One thing we determined was we should have our first Christmas dinner and celebration together in our new home we recently purchased in Whitley Heights. The little furniture I had at the bungalow on Sunset Boulevard was carted up the hill and I finally moved into the new abode two days before Christmas. It was dreadful no hot water and no gas, but we were so excited to be in our own real home that nothing else mattered. The only furniture in the living room was a Christmas tree and one chair. But was a good time we had decorating that tree. It was the first either of us had for quite a few years. There was also a bulgy stocking for each of us tacked on to the fireplace mantle. Wreathes were hung in all the windows and red bells and a Santa Claus made up for the lack of other furnishings. The Christmas dinner was cooked entirely on a little electric stove. But at that moment we thought it was the best we had ever eaten. At midnight, we were to open our presents. We lit the candles on the tree and were just about to begin untying the packages when Rudy suddenly grabbed me by the army and dragged me upstairs. I was pushed into my bedroom and told not to dare to move until he called me down. Next, I heard him racing out of the house and down the hill. I couldn’t imagine what had happened. After 10 long minutes he returned. The outside door banged and I heard him rush downstairs. This was more than my curiosity could stand. I opened the door and called down, asking if I might now descend. No answer. Silence. Then a tiny muffled bark and I too ran downstairs. The head of a Pekinese puppy with two little paws were just visible peering out over the top of my stocking. Rudy stood beside it was waiting in childish expectation to see my surprise . I screamed with delight. I had been longing for another peke, having lost my last one the year before. We opened the rest of our packages, laughed cried and played with the puppy until the candles on the tree burned out. Rudy left and went to his apartment down the hill. Such was our first and happiest Christmas together in our first little home. After the holidays preparations would begin for his next picture “Blood and Sand”. But for this Christmas was one that I would remember with fondness and sadness.
Posts Tagged With: Rudolph Valentino
20 Dec 1921 – Review of “The Sheik”
The 7,984,521 odd people who are scheduled to pay admissions to the theatres where “The Sheik” is playing will have the disappointment of their lives if they think that this movie will afford them any of the adolescent thrills that were provided in such abundance by the book. For “The Sheik” in film form is as clean as the virgin sands of the Sahara. Although it follows the plot of the novel fairly closely, the sting has been removed with great care and precision. The affair between Lady Diana and the handsome Arab has been placed upon the same plane of purity as Ivory Soap. In other respects, however, “The Sheik” is worth-while entertainment. The desert scenes are well staged and beautifully photographed, and there is some good action when the forces of the Sheik do battle with the henchmen of the bandit, Omair. Rudolph Valentino, in the lead role, strengthens the conviction that he is one of the few fine actors of the screen. He lacks variety of expression, but he possesses a sense of restraint, and he is graceful and well poised to a remarkable degree. His only real fault is that he uses too much shoe polish on his hair. As a moving picture, “The Sheik” is no world-beater. But even the most confirmed deprecator of the dumb drama can not say that it is as bad from an artistic or literary standpoint –as the book.
13 Dec 1918 – Joe Maxwell Makes Film
Joe Maxwell known in theatrical circles as a prolific author of vaudeville sketches has turned photoplay producer and is launching his first picture under the brand Maxwell Productions. He has staged a story by Hayden Talbot, which may be described as a society thriller and which is said to contain a unique domestic plot. The title “The Married Virgin” applies to a complication which by an odd twist develops a happy ending for the drama. Mr. Maxwell made the picture in Los Angeles and believes he has a very fine production. A quintet of screen favorites take the principal characters. They are Kathleen Kirkham, Vera Sisson, Rudolpho di Valentina, Edward Jobson and Frank Newkirk. “The Married Virgin” is seven reels will be released through General Film Company.
11 Dec 1926 – Properties go to Auction
Old Bill McGuire of the range, who was groom for Rudolph Valentino’s horses for years, today stood before the empty stalls in the stable adjoining Falcon Lair in Beverly Hills, home of the late silent film star and mourned for his departed pets. In the first stall “Firefly” magnificent Arabian steed once pawed and whinnied. In those other stalls Yacqui, Haroun, and Ramadan all geldings once dwelt in horsely splendor so to speak. And today they were gone to new masters and new homes. Firefly that once carried the dashing Valentino across the desert sand in “The Son of the Sheik” was bought for $1225 by J. Moran. Cy Clegg horseman of Culver City bought the other three for $1000. Valentino had valued his horses at more than $5000. “Now that their gone I don’t know what to do”? said old Bill McGuire. “Guess I’ll go back to the range no use staying round here. There are too many memories”. Before the horses were placed on the auction block the Valentino home of sixteen rooms and eight acres of ground was sold for $145,000 to Jules Howard, NYC Jeweler, who sent his offer by telegraph from the east. Seven acres of hill-top property and Valentino’s three cars were also sold. “Shaitain and “Sheila” a pair of Italian Mastiff’s brought from Italy and raised by the late star went for $58. And $60. Two western bridles and martingale went for $64. The first pretentious home Valentino built is Hollywood after rise to fame and fortune will be sold at auction this afternoon.
