell believes the service, and especially the ladies in black, was always a publicity stunt. “The cemetery wanted to sell graves,” he said. “They hired a woman to be the Lady in Black, to keep the tradition up. Soon there were two women in black. Last year there was a black woman who came dressed all in white.” The genesis of the tradition is almost irrelevant now. The event has taken on a life of its own, with intrigues, legends and rivalries. “There were antics, fainting’s, ripping off of veils,” said Terhune, who is hoping to publish a book on the topic. At the center of the service’s mystique, Terhune explained in a room of his house crammed with Valentino memorabilia, were the various ladies in black. Though it is said the first Lady in Black visited the crypt the year after Valentino died, all through the 1930s the black-clad mourners multiplied–and refused to identify themselves. Mitchell, the organist, says silent-screen star Pola Negri, who claimed to have been engaged to Valentino, was the first. (Cassidy had heard that one owner of the cemetery hired his own daughter to be the Lady in Black.) By the 1950s, when Testa began organizing the event, the bizarreness seemed to reach its zenith. An offended member of the Valentino family even threatened legal action to stop it. (“The morbidly emotional gags and sideshow antics that take place annually at the grave of Rudolph Valentino in the Hollywood Cemetery may be halted by legal action,” one newspaper reported in 1951.) “The family not only weren’t involved, but didn’t support the service,” said Jeanine Villalobos, 32, Valentino’s great-great-niece. Villalobos, a doctoral student at UC Irvine, is working on a dissertation about her great-great-uncle, based on newly discovered personal documents. “They felt it was disrespectful and very theatrical. That people were using it for cheap publicity.” She said the family was especially put off by a publicity stunt for a 1951 movie about Valentino, in which actor Anthony Dexter showed up at the crypt in costume with a publicist at his side. Eventually, numerous ladies in black–from starlets to matrons– were turning up on Aug. 23, vying for fame and newspaper coverage. There were so many that they began giving their names, pretending to faint, ripping each other’s veils off, and throwing flowers at each other, each claiming to be the real Lady in Black. “A lot of it actually became humdrum,” Terhune said. “Except for the drama of ‘Would she appear?’ And if she does, what would she do? Faint? Sing? Cry?’ And there was always the hope that two ladies in black would face off.” The names of many of the ladies in black have faded with time. But two of the most ambitious, hard-core mourners’ names have stuck. One is Ditra Flame, who claimed she met Valentino as a teen in a boarding house in Los Angeles before he became famous. He visited her when she was sick in the hospital, she said, and they both pledged that whoever died first would bring flowers to the other’s grave. Flame’s last visit was in 1954. After that, she turned to missionary work, dedicating herself to Jesus, rather than Valentino. The other legendary Lady in Black was Estrellita Del Regil, a movie extra who appeared in hundreds of films. She died last year. She claimed her mother was the original Lady in Black. Several years ago, Terhune obtained the meticulous records of Flame, who kept copies of every letter she sent and received (including those to rival ladies in black), newspaper clippings with personal commentary scribbled in the margins. “J. Edgar Hoover had nothing on her,” said Terhune. “She was going to write a book. “With the passing of Del Regil things have grown tamer. Cassidy says he has tried to put the spotlight back on Valentino. Today’s service, he said, is no longer a publicity stunt, but an effort to keep a tradition alive. Cassidy has even tried to build bridges with the long-alienated Valentino family. Villalobos said that after years of hearing how tacky the event was, she checked it out two years ago. “There was some goofiness,” she said. “But I was impressed that there was still the active fan base, most of whom really do respect him, and really do respect his work.” Still, Cassidy confessed earlier this week, “I’m afraid it might become too sanitized, that we might be removing the fundamental character by making it too tame. At the same time, we must be somewhat respectful to the man who is interred there.”
On 23 Aug 1926, 93 years ago, Rudolph Valentino, silent film star died, and it seemed the world was less brighter without his presence. His funeral was on a grand scale, the likes of which Hollywood had not seen. There were mourners of all ages, men and women who came together to say farewell to someone they had seen on the movie screen and felt an affinity to. For women, it meant an end of their dreams of faraway places to be swept away by a handsome sheik on a white horse that would rescue them from their drab and dreary lives. For men, they emulated him by changing their grooming standards and appearance trying to act like their idol. Movie studios trying to find a successor and their reality is there is only one Rudolph Valentino and no amount of trying will come up with a replacement.
