Posts Tagged With: Rudolph Valentino

11 Mar 1978 – Former Hearst Personal Projectionist

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W. Young Louis was William Randolph Hearst’s projectionist at San Simon. At the age of 84 he runs the Freemont Theater in downtown San Luis Obispo six nights a week. He recalls becoming acquainted with Hearst and was asked to be his personal projectionist for private showings at the castle. After San Simeon was built, I was on call for Hearst. He’d call me at all hours of the night sometimes 2 or 3 a.m. A taxi would pick me up and drive me to San Simeon a good one-hour’s drive away he said.  “Sometimes I’d stay a week and my wife would come along. I loved it”.  I showed just old movies starring Marion Davies. “We had a basement full of Miss Davies films, and she’d come down and help me choose which ones to show”.  Some people would say she was aloof, but she wasn’t.  Hearst’s guests included Presidents, writers, singers, actors, actresses, movie producers all famous people of the day.  Louis met them all there was: Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson, Mae West, Shirley Temple, Clark Gable, Maurice Chevalier, John Barrymore, Will Rogers, Rudolph Valentino, Loretta Young, President Hoover and Calvin Coolidge. “Oh that Rudolph Valentino was a very congenial slender dapper man” Louis said.  Autographed pictures, souvenirs of their visits still fill every available space on the walls of the Freemont Theater. One of the stars who visited the castle turned out to be a relative.  “I met Anna Mae Wong, a silent screen actress and we talked for a long time. We found out we were related 16th cousins.  Louis has stayed put in the Freemont projection room since those days in the early 1940’s. He helped design the place and it fits him to a T. It’s equipped with a small wooden desk and padded vinyl chair so Louis can read and write letters while the reels roll.  No, he doesn’t always watch them. “Some of them, I …he started to say and then shrugged”.

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20 Jul 1951 – Valentino Film Libelous says Alice Terry

Alice Terry, former Silent Film blond beauty became the first woman in Rudolph Valentino’s life Thursday to announce he was no Romeo to her.  The ex-actress filed a $750,000 libel suit charing the recent movie “Valentino” pictures her having a clandestine love affair with the slick haired sheik.  But she says, when Rudy was her leading man back in the days of the flickers and quivering piano she never gave him a second thought. “Valentino? Why he was a good-looking man and a very nice fellow but that’s all” she shrugged. “I never had any interest in him”. He didnt look like a great lover at all, and it never occured to us that worked with him that he’d be known as that.  “No body thought about him in those days as a great lover.  In fact, it wasn’t until after he died that he got that reputation”.  Miss Terry was the star of Valentino’s first movie, “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” directed by her husband Rex Ingram.  Rex Ingram died last year.

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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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26 Jul 1938

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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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1922 Hudnut Summer Home, Foxlair, North Creek, NY

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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.

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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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1 Jul 1921 – Screen Scribbles

Speaking of screen premiers in Los Angeles, the opening performance of the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” was an affair of importance. All the principal players from the cast were there, including Rudolph Valentino, Alice Terry, Derek Ghent and Virginia Warwick. The tango was to have been danced by Rudolph Valentino and Beatriz Dominguez who played the Argentinian dancer in the picture, but she, poor girl, passed away following an operation for appendicitis a few days before the picture was shown. The presentation was somewhat marred by the introductory remarks of a gentleman from Brazil, who although an American, had a limited vocabulary, and a distressing originality of pronunciation. “My friends” he began, “we are about to witness the great dramatically spectacular “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse the –“business of consulting the program) the Apoc-al-ypse–..A titter from the audience checked him and he tried it again. After the roar of laughter had subsided he let the matter of pronunciation go hang, and contented himself with referring to the feature as the greatest “dramatically spectacular”.
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31Oct 1939 – Marian Adored Valentino