2017 – Lover for eternity
I discovered someone wrote a fiction article containing 23,500 words about Rudolph Valentino. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this very much and would love to tell the author “LadyLetty” thank you for writing this…
http://archiveofourown.org/works/10356555?view_full_work=true
15 Mar 1922 – My thoughts on Women By Rudolph Valentino, Photoplay Magazine
All women are divided into two classes in the mind of a man. Often they are so mixed up that you do not know which is which until you go down very deep. Then it does not matter, for in an affair of amour a counterfeit is often better than the real thing. In my poor English, let me say that there are what I would call joy-women and duty-women. Now understand, the joy woman may be very good and the duty woman might even be bad. That is just their relation to man. The first kind are the kind that you want to take with you on your joyful carefree wanderings into life’s highways and byways. The other are the women who are possibilities to share the principal things of life – home, family, and children. For a wife, a man should pick out a woman who is pretty, has a good disposition, and is domestically inclined. They are very rare now, I admit. One is too apt to be deceived by their easy method of comradeship. Let her be your inferior, if possible. Then she will be happy with you. It is much more essential to marriage that a woman be happy in it than a man. I do not mean a butterfly that flits from beauty parlor to beauty parlor. But a good woman who has the old-fashioned virtues. We Europeans do not expect too much of one woman. The difficulty with love and marriage in this country is that the man has let the game get out of his hand. A woman can never have a happy love affair with a man unless he is her superior. It just can’t be done. The love affair where the woman is the stronger in mind and knowledge is always a tragedy or a farce. I do not like women who know too much. Remember, it was from the serpent that Eve was given that apple from the Tree of Knowledge. Just so I would make the Tree of Knowledge of Life today – forbidden to women. If they must eat of it, let them do so in secret and burn the core. Do not misunderstand this that I say. I do not mean this in regards to intelligence, to education, even to position. The more cultured and accomplished a woman is, the more exquisite she is to love, the more like gold that is soft to touch and handle. With her, all is delicate and attractive, all is beautiful and fine, her mind is attuned to beauty – and beauty is of itself a religion. No, when I speak thus of an inferior – a superior – I mean in experience of life, in power to do, in ways to love. The man may be a digger in the ditch, and the woman a teacher in the school, but he is the master of her if he knows more of the world than she does. It is not becoming that a woman should know the world. It is not proper that a lady should of to places or to things where she acquires this knowledge. If she knows these things, she must be clever enough to conceal her knowledge, like the girl who can swim a mile, yet with much grace and helplessness she allows me to teach her swimming. How completely the modern woman in America tries to destroy romance. How ugly and cut-and-dry is has become – love. Either it must be marriage or it must be ugly scandal. The brilliant, absorbing, delightful, dangerous, innocent – sometimes – sport of life, how it goes. She knows too much about life and too little about emotion. She knows all of the bad and none of the good about passion. She has seen everything, felt nothing. She arouses in me disgust.Sometimes a man may feel that he would rather a woman had done many, many bad things – read bad things – and yet been delicate, and quiet and dignified, than to see her common. If the bloom has been rubbed from the peach, let her paint it back on with an artistic hand. Should I try again to find me a wife, I say, let me find one who wishes to have children and who when she has had them, wishes to take care of them. That is the proper test for a good woman who is to share the side of your life. No other woman can ever mean to a man what his children’s mother means to him – if she does not lot herself get fat and ugly and old. No man can love a woman who lets herself get fat, and careless and unpleasant. He must constantly make comparisons of her with the beautiful young girls about. A wife’s first duty is to keep her husband from making comparisons. Of all the women I have known, the Frenchwomen are the most nearly perfect. No matter what their age or class may be, they have that touch of domesticity, that sweet and gentle something that lends a delicacy even to the wildness of the senses. Thy know how to amuse, how to touch the heart, they have the sixth sense of pleasing a man with their perfection. And they are so very well dressed. All of them. American women are terribly pretty. Even when they are quite ugly, they are pretty. They are always rather well dressed. And they always behave as though they were beautiful. Which gives them great poise. But they lack softness, they lack feminine charm and sweetness. You cannot imagine them doing their bits of sewing, washing, mending, and what not. They dazzle but they do not warm. They are magnificent when they are dressed up, but I never have seen one who was likewise at ease and delicious and feminine in the kitchen or the nursery. They are so restless, too. Nothing interferes with romance like restlessness. It destroys those subtle shadings that are the very breath of its life. I do not blame the women for all this. I blame the American man. He cannot hold a woman, dominate and rule her. Naturally things have come to a pretty pass. He is impossible as a lover. He cares nothing for pleasing the woman. He is not master in his own house. He picks and nags about little things, and then falls down in big ones. I love the dainty, little woman, who plays seriously at being domestic. She fascinates me. Everything womanly, distinctly feminine, in a woman, appeals to me. I adore her bird-like ways, her sweet pretenses, her delicious prettiness. I love her almost as one loves a cunning child, and when to this is added the filipe of sex, she becomes perfect. I do not like in her flippant, cold-blooded little tricks, but those soft, lovable ways of a little woman, those melting, helpless little ways of hers — that bring tears to your eyes and fire to your lips. Then there is the silent, mysterious woman who fences divinely. Who knows silently and secretly the secrets of the couquette — that last art of woman, in always leaving herself an opportunity to retreat. Who has always at hand that last weapon of woman — surrender. The greatest asset to a woman is dignity. It is her shield. With it, she may commit indiscretions that a vulgar puritan could never attempt. Dignity in a woman always puzzles a man. He likes it. He admires it. He feels confidence in the woman who displays it. He knows that she will never make a fool of herself or of him.
16 April 1922 – Has Chuletas
Chuletas? Yep Rudolph Valentino’s got em. There not a new variety of smallpox or anything contagious. However, just very fancy sideburns that are a feature of the stars get-up as the bull-fight hero of “Blood and Sand”. They’re super-sideburns one might say, swooping almost half an inch below the bottom of the ear, They are a sign distinguishing the champion matador from the less notable of the bull-fighting clan. For where a banderilla or a picador is allowed sideburns that slip gingerly halfway down to the ear it is the matador alone who may indulge in the luxury of a hirasute adornment covering a good portion of each side of the face. While they are a valuable and finishing touch-up to his makeup as the main character. Valentino is not in favor of “chuletas” as a regular thing. His favorite safety is all set to do telling damage when the end of the picture allows a return to the normalcy of a clean shave
6 Nov 1921 Dancing Idol from Italy
Rudolph Valentino the celebrated young dancer who has the leading male role in “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and in “The Conquering Power” Rex Ingram’s productions, found his way to fame and fortune through his nimble feet. Things happened swiftly for him in New York. Soon he was busy teaching Broadway’s regulars his graceful steps. He appeared at Rector’s as a dancing partner of Bonnie Glass. Following this engagement with one in the Winter Garden and a long term contract in Vaudeville. Valentino’s first picture appearance was with Mae Murry in “The Big Little Person” and “The Delicious Little Devil”. He appeared in numerous other pictures including “Eyes of Youth”, “Man-Woman Marriage. When Rex Ingram began casting for a suitable player to enact the difficult role of Julio of “The Four Horsemen” he immediately sought Valentino. His splendid portrayal of the part, caused him to be selected by Madame Nazimova to support her in the product of “Camille” in which he appears in the role of Armand. In “The Conquering Power” which was adapted by June Mathis from Balzac’s “Eugenie Grandet” Valentino portrayed the dandified hero, Charles Grandet.