As the years pass, new generations of fans have come forward and discovered what previous fans have. These fans have a thirst for knowledge of any kind to satisfy a hunger or a need of a information on who was Rudolph Valentino? He was more than just a mere presence on the movie screen. The fans knew he was tall, slim, handsome, athletic build, and mesmerizing. But what was he like in person or what did he sound like? There are no known voice recordings except a lone music record and the lasting impression he left with friends, wives, colleagues, family, autograph seekers, or those who had a personal encounter. was one of what a gentleman he was, how kind he was, shy, a good dancer, serious actor, loyal and loving. Who would not want to be around such a man? We all would even then or now. What would it have been like to see his movie on the big screen for the first time or take a trip to “Old Hollywood” to see what true movie stars were like or excitement of knowing how near we would be to his his location. A chance to see him just for a glimpse or a word. What about hearing him on the wireless and knowing how he truly sound back then. Ah we can only dream.
The 21st Century allows Rudolph Valentino fans to watch a movie of his anytime. Online shopping for a book, a souvenir, or read blogs, social media groups dedicated to him. Generations of new fans appreciate his acting skills and for the man he truly was. Discussions centered around his personal life, the pain he felt when his love was not returned, dreams of a having his own children left unfulfilled and reality of a movie career slowly fading away. Questions and more questions.
Every year, a global community of Valentino fans come together on 23rd of August, to mourn him all over again. Because the only people that appreciate Rudolph Valentino is his descendants and his true legion of fans. May we always remember a man who wanted to give his very best and live a life full of love. May we never forget.
Sincerely,
Chris
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A church dedicated to the memory of the late Silent Film superstar Rudolph Valentino has been opened here. The opening service of the “Valentino Memorial Church of Psychic Fellowship” was conducted on a recent Sunday evening. The program ncluded piano selections from music used in Valetnino’s last movie “The Son of the Sheik”.
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And now they are hearing from the ghosts of Harry Houdini and Rudolph Valentino! The world and his wife tried to get a reflected publicity by herding around Valentino’s bier while he was still above ground. Now they won’t let him or Houdini rest in peace but must
Dr. Crandon well known spiritualist says spirit messages from Houdini the magician and Valentino the actor are fakes. “A person must be dead four or five years before he can communicate with us. We learn this from spirits with whom we have been in touch”. Physicists wonder where those spirits are when they talk. It they are on one of the distant stars, light with travels 186,000 miles a second would take a million years to get here; and sound, as we know travels more slowly than light, 331 meters a second against 186.000 miles a second. If Houdini and Valentino, on some distant star, began talking loud enough for their voices to reach us, their words wouldn’t reach the earth in time to be heard by our descendants 500,000,000 years from now.
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A Rudolph Valentino autograph recently was sold for $75.00. A mechanics weekly salary will buy Rudolph Valentino’s $18,000 Isotta Town Car, now dusting on a used automobile lot. Nina Wilcox Putnam has a Voisin formerly owned by Valentino.
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Several readers have complained because the newspapers devoted more space to the death of Rudolph Valentino. An editor is not a historian who seeks to put happenings into their proper perspective. If the great preoccupation of the public with Valentino is a thing to evaporate in a short time, that is more reason why it becomes news today. It is well to remember also that the story of Valentino’s death is not concerned alone with the individual in question but with the reaction of the public to this event. When thousands stand in the rain for hours seeking a chance to pass the dead man’s bier, that is news beyond any question. It does not matter that many of the people in line were morbid curiosity seekers. The precise extend of morbidity is also a proper subject of journalistic concern. I rather think that some reports have been too severe in judging the motives of the crowd. I saw long lines at a distance in the dripping rain, and it is my belief that if it had been possible for a reporter to investigate the hearts of all who waiting there he would have found in many who trudged the slow march through the doors a profound emotion. Valentino had become that priceless thing – a symbol. It was not so much a motion picture actor who lay dead as Pan of Apollo whom they are to bury from Campbell’s funeral parlor. He was to the thousands the romance which they never knew. He was Prince Charming and came from the other side of the moon. And if a symbol of romance in the lives of many millions fades, that is a not undignified matter of newspaper interest. It is a long sleep to which Valentino has gone, and soon the thousands will have another symbol to take his place. It seems to me a little cruel to deny a dead actor his last full measure of press clippings.
This year’s memorial service a tribute to a great silent film star that brings the Valentino Community under one roof both physically and virtually.