“My girl Marian was nuts about Rudolph Valentino, judge” and as simple an explanation, as that got Benjamin Platt, 29, slim and bespectacled, out of jail and earned him the promise of a wedding present.  Of course, Marian remained in a hospital under treatment for painful burns but otherwise, Benjamins explanation seemed to liquidate a jam which Marians admiration for the late film star got him into.  It began one night, when Benjamin and Marian went to a movie and saw portions of Valentino in a news reel.  Marian has a collection of souvenirs of Valentino.  “Benjamin” Marian sighed “I’d dearly love to own that film”. Thus spurred Benjamin into action. He pried his way into the theatre projection booth and confiscated the film.  He sped to his love, who awaited him in the basement of his home. There they trimmed the Valentino sequence and hurled the remainder of the coiling into the furnace.  Flames leaped from the furnace door. The precious strip of film which portrayed the star of “The Sheik” went up in flames and Marian fell screaming.  Marian was taken to the hospital and Benjamin was taken to jail. He earnestly told his story to Judge Gibson Gorman, in felony court.  When he finished the judge smiled and placed him on probation.  Up stepped the complainant, Thomas Murray, theater manager.  “For your wedding present, I will give you a copy of the Rudolph Valentino film. I hope it will bring you happiness
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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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Jun 1923 – Rudy Won’t Dance for Hollywood

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2 May 1923

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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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23 Nov 1940

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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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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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I have a future. I don’t want any woman hampering my career”. Ninety percent of marriages are proposed when the man is lonely or intoxicated. The only way to escape loneliness is by marrying – Rudolph Valentino, during an interview with Herbert Howe”

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24 Apr 1922 – How to Succeed in Love by Rudolph Valentino

Valentino learned about “women from her” a lesson that he carried to the boulevards of Paris. There he learned love in its casual phase the love that is based on the bubble of the hour, that has now for its patron saint the francs of the stranger, now the art of the artist, and then the heart offering of the poet.  Also, he saw the other side of the picture. The sincere love of the poor native or stranger, who, in the midst of infidelity, of pretense and thoughtless pleasure, clung to a man, and the man to her, with the same simple   love lonely in the midst of a crowd that might have been found in the peasant remoteness of the Midi.  Such formed the basis of the Valentino school.  To him loving is an art a game of finesse. It must not be played with speed or crudeness. There is no place for the quick canvasser or the man who has to catch a train.  It is his doctrine that he would never care to kiss a woman who made it possible at the first, second, or third encounter.  It must be nursed he insists.  Love cannot be forced, deduces this youthful safe of affection from his world study.  It is worthless unless it is given freely and happily, and there can be no joy in what is taken by force or with reluctance.  The bliss of a kiss, he opines, lies in the receiving end of the vibratory combination, and blessed he is who can gradually reaches a state where two souls and two hearts drift in concentric circles toward each other and then whirl into one mad embrace as two floating chins approaching the vortex of a whirlpool might circle and circle and circle closer and closer with each moment, and then take the plunge into that mad torrent side by side.  That is the Valentino theory of love.  His notion of the American is a man who forms instant desire to kiss a woman the first time he sees her; who is too hurried to wait, too crude to conceal from his telltale eyes the purpose that lurks in the mind.  But a kiss is something that tells a story.  When four lips are to join in the greatest of human sentiment that ever comes to a world that was supposedly born in sin and misery then it is the women who gives the kiss!  And the kiss that is given is worth all of the stolen fruit, all of the captured lip trophies that have been recorded in the world from the time of the Queen of Sheba first, felt the magic of Solomon’s touch down to the latest osculatory treasure that marked a belated goodnight at the vestibule of a New York flag. It’s all a game. There you have the rudiments compiled by a master.

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12 Sep 1925 Wide Scope Sought By Valentino Company’

Rudolph Valentino may turn his hands to other lines of endeavor, judging by articles of incorporation of Rudolph Valentino Productions filed yesterday, at the County Clerk’s office. Besides motion pictures and their appurtenances, the company is empowered to deal in “musical compositions” and “general photographic and music reproduction”. The corporation has $25,000 of capital stock of which $300 has been subscribed for by the directors. These are George Ullman, Beatrice Ullman, and Rudolph Valentino. The articles were filed with the Secretary of State at Sacramento sometime ago. Raymoney Stewart is the attorney

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26 Nov 1925- Townsville Daily Bulletin London Rudolph Valentino Returns

Rudolph Valentino, the famous cinema actor who just arrived from America, was the centre of an extraordinary scenes at a West End Cinema theatre, where he personally attended the occasion of the screening of one of his films. He was surrounded by a seething crowd, mostly women. The police forced them back and the doors had to be locked after the performance. Valentino rather than face the crowd which remained in the street, had to escape over the roof of the theatre.