15 Nov 1925 Pola Negri Beauty Recipe
Pola Negri tells me her keeping young recipe includes an early to bed program, lots of fresh air imbibed in the pursuit of tennis, horseback riding and swimming. NO candy and no smoking. She does not smoke because she believes it will spoil the complexion and teeth. Bodily and facial massage twice a week is on her program. For the benefit of those correspondents who deluge Pola Negri with queries about where and how she had her plastic surgery done, she begs publicity be given the fact that her face never has been skinned, lifted or otherwise surgically treated. Her nose, too, has been carefully guarded from any surgical knife. Not all the Hollywood colony, would make such declamatory remarks about face lifting. One learns the work has become profitable here. One learns the names of the surgeons, but they won’t tell on their patients. If the patients confide to anyone it must be to their father confessors.
15 Nov 1967 – Valentino Ring Sold in Auction
Portland Maine was the scene of a recent auction featuring a very famous ring by Silent Film Star Rudolph Valentino who has been dead for more than 40 years, but he has not been forgotten. Mrs. Homer Strong, Rochester, NY purchased the ring he wore in the movies for $1000. A clerk said the ring, containing a black intaglio of a man on horseback on a heavy hand hammered platinum mounting, would be worth about $250 without the Valentino connection.
10 Sep 1935 – Balboni Back to Stay
Following the death of his wife June Mathis, five years ago. Silvano Balboni returned to his native Italy to produce films. But he is back now to supervise the technical details of Edward Small’s picture “The Melody Lingers ON” which has an Italian locale, and he intends to remain. Balboni started photographing movies in 1910 – he is 40 now and later he directed several pictures here and in England. While working in London, he induced a young stock actor to try the films. The actor was Ronald Coleman, Miss Mathis was a noted scenarist and the discoverer of Rudolph Valentino.
8 Nov 1925 – Pola Entertains
Pola Negri entertained in honor of Michael Arlen with a dinner dance at the Biltmore. As predicted this was the very beginning of emerald no to say very verdant social affairs in Cinema land, where charming people have gathered the past week and worn “green hats”. Miss Negri’s affair was distinguished and comme il faut as those of this delightful hostess always are. The Arlenesque motif was emphasized more than in the green hats in which green ice cream was served. In a gown of pale green duchess satin trimmed with rhinestones and black velvet wearing emeralds and diamonds as adorning jewels, the hostess received thirty guests in an embowered suite, the prevailing flowers being bronze and yellow chrysanthemums arranged with a profusion of maidenhair fern to give again the green motif. Training the cloth of the long table were thirty yards of ribbon made from saucy-faced pansies pale yellow roses and maidenhair. Green candles marked the table at intervals in jade and alabaster candlesticks. Dining and dancing were the order of the evening and among those who participated in the festivity in addition to the hosts and honor guest was Rudolph Valentino, Mr & Mrs. Charles Eyton, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Elliot, Mr & Mrs. Manuel Reachi, Mr. & Mrs. St Clair, MAJ Fullerton Weaver, Sid Grauman, M. Cimini, Mme Cimini, Ralph Block. Following the day of Miss Negri’s party, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Borzage were host and hostess at the usual Sunday morning bridle-path party. But this time the affair was in honor of the lion of Cinemaland, whose roar is assiduously sought. At least, until another lion comes this way. After a long cantor through Griffith Park bridle paths an outdoor buffet breakfast was served in the park. Glimpsed along the autumn paths in addition to Mr. Arlen and the hosts were Bebe Daniels, Mrs. Phyllis Daniels, Rudolph Valentino, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Lloyd, Ben White, Marie Mosquini, Mrs. Joseph Sanders, Ed Kane, Mr. and Mrs., William Howard, William Collier, Irving Thalberg, Mrs. H.G. Rogers, Kathleen Clifford, M.P. Illich, Ray Owens. Following the return canter the entire party gathered at the Borzage home where they were joined by Julia Faye, Mr. and Mrs. Dave Butler, Roy Stewart, Mr. Borzage’s brother William who contributed to the incidental musical entertainment featured throughout the day. Luncheon was served buffet.
Medal for Acting
Rudolph Valentino announced yesterday he would present each year a handsome gold medal to the motion picture actor or actress who gives the best performance of the year.
02 Nov 1959 Pseudo Valentino Son Mailed Obscene Letter to famous Actress
A 37 year old man who claims to be the son of the late movie idol Rudolph Valentino faced extradition to Florida today, where he allegedly mailed an obscene letter to actress Debbie Reynolds. But Tony Guglielmi, alias Anthony Williams, said he has no hard feelings towards Miss Reynolds despite the charge against him. “She’s not even a fan of mine” he said. Guglielmi, his Italian name was arraigned as Williams Thursday Before U.S. Commissioner Joe Huttstutler who set bond at $3000. The obscene letter was mailed from Miami, Florida on 3 Sep 1959, Federal Officers said. Gugliemi told Federal Marshals he was the son of Valentino.