The 92nd Valentino Memorial Service featured a salute to the 100th Anniversary of “Eyes of Youth”. and remembering Jean Acker. From the music selections, to the readers, and guest speakers the audienced was moved and in awe by it all. The time past quickly and it seemed to come and go. My trip was making new memories and enjoying moments with special friends. Another year gone by and as always I am eagerly awaiting the 93rd. Special thank you to Tracy Terhune, Karie Bible, Donald Gardner, and everyone else who tirelessly labored to provide an event worthy.
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Tommorrow is the 57th anniversary of film idol Rudolph Valentino’s death a doubly sad day for the town of Harmony, population 28 located hear San Simeon. For years, an unusual monument to Valentino there was accompanied by a sign that read “In the early 1900’s and in the company of W.R. Hearst and Pola Negri, Rudolph Valentino had a call of nature”. Guilda Williams, who lived here, was kind enough to let him use her bathroom. When the little house was remodeled, the potty was converted into an outdoor planter that disappeared earlier this year. “We heard it had been found by police in Clovis” said Jim Lawrence, who owns the town. But when I called the ID didn’t seem to match up.
Three hundred women and girls, In deep mourning, attended a special Man at St. Orrvals Church to-day. In memory of Rudolph Valentino. Scores of girls waited outside the Late Rudolph Valentino church. The Mass was arranged by a mysterious woman, reputed to be im mensely wealthy, who Is frequently seen al Uie church. She does not reveal her name, but often goes to the church to request a Mass for the repose of the soul of Valentino
Each year, during the months of August and September, the Valentino community comes together mourning the life of Rudolph Valentino. When Rudolph Valentino died everyone was grieving for him. While back at Falcon Lair, Rudolph Valentino’s personal home where all of his horses and dogs lived were daily waiting the return of their beloved owner and friend. Who gave any thought or consideration to the horses and dogs left behind. The answer to these questions is no one gave thought or consideration or reassurance of their feelings of grief or they would be okay and taken care of not to be sold but remain in a familiar place remembered where they were loved and treasured. The animals mourned the loss but one felt that more than the rest Kabar a Doberman Pincher, Valentino’s favorite and constant companion. Kabar was born in Alsace, France on 20 June 1922, given to Valentino during a trip to Europe. Kabar was only a few months old, when he was sent to the French estate of the Hudnut family to be specially trained there. Over time, he was seen constantly at Valentino’s side to even sleeping in his chamber at night. Natacha Rambova often accused Valentino of favoring Kabar and hating on her Pekinese dogs. Not so said Valentino”shes the one I hate”. On 23 Aug 1926, when his best friend died Kabar instinctively knew something was wrong and started howling so loudly that all of the other pets picked up the signal and started howling as well and could not be appeased. Beatrice Lillie was so frightened of what she was hearing that she ran her car off the mountain road and fainted when on her way home from a party nearby at John Gilbert’s house. When Alberto Valentino arrived back at the estate the dog’s grief somewhat subsided but he was constantly sick since Valentino’s death. On 3 Feb 1929, Kabar passed away from a broken heart. Senator Vest of Missouri immortalized Kabar in one of his speeches. The death of Kabar, brought up the question what to do with his remains. Because this was newsworthy he was the first famous pet to be buried in a pet cemetery. Alberto Valentino buried Kabar with a marker that read “Kabar My Faithful Dog” Valentino. To this day, the Valentino community talks about the love and friendship between Kabar and his best friend.
In less than 12 days, generations of fans of the great silent film legend Rudolph Valentino will come from parts all over to the Cathedral Mausoleum, Hollywood Forever Cemetery to celebrate and mourn the life of a talent that lives on in our minds, hearts and celluloid.
The memorial service comes to serve us all as a reminder to pause and remember that he has never been forgotten. The purpose of this blog has always been to give the viewer a glimpse into a yester-year. A bygone era of photos, newspaper headlines, articles that give us something new and different to savor and perhaps bring us all a little closer as a community should. But its important to know there are dedicated and humble people who work behind the scenes each year to ensure the Annual Rudolph Valentino Memorial Service is done in a fitting and respectful manner in tribute to one we all come together and celebrate and mourn the passing of a wonderful silent star whose light will never dim. To Mr. Tracy Terhune, Ms. Stella Grace and others, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the hard work all that you have done and continue to do. On 23 Aug, 1315 PST, Los Angeles California, Hollywood Forever Cemetery 92nd Memorial Service physically and virtually the Valentino Community will once again come together.