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21 May 1922 – Winifred reaches Chicago

Winifred Hudnut alias Natacha Rambova reached Chicago today, enroute to her secluded home in New York with a pledge of love for Valentino on her lips and tears in her eyes when she heard the latest news of the screen idol. All the way on her trip from Los Angeles she steadily refused to discuss the case, which scores of news reporters who guarded the train at almost every station or who were already on it when it started, but at the last moment when someone suggested her silence might result in misjudgement of Valentino and asked her if she loved him, her lips formed one word “forever”. then she resume her attitude of silence.  Persons on her train said she told them she would “never never leave” Rudolph but planned to return to him one day.  The only time she had real joy on her face was when the porter gave her telegrams from Valentino.

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15 Apr 1972 – Dorothy Dalton Funeral Service

Funeral services were conducted for former vaudeville and silent film star Dorothy Dalton. Miss Dalton, 78 died at her Scarsdale New York home. She co-starred with William S. Hart and Rudolph Valentino and was the widow of Arthur Hammerstein the uncle of Oscar Hammerstein II. Survivors include a daughter and a grand daughter.

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7 Nov 1926 – Tax Lien

An income tax lien of $6,490 said to be the amount due to the federal government on Rudolph Valentino’s income for 1924 was filed here yesterday against the estate of Rudolph Valentino, silent film star who died recently.

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Apr 1925 – Schenck Signs Valentino

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1920 – Passions Playground

Mary Grant – Katherine MacDonald

Prince Vanno Dell Robbia – Norm Kerry

Lord Dauntry – Edwin Stevens

Lady Dauntry – Virginia Ainsworth

Prince Angelo Della Robbia – Rudolphe Valentino

Dodo Wardropp – Alice Wilson

James Hanaford – Howard Gaye

Beginners luck favors Mary Grant, the sweet unsophisticated little novice from a convent, the first time playing a roulette wheel at Monte Carlo. And this luck stayed with her and made a fortune, it did not hurt her in the eyes of Prince Vanno, however, it only served to single her out as the victim of a couple of human parasites. That game marked in the beginning of some tragic and romantic experiences in the career of Mary.  Passions Playground was adapted from “The Guests of Hercules” a well-known book on Monte Carlo by C.N. and A.M. Williamson. Katherine MacDonald has never played a more versatile role than does Mary Grant. The stage settings and scenery are also worth of mention in this late picture of Katherine MacDonald’s. The roulette wheels and halls of Conge Carlo as shown in the picture are a replica of the original ones. The gowns worn by beautiful women remind one of costly brilliants in platinum. On the whole, “Passions Playground” is an exquisite production and shows careful direction and study.

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June 1923 – Commediane Has Never Seen Valentino

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2019 – The Similarities in the Lives of Russ Columbo and Rudolph Valentino

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Russ Columbo was born Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolfo Colombo on 14 Jan 1908, in Camden, N.J., the 12th and final child of Italian immigrants Nicola and Giulia Perseri Colombo. Rudolph Valentino was born Rodolfo Pietro Filiberto Raffaello Guglielmi on 06 May 1895 in Castellaneta, Italy, the middle child to Italian and French parents Giovanni and Marie Berthe Guglielmi.  Their life’s journey took them to Los Angeles where both found their way into motion pictures and instant fame.  Russ Columbo was “discovered” by Silent Film actress Pola Negri who was once romantically involved with Rudolph Valentino.  Russ Columbo was grateful for the employment opportunity that Pola provided.  He composed many love songs to her and sang them over the air-waves of the radio world yet romance was not on the cards for them.