31 Oct 1976 In His Hometown Rudolph Valentino Still Is A Legend
Rudolph .Valentino dressed as an Argentine Gaucho cuts in on a couple on the dance floor, knocks the man down and sweeps the girl into his arms for a slow tango, followed by a kiss. Later, as a sheik he wraps his arms around the woman he enslaved and carries her off to his tent in the desert. Only a few here still recall the scenes, but no matter Valentino was the most famous son of this town of 16,000 in southern Italy. Recently the locals got together in a movie theater to mark the anniversary of his death of 31 to see him again in “The Sheik” and “Blood and Sand” and to defend him against suggestions that the great lover was not really a great lover. The mayor, Gabriel Semeraro, announced a program of grants for students who want to help clear up any doubts about Valentino. He made it clear that people in Castellaneta were not too happy with some of the things being said about the local boy who made so good. “Some writers and others, are again casting aspersions and are trying to denigrate him by questioning his virility” said Michele Gravina, a city official”. “They won’t succeed. If people are still talking about Valentino 50 years after his death there has to be something to the myth”. It is difficult not to talk about Valentino here, even if his name is not a household word among the young. There is a ceramic statue of him, dressed as a sheik, that sits along the promenade; the Valentino Bar; the plaque on the house on Via Roma, where he was born; the Valentino laundry; the Rudy Bar; and the Valentino movie theater now showing an adults-only epic called “The Niece of the Priest”. Moreover, there is the couch in the apartment of Rita Maidarizzi. She is 72 and remembers when young Rudolph Guglielmi as he was known then, used to visit her family in the second floor apartment on Via Ospedale where she still lives. And she remembers a day in 1925, when he returned for a brief visit to sip some coffee, eat some biscuits, and talk about his success in the 12 years since he immigrated. “He used to drink out of these cups”, she said as she poured coffee for visitors. “He used to sleep in that bed over there, because he always had trouble with his father and liked to come over here. And he often sat on that couch. “When he died 50 years ago, women came from all over to sit on that couch and weep. Sometimes they went on like idiots”. Miss Maidarizzi, who keeps a file of newspaper clippings on Valentino said the number of tourists have declined over the years. Few come now and ask permission to go through her house. Mr. and Mrs. Vito Staffieri, who lived in the home in which Valentino was orn, also are untroubled by visitors, despite the plaque outside. “We bought the house 15 years ago,” said Staffieri a farm worker. “An American knocked on the door a couple of years ago and asked to see Valentino’s bedroom. We let him in”.
17 Oct 1930 – Natacha Rambova in Paris
Meanwhile, talking and walking we arrive at a French Restaurant and at a nearby table is the former wife of late film star Rudolph Valentino with her brunette tresses underneath a red turban. When her ex-husband died his brother Alberto Valentino was asked whom he wished to give the honor of pall-bearer. Alberto Valentino replied “The Italian Counsel of Hollywood Count Gardenico, Count Caraciccolo, Count Carminati; Charlie Chaplain, George Fitzmaurize, King Vidor”. They all were very special friends to my brother…
19 Oct 1923 – Pola Negri Plans Fete to Polish General
Mme. Pola Negri will entertain 500 guests tomorrow evening at a brilliant function at the Biltmore Hotel in honor of Gen. Joseph Haller of the Polish Army, famous in the chronicles of Poland’s recent wars. Gen. Haller, who is in America as the representative of the Polish government, is the guest of the American Legion. During the three days he and his party will be in Los Angeles, they will be the house guests of his famous countrywoman Mme. Negri. The dinner will be followed by brief addresses by the hostess, Gen. Haller, and other distinguished guests, and the party will conclude with dancing, lasting until midnight. Gen Haller, will leave Monday for Washington, DC.
2018 – Rudolph Valentino Calendar
Ms. Donna Hill has just unveiled the 2018 edition of the annual Rudolph Valentino calendar. This edition depicts pictures on Valentino’s costume films. In his career he was more often an exotic Arab Sheik or Argentine Gaucho, in this calendar he can be seen and appreciated in many of his various roles. Ms. Hill does such a fabulous job every year and I always make sure to purchase a copy. The price is $15.00 and I highly encourage you to purchase early. They also make great Christmas gifts.
http://www.lulu.com/shop/donna-hill/rudolph-valentino-in-costume-2018/calendar/product-23377230.html
16 Oct 1953 – Easterner Named Rudolph Valentino Has His Troubles
Nobody will believe a handsome restaurant worker here when he tells them his name is Rudolph Valentino. “They think I am kidding”, he explained with an engaging smile. Actually, there is no relation between Rochester, NY’s Rudolph and the silent movies idolized lover of yesteryear with the same name. But enough years have passed to dim memories of the great Valentinos appearance, so there is quite a fuss whenever anyone discovers Rochester Rudolph’s full name. the second time someone meets me, the wisecracks start the local man points out. “Its come to a point where I don’t tell anyone my last name if I can help it”. When he was younger he felt his name gave him a psychological edge with the opposite sex. “It certainly never scared the girls away” he said. At the restaurant where Rudolph works, many bets have been made whether or not his name is real. The losers generally want to know how good a lover Rochester Rudy is. When he tried to enlist in the Marine Corps, the recruiter tore up his first application. Thought he was a wise guy. Rudolph got his name after a three-week argument between his mother and father following his birth in Radicena, Italy 35 years ago. Dad finally won out
2 Oct 1923 – Will Rudolph Valentino play Romeo to the Juliet of Norma Talmadge?
Will Rudolph Valentino play Romeo to the Juliet of Norma Talmadge? That question has been buzzing along Broadway for several days with the sharps of the film world trying to find out just what a move of that sort would mean? The pair were voted the ideal could for the roles in the Shakespearian love tragedy in a voting contest held for motion pictures fans in a Chicago news paper which likewise held a contest in its New York pictorial adjunct at the same time. But because fans voted it thus doesn’t make it so. In connection with the general idea Joseph Schenck and J.D. Williams have been in conference, If the deal could be put together with the sanction of Adolph Zukor it would be a distinct feather in their caps, although the question as to who would have the distribution of the picture would be an interesting one. Norma Talmadge is a First National Picture star and it is hardly likely that organization which has the call on the product would stand for a picture co-starring her with Valentino going elsewhere. Valentino so the courts still hold that he is still under contract to Famous Players and could only appear over here with their consent.