The 92nd Valentino Memorial Service
According to Beulah Livingstone, who writes publicity for a company sponsoring the revival of “Son of the Sheik” the name of Rudolph Valentino will remain a magic one as long as romance flourishes on the movie screen. “It was the late Valentino”, declares Miss Livingstone “who set the hears of the nation thumping wildly with his forthright technique of love-making, and his rugged he-man characterizations set another precedent in screen acting. Those who remember and love him for his screen contributions, as well as the newer generation who have never had the opportunity to see the great idol of filmdom, will be happy to learn that his last and greatest picture has been booked for local presentation. We have known Beulah Livingstone since back in the good old silent days, when we were young and innocent and the brain-storms that flowed so profusely from her sturdy typewriter were eagerly accepted and passed on without blue penciling to our readers. But a lot of water has shot over the Chaudière since “Son of the Sheik” was produced and released to a clamoring public, and we confess that Beulah’s effusive if well-turned, phrases anent the current revival of Rudolph Valentino productions from the dimly-passed silent days leaves us as cold as one early morning last winter when the radiator on the old bus froze stiff and we bravely ventured forth to walk the two miles to our office. For the information of those who might be interested, and just to keep the record clear, we might add that the rejuvenated “Son of the Sheik” contains sound effects and a newly arranged musical score. Acting, directing, technical effects, and camera work have come a long way, however, from the days when every other girl of teen-age sent in a quarter for her idol’s photograph and mounted it on the boudoir table.
Rudolph Valentino has been gone almost 18 years and I am still being asked: What was it like being Rudolph Valentino? Every famous person more or less the victim of his own legend and none more so that Rudolph Valentino who came to be called “The Sheik” and Rudy hated that tag, especially after it became a byword for what is known as wolfing today. Valentino’s outstanding characteristic when away from the camera was shyness. He hated dancing for that reason. His career with Bonnie Glass and later Joan Sawyer, doing ballroom dances, brought him too close to his audience. He was an eternal boy but understood his capabilities. He knew he registered best in romantic roles. He was a failure when he departed from them, although he was persuaded to do so more than once. Valentino was practically a chain smoker. He drank red wines, loved good food, ate voraciously, cooked well and liked to cook. He appeared almost ordinary in golf or business clothes; was superb in anything approximating a costume such as riding clothes, fencing apparel, or lounging robes. Kept a large library of books with costume plates which he studied religiously. Remainder of his library was distinguished with rare volumes mostly in foreign languages which he understood. He hated sets of books and never bought them. Al Jolson was instrumental in bringing Valentino to Los Angeles. Norman Kerry who was a life-long friend, helped him over tough days. Rudy was hopelessly extravagant and died broke. He bought a Mercer with his first permanent salary of $125 a week spent most of it on repairs. Later cars were Voisins and Isotta Frashchini’s. He loved machinery and had a workshop in his garage. Once took his car apart and put it together again. Was a typical small boy in this respect. His most enduring business friendship was with Joseph Schenck of Fox Studios for whom he made “Son of the Sheik” and “The Eagle” two of his greatest successes. Valentino attributed much of this to his ability and judgement. Valentino danced in Gauman prologue’s before he made good in his movies. Mae Murray gave him his first chance and they were always good friends. He was deeply interested in supernatural things during his marriage to Natacha Rambova – chiefly automatic writing. Had no small superstitions. He never permitted anyone, even his wife to see him disheveled. He had no shabby, comfortable old clothes. Spent a fortune on his wardrobe which was always new. Kept himself in superb physical condition result of two disappointments. As a boy he was turned down by the Royal Naval Academy because he lacked one inch in chest expansion. Air Force turned him down in World War I because of defective vision. Physical routine included sparring with Gene Delmont and Jack Dempsey, who was a good friend. Loved horses a white Arabian Stallion Ramadan, was his favorite. A Harlequin Great Dane, Doberman Pincher, and a Celtic Wolfhound, were all with him constantly as was a black cocker spaniel given to him by the Mayor of San Francisco at the time. He was sincere about his trade as an actor. But he had problems trying to find what he felt was his greatest goal his own family.
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.
“I am glad Rudy died when he did; while the world still adored him. The death of his popularity would have been a thousand deaths to him. Rudy belonged to the age of romance. He brought it with him; it went with him.” — Natacha Rambova.
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