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In 1926, Marion Davies had a conversation with Pola about romance.  Marion Davies told Pola “there is no point in living like a nun. Come to my costume party dressed to represent the character you have most enjoyed portraying on the screen”. Pola Negri attended dressed in a Czarina costume from her movie “Forbidden Paradise”.  The costume fitted perfectly and was all white and gold she looked like a queen. Rudolph Valentino disappointed in love attended the same party dressed in a matador costume from his movie “Blood and Sand”.  Marion Davies costume party was a major success filled with the most famous movies stars of the day.  The hostess was talking with a group of guests near the entrance to her home when she introduced her friend Pola to Rudolph Valentino.  Pola recalls that exact moment “he was holding my hand and was taller than I imagined he would be.  I felt as if my eyes were a camera focused on his life, and I remembered sharply all the things I read about him.  That he was just separated from his wife Natacha Rambova. There was disillusion written all over his face.  As if I saw him in a film now, he was motionless-stopped before me as suddenly as a heartbeat.  I saw the hint of a dimple in his chin, his full sensitive lips partly opened. But his eyes held me they were wide set and so dark I could not see his pupils.  My eyes met his and I thought you can hold me forever if you try.  We danced a tango together and I was in his arms. I closed my eyes and we fell into the mad contagious rhythm. As if we had danced together always.  We never missed a beat. The other couples on the floor stopped and watched us.  The night seemed magical and I felt as though I was falling in love with him.  The music stopped and without looking up again, without speaking I turned on my heel, and walked out of the ballroom to my waiting car and left the party.  While walking up to my front door suddenly out of the shadows a man appeared and said why run away from something you know we both have tried to find all our lives. Before I could answer, I was in his arms”.  There were rumors of an engagement, but it’s believed that Rudolph was looking for companionship and Pola was looking for publicity.  On 23 Aug 1926, Russ Columbo was on the same movie set as Pola Negri. He was playing Dvorak’s Humoresque as background music and overheard the sad news, Rudolph Valentino just died so he stopped playing.  Pola noticed there was no music and Russ Colombo was wearing a sad expression on his face.  She asked what was going on and why did you quit playing? He told her the news and she fainted.  Russ Columbo was asked about whether she fainted for real or publicity. Columbo said it was not faked but she truly did appear traumatic and was inconsolable over her loss.  Months after his death, it was reported Pola Negri chose a tiger eye ring from Rudolph Valentino’s personal effects.  According to Internet sources, Pola became deathly sick and it was said the ring was cursed. Supposedly, she gave this ring to Russ Columbo saying, “from one Valentino to another Valentino”.  It is said, that the ring caused the untimely death of Russ Columbo from an accidental shooting.

 

 

 

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3 Dec 1926 – Voice from Beyond Fake

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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2 May 1921 Ingram Proves Story’s the Thing in Motion Pictures

The story’s the thing.  That’s an old saw, but it gains emphasis in the presentation of “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” on the screen. The book has sold beyond its 150th edition.   Some reviewers say the spectacle follows the story of Ibanez’s novel with unfaltering fidelity.  Others see variations from the book action. But all agree director Rex Ingram has created a film epic.  This was done without the talent of one “star”.  Rudolph Valentino little known before his advent in the picture, is the hero. He was educated in Italy to be a scientific farmer.  Alice Terry was born in Vincennes, Indiana 19 years ago.  She was employed as an extra when she visited a studio with a friend and says she had no ambition to be a movie actress. The sum of her screen experience before Ingram selected her for his spectacle was three months as a extra and two months as a juvenile lead and the leading role in one production of an indifferent quality.  The picture also brings prominence is June Mathis who visualized the story and prepared the scenario. The novel has been widely read. The story is too complicated to be condensed in a few lines. Apocalypse means revelation and the four horsemen are war, famine, pestilence, and death.  The story deals with the horrors of war and the reality is this happened in previous wars and wars yet to come.

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21 Mar 1923 -Mineralava Dance Tour Begins.

Rudolph Valentino the much admired, in search of a beauty! Finally, the whole country will see the famous silent-film star and dancer accompanied by his charming wife who will also be his dance partner in what will be a memory that will never be forgotten.  A combination dance tour and beauty contest on a grand scale sponsored by the Mineralava Beauty Clay Company.  Rudolph Valentino will forsake active work in the motion picture studios and will be on this wonderful tour of cities across this country in search of a typical American Beauty, who may, if the fates are propitious, be the leading woman of his next super picture when he returns to the screen. The rise of this magnetic young screen star has been meteoric! It is doubtful whether any other individual of the screen has so captured the hears and imaginations of the American public. Two of the most notable productions ever made own no little of their vast popularity and appeal to Rudolph Valentino’s personality, to his skill in pantomime and his sympathetic interpretation of emotions both hectic and subdued.  His brilliant work in “The Four Horsemen” made him at once the foremost screen figure and following this his wonderfully passionate interpretation of the central character in “The Sheik” won for him a popularity that has made him a household name.  Wherever, he goes on his present tour the cities turn out to greet him as if he were a national hero. In each city, He and his wife will give a public exhibition of graceful dancing, and then, from a bevy of beauties previously selected by a special committee Mr. Valentino himself will present the trophy and a dance.