7 Sep 1926 – Picture of Rudy Stolen
In Huntington Park thieves during the night made away with several large photographs of the late Rudolph Valentino which had been placed in one of the large photograph frames in the local theater, according to the manager of the theater.
12 Oct 1930 – The Truth About Rudolph Valentino By Natacha Rambova
Startled as I was. I looked back at my cards and said in a low voice to the boys: “Don’t look up or appear to notice it, but someone is on the veranda; I just saw the screen door open a trifle”. Nonsense said Rudy. “It’s only the wind”. “But no wind is blowing it’s too sultry”. Then again, that ghostly opening of the door and back of it the outline of a man. So I said in a still lower voice “I see a man peering in. Uncle Dickies revolver is in his top bureau drawer. Gerry, you run up and get it and Rudy and I will keep on playing cards as though we had noticed nothing”. Gerry arose, saying nonchalantly, “It’s my turn to get the drinks tonight” and sauntered unconcernedly out of the room. Rudy and I sat there, not daring to look up lest we spoil the neat little game we had planned, waiting for Gerry to come back. But why didn’t he come? What had happened? We never suspected that revolver in hand, he had run quickly down the backstairs, out the back door, and tiptoed stealthily along the veranda to the front of the house. The first we heard was Gerry’s voice ringing out “Damm you! Hold up your hands or I will shoot”. He had taken the eavesdropper by surprise. Rudy and I stood spellbound during the scuffle in the dark that followed. It was punctuated by muttered growls, the thud of heavy bodies then a silence that seemed interminable, and at least three quick shots. Far out in the darkness an agonized scream. Then dead silence. We both rushed to the window shrieking, “Gerry, Gerry are you killed”? NO answer. Like a flash Rudy bounded up the stairs shouting, there’s a shotgun in your mother’s room. I flew after him at equal speed. Mother who had retired early was lying in the darkness when Rudy burst in shouting “Gerry’s been killed” where is the shotgun? While mother fumbled for candles we had no electricity at Foxlair Rudy seized the gun and was off. I was hanging on his coat tails. “Don’t do it Rudy”. I was screaming. “You’ll be disfigured for life. Remember you belong to the screen the public”. Followed another scuffle in the dark, this one between Rudy and me, which ended with both of us flying out the front door into the night. When some 10 minutes later we returned, mud-bedraggled still toting our gun, we found Gerry standing in the living room, so thoroughly drenched and mud-encrusted that only the whites of his eyes and his teeth shone through the clay mask to identify him. He was administering first aid to mother, who a moment earlier, had entered the living room with her candle and mistaking Gerry for the miscreant had screamed for help and fainted. And now the story came out as much of it as we ever learned. Gerry on the veranda, had seized picked himself up, ran after the man and shot at him blind three times just like that. The station master at North Creek told us, when we made an inquiry that a stranger had left by the early morning train, a man who was in evident pain and walked with two canes holding one foot from the ground. He was well dressed, tall, young and good looking. He had driven up in a Ford car with another stranger, bought a ticket for New York and boarded the train, while his companion drove quickly away. One heavenly summer morning we sorrowfully bade goodbye to the beautiful mountains of Fox Lair. The trouble awaited us in New York was far worse that we had feared. Rudy suddenly found himself involved in a colossal litigation against the wealthiest, most powerful organization in the motion picture industry. Its giant tentacles were so far ramifying, its influence so widespread that Rudy, in his efforts, to combat them, was helpless as a lone swimmer in mid-ocean with every current and wind against him. His fight made cinema history. Other screen actors since motion pictures began had their tiffs and bouts with producers. These were mere children’s quarrels in comparison, in which the children were spanked and made to behave. Rudolph Valentino was a world famous star, the popular idol of two continents, with a gigantic following of fans, enormous pulling power at the box office. All the facts involved were so startling, the punishment he had to take was so severe, that the case, at the time, blazed in newspapers over the entire world, in headlines line those a few years ago, had announced victory or defeat in a war zone. But this was back in 1922 and 1923 the world very quickly forgets. I will briefly review the highlights. As soon as we perceived that the case could not be dismissed in a day, or a month, or a year, we made the best arrangements we could for a protracted stay in New York. Since mother and Uncle Dicky (Richard Hudnut) could no longer postpone their trip to Europe, we wired my aunt, Mrs. Werner always out first aid in trouble, to come on from the coast to be our chaperon. Mother and Uncle Dickie sailed off on the Olympic one morning wishing us good luck, which we needed and early the same evening auntie arrived from the coast. I must tell you about my beloved aunt Mrs. Theresa Werner. The world is familiar with her name because Rudy remembered her in his will. He loved her as much as I did even more, he used to tell me. As no other woman in the world could have done, she took the place of his own mother. Her home was in Salt Lake City, Utah but she often visited us in California and was one of those rare people who could be the third in a household without having the other two cordially wish she wasn’t. Auntie was never there when we didn’t want her and always there when we did, the most tactful, kindest, and most thoroughly adorable woman who ever lived. And how delighted we both were to see her. Auntie and I setup housekeeping in an attractive apartment on West 67th Street, while Rudy moved to the Hotel des Artistes to share an apartment with his friend, Frank Menillo. Gerry, exhausted by his long-term of service as companion and ex-officio chaperon, had by this time fled back to Hollywood. Under these arrangements both Rudy and I could have a taste of home life and still comply with the rule for “separate residences”until the long year should pass and we could be remarried. The first part of our litigations with Famous Players was very unfortunate. Our case was inadequately handled painfully so, we learned by that time it was too late to make amends. The facts which had made the real breach between Rudy and his producers were not even mentioned in the affidavit which our lawyer drew up. Famous Players promised Rudy first, that if he would finish “The Young Rajah” in Hollywood even though I had to fly to New York, that he might make his