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1922 – Rudolph Valentino & Natacha Rambova first marital attempt

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13 Mar 1923 – Rudolph Valentino Married in Crown Point

The Crown Point marriage mill cut another notch in the hall of public fame on Wednesday afternoon when Rudolph Valentino and Miss Winifred De Wolfe, with a party of friends from New York and Chicago journeyed to the famous “Gretna Green” and were married by Justice of the Peace Howard Kemp. After securing the necessary license at the county clerk’s office, in which Valentino gave his name as Rudolph Gugliemi, aged 28, and his bride as Winifred De Wolfe, aged 26.  the couple went immediately to the office of Judge Kemp and the ring ceremony was performed which made them man and wife. Several witnesses were present at the marriage ceremony and those signing their marriage certificate were Attorney Michael Romona, of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Butler Graham, of New York, and Mrs. Welner, of Salt Lake City, Utah.  Judge Theodore Klotz, of Hammond, a friend of the party accompanied them to Crown Point.  When it became noised about that the famous screen artists were in the city, a crowd quickly gathered curious to see Valentino and his bride and they were given an impromptu ovation and showered with congratulations as the party started Chicago-ward after the ceremony.   Following the marriage, the news was flashed to the press of the world and once again Crown Point gets into the limelight as being the scene of the marriage of famous folk. Valentino, while going through the ceremony appeared as nervous as any country swain that ever took the important step and there was nothing about his appearance during the ceremony that bore out world-wide reputation of being the cool, calm deliberate and “perfect lover” of screen fame.

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20 Nov 1921 – Wonderful Photography Makes Picture Among Greatest Screened

No small part of the success of the photoplay production is due to the resourcefulness and inventive genius of the camera man. This fact demonstrated itself during the filming of “The Four Horsemen” when John Seitz, chief cameraman of the Rex Ingram Unit resorted to unusual and entirely original means to obtain desired screen illusions. Many specially perfected photographic devices were utilized and again Mr. Seitz has brought them into exclusive use for Metro’s latest Ingram directed special “The Conquering Power”. In addition, a new method of registering vison scenes where ghostly or transparent figures are required, was perfected and which revolutionizes the filming of those episodes to a point of effectiveness never before attained. The cruder, methods of double exposure, often more or less bungling until retaken again and again have been eliminated. One scene in “The Conquering Power” where imprisoned miserly Grandet is visited by spirit forms of those whom he wrong, borders on the uncanny and intensified a hundredfold by this new camera device. It is innovations of this kind that help to make big pictures and “The Conquering Power” is in every sense of the term ‘a big picture’. Reviewers are wont to say that Rex Ingram has given to the motion picture world a real rival to “The Four Horsemen” from the standpoint of impressive character portrayals. Artistic treatment and scenic investiture.

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1952 – Walter Huntley Long

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Walter Huntley was born 04 Mar 1879, in Milford, New Hampshire. Walter Long’s experience on the theater stage helped him transition to the motion picture field, where he was type-casted as a character actor. Walter’s talent was for “hard-guy” movie parts in over 200 movies and television to his credit. Walter Long was 5’11 inches tall, 175 lbs, brown hair, with gray eyes. Despite his mean looking persona, he was considered a very nice guy. He married to Luray Huntley, actress worked for D.W. Griffith until her death in 1918 from influenza. Walter served state-side during World War I and II and was honorably discharged. He worked in 4 films with Rudolph Valentino “The Sheik” “Son of the Sheik” ”Blood and Sand” and “Moran of the Lady Letty”. Walter died on 4 Jul 1952, at the LA Coliseum. He is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Garden of Memory, Lot 527.

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4 Mar 1930 – Rudy and Jean Acker Wed on Wild Impulse At a Giddy Party and Separate at the End of the Dance.

The legendary Rudy who fed on mash notes, the lounge lizard, the sheik, with only a gross sensory appeal was no more the real Valentino than black is white says Natacha Rambova. He was a great artist, she says, be he wasn’t given the credit for the real art he had. His unusual abilities were neglected to emphasize the grosser side. This forced him into a role he hated to play. He was not a great actor in the sense of Bernhardt or Booth were. Bernhardt studied a role until her brain dictated the emotions. Rudy absorbed his role emotionally and played it intuitively. Natacha Rambova met Rudy in a movie office in Hollywood she recalls. Rudy and I wanted to be married, but we couldn’t because of Jean Acker and she was making it difficult as possible for him to get his divorce. It was during the film of “The Sheik” that divorce proceedings were started and reached their peak of difficulties; so it was a trying time for us both. This early marriage took place shortly after Rudy came to Hollywood just as a lark at a party. From the first, it was a mistake but all Hollywood, of course was crazy mad. People act on impulse and have regrets later. Rudy and Jean Acker scarcely knew each other. They had met one evening at Pauline Fredericks planned a horseback ride together and during that ride became engaged. A few hours later Rudy sauntered into the Hollywood Hotel, where he chanced to meet May Allison and Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell Garger. In the exuberance of a man in love he confessed to them he was going to be married. Mr. and Mrs. Garger were planning a party next evening as a farewell to Richard Rowland, President of Metro. As a sort of fillip to the event, they suggested he get a marriage license immediately and turn their party into a wedding. Rudy, impractical and careless agreed. After the ceremony and supper, they danced until 2:00 a.m. when the bride unceremoniously left him. Jean at that time, was working with Fatty Arbuckle in “The Round Up” and when the disillusioned bride groom sought her out on location the next morning he found she had skipped to Los Angeles. He followed her there only to be told she could never return to him. Rudy left at one for New York to make tests for “The Four Horsemen” and Jean asked for an annulment. They didn’t see each other again for four months. The success from this movie turned Rudy from a penniless nobody to a genuine movie star and Miss Acker changed her demands from annulment to divorce with alimony. Rudy fought this and asked for a divorce in the meantime. He continued to pay dearly for this mistake of his youth even after the divorce was granted. Jean Acker continued to use this to her financial advantage.  For example, she went on a vaudeville tour using the last name of Valentino. She started insisting people call her Mrs. Valentino. She was never a real wife but she certainly did what she could to look like she was the one that was wrong when in reality the injured party was Rudy.

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02 Mar 26 Love Sick Baron picks fight with Sheik