other pictures in the east, where we could be together. Second, that he might have the privilege of choosing his own director, his own pictures, in the future. None of these promises had been kept, which constituted Rudy’s case against them. But these important facts were not mentioned in the papers our lawyer drew up. The only points stressed in the case he made were ridiculous, petty annoyances, and complaints that Rudy did not have a dressing room of his own and between shots he had to sit on a stump in the sun: that he bawled out before the extras and prop boys in the studios other things that belittled him in the eyes of the court and the public.. What man in his sanity would go to court for petty grievances like these? Why a so-called lawyer should be so little interested in winning his case was something neither Rudy nor I could understand until later. As a result, Famous Players-Laskey were granted a complete injunction against Rudy, one of the most paralyzing injunctions ever issued by an American court. It barred him from production of any kind, not only on the screen and stage but from any kind of work whereby he might earn a legitimate livelihood. By the terms of this injunction he couldn’t even sweep the streets for a dime, drive a taxicab, or pull weeds in anyones garden nothing whereby he might support himself. And our finances in their usual precarious condition. Of course, this violated the personal liberty of a citizen of the U.S. so it was quickly modified. Yet, even so, it was bad enough. I, myself could have supported us both quite easily by dancing in vaudeville. Many offers of this kind were made but always when I found came to accept them I found there suddenly and mysteriously withdrawn. We checked on every side. Fortunately, a friend in need, Joe Godsol, then president of Metro came to our rescue. What we would have done without is generosity and kindness, I scarcely dare think. The help he gave us was entirely free from any security on Rudy’s part indeed, we had none to offer. Joe did not even ask interest on his loan nor accept it when offered. This unselfish proof of friendship will never be forgotten. Although the monetary debt was paid immediately the injunction was modified to permit Rudy to work, yet there are some debts money cannot pay. Our debt to Joe is one of these. Rudy’s case against Famous Players-Lasky finally settled after long litigations was significant in this respect. Now everything became suddenly quite different. On the Famous Players-Lasky lot in Hollywood every star had his or her special dressing room; private bungalows sprung up like mushrooms everything was done to make their work agreeable as possible. This sudden right-about-face in this treatment of actors was very amusing to us who had a sense of humor likewise gratifying. This radical change in attitude extended to all other organizations in the industry. But all this is a little ahead of my story. In his litigation with Famous Players-Lasky things continued to go badly until Rudy and I changed lawyers and secured Max Steuer to handle our case.
7 Oct 1971 – Little Known Fact
Veteran actor of yesteryear Joel McCrea ambition to succeed on the screen dates back to the time Rudolph Valentino engaged Joel to teach him the finer points of horseback riding. For days they rode around Hollywood together, becoming so well acquainted that Valentino confided his salary to McCrea. “That settled it” says Joel. “From that moment on, I knew I wanted to be a screen actor and I went right after my goal. Two years after his first screen portrayal, McCrea was playing leads. He has a keen eye for business and purchased a ranch 50 miles from Hollywood, where he raised horses. It seems that horses were interwoven in his scheme. First, the Valentino incident started him on his way; then he acquired a horse ranch. Valentino played an important role that Joel had never forgot.
7 Sep 1926 – Officer leading Valentino Cortege Injured in Crash
Ill fate rode hard at the head of the Valentino funeral party yesterday. Motorcycle Officer Voy Apt was knocked unconscious when he and an automobile collided. At the White Memorial Hospital he was said to be suffering from a concussion, lacerated forehead and eyebrow, broken and dislocated right wrist, bruises on the right knee and other injuries all which make his condition serious. Apt was one of two motorcycle police officers leading the party that took the body of Rudolph Valentino off the train and to the mortuary. According to a police report, SE Funk 28 North Margarita Avenue was driving ahead of the procession near 810 Mission Road and suddenly swerved his car to turn around when Apt crashed into him. Funk was slated to appear in Police court to answer a charge of turning in the middle of a block and Apt was hurried off unconscious to Receiving Hospital where he was given first aid and then transferred to White Hospital. Apt is 29 years of age. He lives at 2731 North Normandie Avenue. Hospital attaches said he will probably recover. It does not appear they said that his skull was fractured.
23 Sep 1939 – Valentino Ring is Given Up to Chan
Thomas Chan 40 year old, Nicollet Avenue Jeweler and Art dealer in rare objects was in possession today of the Rudolph Valentino ring a 15 carat canary diamond ring was designed for the late film star. which brought about his arrest in New Orleans last March. Customs agents arrested Chan on smuggling charges, claiming he brought the rare ring, made for Valentino into this country from England. Chan paid $3,617 in penalties and $14,000 in other assessments before Uncle Sam would return the ring to him. He pleaded guilty to smuggling charges.
2 Oct 1923 – Will Rudolph Valentino play Romeo to the Juliet of Norma Talmadge?
Will Rudolph Valentino play Romeo to the Juliet of Norma Talmadge? That question has been buzzing along Broadway for several days with the sharps of the film world trying to find out just what a move of that sort would mean? The pair were voted the ideal could for the roles in the Shakespearian love tragedy in a voting contest held for motion pictures fans in a Chicago news paper which likewise held a contest in its New York pictorial adjunct at the same time. But because fans voted it thus doesn’t make it so. In connection with the general idea Joseph Schenck and J.D. Williams have been in conference, If the deal could be put together with the sanction of Adolph Zukor it would be a distinct feather in their caps, although the question as to who would have the distribution of the picture would be an interesting one. Norma Talmadge is a First National Picture star and it is hardly likely that organization which has the call on the product would stand for a picture co-starring her with Valentino going elsewhere. Valentino so the courts still hold that he is still under contract to Famous Players and could only appear over here with their consent.