WHAM! A fist shot out and Rudolph Valentino, sheik of the movies, threw up a protecting army and ducked his head. This occurred in the lobby of the Mogador Theatre in Paris, the other day, when The great picture favorite graced the first showing of his own new feature picture with his presence. Those of the audience who had observed Mr. Valentino in the flesh, Sitting quietly in one of the boxes, looked at him with reverent awe. Just as the film was coming to an end he excused himself from his party saying that he would step across the theatre And kiss the hand of the Countess d’Uzes, who was waving at him. He passed up the side aisle and started through the lobby, those by met making way for him as though for royalty. One Man however, did not act that way at all. There were tears in this man’s eyes, a handkerchief in his hand and his nose was red. Mr. Valentino noticed this person, not only because his clothes And manner showed him to be a man of some consequence, but it because it is a triumph for a picture to make a man cry. When the weeper turned his moist eyes on Valentino he jumped as though he seen a ghost. Then he shot out a sentence, in German so hysterically that the actor did not understand it. But when the man’s fist swung viciously at Rudolph’s nose, he understood that gesture, ducked and, with his right, gave the stranger something to cry about. The man went to the floor and arose, but before he could resume the battle, friends of both parties rushed between, cards were exchanged and Mr. Valentino found that he was dated up for a sword duel to be fought at the wretched hour of sunrise. “Who is this fellow and what does he want to fight with me about?” asked Rudolph, with pardonable curiosity. “It is the Baron Imre Lukatz and he says you have been hugging and kissing and stealing his fiancée and all that while he was away” replied Frederico Beltran Masses, a well-known Spanish painter, who had taken charge of Valentino’s interests in this fracas. “But I never saw him before., nor his finance. There is some mistake.” “Possibly”, agreed Masses, “but he demands satisfaction on the field of honor and you see everyone is looking at you, and the Barons face shows that someone has wronged him. I am afraid that you will have to go through with it”. Before the war, Baron Lukatz, who now thirsted for Valentino’s blood was a wealthy Austrian nobleman engaged to marry the very youthful Vilma Banky, daughter of one of the richest families of Budapest and already celebrated as a young beauty. The Baron was a happy and much envied man and then, just as they were about to name the wedding day, the great war came along and postposed everything. The wedding was put off until the triumph of the Central Powers, which was estimated as a matter of 3 to 6 months. When the agony went on, from year to year, the Baron was able to get home from the front just often enough to keep the fires of unsatisfied love aflame. At last the final crash came, and the love-sick nobleman had only one consolation, he was now free to return to marry his beloved. Vilma was apparently as much in love as ever, but suddenly a disagreeable question intruded itself between them like a horrid chaperone. What were they going to marry on? The fortunes of the Baron and the Banky family were invested in securities payable in German marks. They were still technically millionaires, but in reality the mark had been made so worthless that their wealth was about equivalent to a trunk full of cigar coupons. Again the happy day was postponed, while the Baron cast an aristocratic eye around for a job. For every position from head-waiter up, he found several needy Grand Dukes ahead of him. The future looked dark for the love smitten Baron. Just then a ray of light, light for Vilma but not necessarily for the man who had waited so long to marry her. An American moving-picture director saw sufficient promise in Vilma’s beauty and culture to invite her to sign an 2 picture contract and pay her expenses in Hollywood. The girl jumped at the chance and it was all settled when the jobless fiancée returned from a fruitless trip to Paris. The Baron was dismayed at the prospect of parting from the girl he loved for there was nothing in the contract about his expenses. However, he could not stand in the way of a likelihood of such big money, so with a heavy heart, he agreed.  But fate had put him off so often that this time he protested. He thought it was only that before rushing to America she should marry him. Miss Banky was inclined to agree, but the hard-boiled director did not want any strings tied to his new piece of property and talked her out of it. He said: “For an artistic career, a husband is a millstone. Wait until you are an established star and then maybe you will be strong enough to swim with one around your neck. And besides you may fall in love with some of the American millionaires that are always hanging around the studios and then what? Vilma thought this was perfectly silly advice, but she took it just the same, the amorous Baron found himself procrastinated with the promise that she would hurry her two pictures through and then come right back and marry him. When Vilma sailed the Baron felt as lonesome as a lost dog, but distracted his mind by writing a daily letter to his girl, always cautioning her to beware of wicked but fascinating actors. After a while Vilma’s letters grew very vague and infrequent. The Baron became anxious. What did this mean? What was going on? What had happened to his innocent Vilma in wicked America. He had about made up his mind to scrape together funds enough to rush across and rescue her, if it was not too late, when a letter came saying that her first film would soon be released in Europe and shown in Paris. One glance at her face on the screen would surely tell him if drugs, drink, and worse had touched her. Baron Lukatz was the first man in when the doors of thetheatre opened, the long wait and the orchestra strained his nerves to the last notch of suspense. What was he going to see? At last he beheld a close-up of one of the prettiest faces on the screen and, to him, the dearest in the world. “She’s all right. There’s nothing the matter with her!” he cried out in joy