14 Sep 1936 In Hollywood
Some months ago, when Central Casting Bureau staged a style parade to cut down its “dress extra” list and retain only the most eligible candidates, few recognized one smartly dressed blonde who stepped across the stage with the others and won, by judges verdict, the right to a place on the list. One reason so few identified her was that Jean Acker, in the days when she was screen and stage star was a brunette. But mainly was because the first Mrs. Rudolph Valentino had been in retirement, living on her income, for several years. The other day Jean Acker got the first “break” she has had in her comeback career. A Greta Garbo set was crowded with extras, ready for a big ballet scene in “Camille”. Leader of the ballet was Adrienne Matzenauer, daughter of the Operatic Prima Donna and then the word spread that Adrienne was ill. Director, George Cukor, with delay threatening a cost of thousands looked around the set and his eyes fell on a box peopled by dress extras. One of them was Jean Acker. Within an hour or so she had been rushed to “wardrobe” had done a hasty rehearsal, and they were shooting the scene. Mr. Cukor was grand to me she says and my gang they were wonderful, applauding after I’d finished. “My gang” referred to the other extras. Miss Acker is proud to be “starting again at the bottom”. Once she drew $3500 a week on the stage, after leaving films, and her salary in pictures was substantial. She retired with some $300,000 and then came 1929. “I had enough to live very conservatively, for a while” she says, “and then I had to go to work”. I didn’t want to intrude on my friends, or bother them. I had some nice clothes, so I turned to extra work. I hoped that if I was around, I would be seen. That’s better than waiting for something big to happen. “And I am happy, I have a little house, a garden, a little car, and work. I’d like to get back into bigger parts I think I could be a cross between Joan Blondell and a Genevieve Tobin, playing sophisticated but not hard characters”. But even if I keep on as I am, I’ll still be happy. I’m philosophical about things now. She can talk about her own misfortunes brightly, but she does not like to talk about Valentino. They say she is the only woman who still goes regularly to visit his tomb in the Hollywood cemetery, but she does not speak of that either, except to say that she is Irish and sentimental. Once she refused an offer of $25,000 for a story on the late great lover. She could use the money now, she says, but there still has been no authorized Valentino story with her byline.
8 Sep 1926
1928 – Cult of Valentino Formed
Publication sometime ago in European papers of a story from Hollywood to the effect that the former impresario of Rudolph Valentino was making a collection for the purpose of providing a worthy resting place for the film star’s ashes has produced what German newspapers call “a peculiar echo” in Hungary. It is related that the attention of the Budapest police was drawn recently in the fact that a young man calling himself a moving picture director was organizing Rudolph Valentino Clubs in various parts of the country, with an initiation fee of 10 pengos ($1.75) and annual dues of 25 pengos. The announced object of these clubs was in “cherish the memory and promote the spirit of Rudolph Valentino”. One of the club by-laws read: “The members are obligated to think of Valentino at least once a day. In go to see all Valentino films and to agitate for the showing of more of his films in the kino houses. Furthermore, on the anniversary of the death of the film star, 23 Aug, each member is to send an annual gift to Hollywood so that the urn containing Valentino’s ashes maybe decorated with flowers”. Despite the fact that pengos do not grow on bushes in Hungary. It is averred in the report that several hundred Valentino admirers mostly young girls have already paid their dues by the time the police began their investigation. In return for their money the members receive Valentino badges entitling them to participate in the annual memorial services to be conducted at the expense of the society. Answering questions by the police, the young organizer insisted that he had forwarded all his receipts to Hollywood and that he was doing this work purely out of admiration for the departed artist. As no charges were lodged against him by any of the club members, the young man was not held under arrest, but was told that he would be kept under observation until information regarding his statements could be obtained from Hollywood. In the meantime, further investigation is said to have revealed the fact that some Valentino Clubs were composed largely of believers in spiritualism and that seances’, with the shade of the film star as the chief attraction, had been on the order of the day, or night, for several weeks. One young girl told police that Valentino’s spirit made frequent visits to his Budapest admirers. This girl, the daughter of a rich industrialist, said that Valentino’s shade complained bitterly at the shortness of human memory and at the failure of his one-time enthusiasts to erect a suitable monument to him. She considered it her special task to carry on a campaign with the object of calming Rudolph Valentino’s uneasy spirit.
2 Sep 1930 – Rudolph Valentino’s Fans Still Care
Hundreds of letters which continue to pour in are from mature women who claim to be in touch with Rudolph Valentino says George Ullman, Former Valentino Business Manager. “Some claim he is their lover, and visits them regularly. Others assert he is trying in vain to get into communication with former friends on earth. They there are the persons who say is trying to relay messages through them about the disposition of his estate. Look at some of the letters which have been addressed on the general subject of Rudolph and his affairs.
From New York – “You might think that I am a sort of flapper, but I am a home girl. I wish you would come to New York and talk to dear Rudy with me. Oh, make haste, the time has come, make haste”.
From Douglas, AZ – “I have been spending the nights in the desert with Rudy and I am enclosing a message”. George, I am so lonesome. June Mathis is with me and she, too is lonesome. It is dark out here and we are afraid. Please George, get in touch with me through this medium Black Feather asks it also”.
From Oneida, NY – “I am told by Rudy that I am the only spirit he cares about. I could never give you an idea of how very romantic Rudy really is..I think he loves me”.
From St Louis, MO – “You should get in touch with Mr. Valentino at once. He is indeed very lonesome and blue. He misses the attention that was showered upon him on earth. He believes that if he is in touch with you conditions will change”.
Hundreds and hundreds of letters like that, but none is answered. The letters which have to do with Spiritism are few indeed compared to the thousands of admirers who write to Ullman for a word of Rudy and now and then comes a pathetic letter from some person in a far-away place who has just learned of his death.