and relief at seeing the beautiful expression he knew and loved so well. “Yes, quite all right said an Englishman who sat beside him and looked the Baron over coldly through a monocle, “but why have a fit about it”? The Baron apologized for speaking out and explained Vilma was his fiancée. The Englishman gave him a new and more careful scrutiny. “Extraordinary” he remarked, “most extraordinary” and aimed his monocle back at the screen. The Baron did not care what the Englishman thought, he was happy and a great care was off his mind, but not for long. The other actors seemed clear eyed and decent except those that he knew were made up to look vile. She seemed to be in pretty good company. He got a momentary thrill of indignation when the villains desecrating hands were laid upon his wife to be and broke the strap of her gown. This made the fight for her good name against this husky villain still more unequal, because she now had to hold up her bodice with one hand and fight him off with the other. Still he knew, like everyone else in the movie house, that the forces of law and order and censorship would save the girl somehow and they did. The male star  arrived somewhat overdue, but with a good excuse and gave the villain the beating which he had been earning all through the picture. It was a good job, and when the miscreant had been pounded to a pulp the Baron felt a sense of personal gratitude. He imagined Vilma thanking the young man and saying she wanted him to meet her future husband, the Baron Imre Lukatz, who would also wish to thank him. What the Baron beheld was nothing like that at all. Vilma simply put her white arms around her rescuer’s neck, placed her lips against his and kept them there for what seemed to one man an eternity and she forgot all about that important strap, sole support of her bodice. That was not acting that love stuff in that kiss. That man must of really made love to his Vilma and taken advantage of his absence. Would they never fade out of that infernal kiss. Decent people did not kiss that long. This was terrible. To be six thousand miles away from the woman that you love and know that someone was successfully making love to her to see the proof of it every night on the screen for he could not keep away and he grew to hate that actor as he had never hated before. While collecting funds to start for America and give that hero what the hero had given the villain there came an answer to his outraged complaint. Vilma was hurt and astonished that he could be jealous of an actor, paid to pretend to make love. She wrote to the Baron that she was finishing her second picture and that objectionable actor was now working in Long Island City 3,000 miles away. The Baron received a worse shock. It was perfectly clear to his eyes that with this new man she was worse in love than before. He itched to get his hands on one of these fellows. In response to his cable came the answer that Vilma decided to stay and make one more picture. That was too much. If only fate would let him get his hands on one of them, just one. At the Mogador Theatre in Paris, the other day, the Baron came as usual to suffer at the opening of the newest film, in which he knew his beloved Vilma Banky would play opposite Rudolph Valentino, and he shuddered in expectation of that dreaded love scene he knew would come at the end. It proved to be the worst yet. If heaven would only let him get at the Sheik Valentino he would ask for nothing else. No sooner was that prayer uttered than it was granted. Right there in front of him moving through the lobby loomed the feature he had just been cursing at one the screen. There in the flesh was Rudolph Valentino. Leaping to his feet the distracted lover sprang in front of Valentino and shot his fist at the astonished stars nose, as already described, and the arrangements were made for the “duel” were quickly made. One of the cruelest things about duels and executions is that they are done at daybreak when people ought to be in bed. After a long cold taxi ride in the dark, Rudolph Valentino arrived with his seconds, Frederico Beltron-Masses and Horatio St. Just, a young Italian who was engaged to Miss Millicent Rodgers until the Austrian Count Salm came along and spoiled everything by marrying her. He was willing to get up that early on the chance of seeing an Austrian nobleman get hurt. Dawn was just breaking and Valentino was dressed in silk trousers, white silk shirt and low pumps like a dueler of old walked through the wet grass to the soggy and mist covered field of honor outside of Paris. He brought with him a pair of 18th Century dueling swords. After he had gotten pretty thoroughly chilled Rudolph heard the footsteps and sobbing. That must be the Baron, for he remembered that there had been tears in his eyes the night before, and that his nose was red as if from much weeping. That was the one reason why he had not tried to reason with the man. No use trying to talk with one who is so upset that they are crying. The Baron, followed by his two seconds, marched up to the actor dabbing at his eyes with a handkerchief and sobbed “I am sorry Mr. Valentino. Last night, I was so upset. I could not believe that you were merely doing for pay what I would pay anything to be allowed to do. But I hear that you, have been unhappy in love and I ask that you forgive me for losing my temper. The movie sheik held out his hand for, after all, he did not know what it was really all about except that he had been told to get up in the middle of the night and fight with the stranger or he might be called a coward which would hurt his business. As Valentino was suggesting that they forget all about it and go back to bed, the Baron suddenly embraced him and kissed him, a thing that is likely to happen to anyone in France. Rudolph endured it at the time philosophically, but two days later he was running at the nose and eyes just like the Austrian, who had infected him with a cold. For 10 days the star stayed out of sight with red and swollen nose, mouth and eyes. He says that if he thought the Baron wrecked his vengeance deliberately he would get him back onto the field of honor and flay him alive.

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