23 Aug 1927 – One year later
24 Aug 1950 – Rudolph Valentino’s Fans Do Not Never Forget
Rudolph Valentino’s fans have not forgotten the screen’s greatest lover. On the 24th anniversary of his death a group led by Ditra Flame, “The Lady in Black” paid homage to Valentino yesterday. They laid sprays of flowers on his crypt. After a moment of prayer the fans mostly middle-aged women left. “I know he is still alive and he is not to be relegated to man’s musty pages by his physical demise. He still lives in our hearts ” said Miss Flame
27 Aug 1926- Rudolph Valentino Body Lying in State Uncontrollable Mobs
26 Aug 1926 – Lincoln Cab Mechanic Claims to be Brother of Rudolph Valentino
Did Rudolph Valentino have brother in Lincoln? Frank Fisher, 38 years 1145 L Street says he is the famous movie star’s next to oldest brother. He had been estranged from Rudolph, he said. Fisher has lived in Lincoln for five years, he said Tuesday afternoon, and he is employed now as a mechanic at the Yellow Cab Company. Fisher was located on the second floor of the cab company garage by a Journal Reporter late Tuesday afternoon. The man, whose resemblance to photos of the former celebrity is striking, was at work on a cab. He was clad in grease stained coveralls. “I don’t want to say anything about it”, he declared with a strong Italian accent, when asked about his mooted relationship to Valentino. “He was my younger brother. I packed my things Monday to go to New York when word came he was dead then a telegram came from mother at Hollywood telling me to stay here, that Rudolph’s body would be sent back to Hollywood. “I don’t want to make any fuss about it”. Fisher continued when drawn on by questions, much against his will. “Rudolph and I have been practically strangers since I saw him last in 1915 when he worked in a golf ball factory in Chicago. Three years ago, he wanted me to come to Chicago and he said would apologize to me. Then this divorce business came up and spoiled it all for I was thinking some of meeting him”. Fisher did not say what caused the contention between himself and the alleged brother, but left it to be gathered that it was personal and entirely within the family. He intimated that treatment accorded the mother by Rudolph turned him against the famous one. “I don’t want to say anything about it”, Fisher repeated. “Mother said she would wire me very soon and if she thinks it’s all right I will not object to some publicity. But it’s all up to her. She’s the only woman in the world I would trust”. Further information about the relationship between the Lincoln mechanic and the idol of the movies whose death has shaken the movie world, was drawn from Fisher by close questioning and is largely contained in the following: There were three boys and two girls in the family by the name of Gugliemo. The Americanized form is Glacier. Fisher’s alleged name is Francisco Fisheer Gugliemo, but he contracted it to Frank Fisher Glacier. Rudolph middle name was Valentino and his last name Glacier, it was alleged. Fisher was born in New York, he said, and after that his parents went back to Italy where Rudolph was born. The latter was quite young when he immigrated to this country. The father died about ten years ago, Fisher said, and the mother had lived in Omaha for several years, but recently went to Hollywood. R.D.S. Bennett, manager of the Yellow Cab Company in Lincoln declared Tuesday evening that he believed Fisher is telling the truth when he said he is Valentino’s older brother. “Frank has worked for me two years, and he has confided more or less in me. However, I wouldn’t break his confidence by snitching. He doesn’t like to talk about Valentino.” Bill Tierman, proprietor of another garage where Fisher worked from last January until last Sunday night, going back to the Yellow Cab Company doubts the two are brothers. “I heard alittle about it here in the garage and I think Fisher maybe a relative in some degree, but not a brother.” Fisher was divorced from his wife a short time ago. Attorney Maggi served him. It appears that they reunited for when sought by a reporter at his boarding place, neighbors said that Fisher had gone out walking with his ex-wife. “They knew nothing of his claim to brotherhood with the famous Rudolph”. Fisher was found Tuesday after more than an hour’s tracing of a rumor. Walter Eaton, policeman remarked that Valentino had a brother in Lincoln. Given the “horse laugh” Eaton was anxious to vindicate his statement and he called the friend who had told him. Next came the friends sister, sister’s friend, and friends friend. Finally, the reporter inquired at the taxi company and gained audience with Fisher who declared simply that he was Rudolph’s brother. Biographical sketches of Valentino mentioned a brother and sister in Italy, but none in America. Leased wire dispatches Tuesday indicate that Valentino’s mother died several years ago and is buried in France.
25 Aug 1926 – Valentino Fan Commentary
It was with boiling indignation that I read the letter “Disgusted. It was full of disrespect to the late Rudolph Valentino yet your correspondent stated, “Far be it from me to say anything disrespectful of one who has passed through the great divide”. We women know what was at the bottom of the letter – pure jealousy,, then he states that the flapper must save some excitement. Let me tell him that if his life has been as clean as was that of Valentino then he has something to be proud of.
Marie Crossett, Adelaide, Australia
23 Aug 17 – 90th Anniversary of Rudolph Valentino Memorial Service
I attended the 90th Anniversary of the Memorial Service for Rudolph Valentino, Hollywood Forever Cemetery. This year as in the previous years, I always look forward to coming to LA its like coming home seeing Tracy, Stella G, Pam C, Karie Bible who looked amazing. This year, Tracy made a couple of changes bringing a more modern approach. The memorial service was broadcasted via Facebook live offering members of the “We Never Forget Rudolph Valentino” Facebook group a chance to be apart of the virtual audience. The line-up for the memorial service was STELLAR. As always my favorite is the singing…Ms Terry Moore’s god daughter was amazing singing “Ave Maria” as well as Ms. Terry Moore herself, the ever gracious Ms. Sylvia Valentino-Huber, Ms Joan Craig, and others. When the service ends it always brings a sadness because it seems to go by so quickly. Well there will be next year, I wanted to add I finally got to meet Mr. Donald Gardner who is a noted videographer and Allen Ellenberger a noted author who I am a true fan of his books. A special thank you again to Tracy and Stella…See you all next year.
23 Aug 1926 – Death comes to Rudolph Valentino
As it must to all men, death came to Rudolph Valentino, sheik. Sitting in his apartment at the Hotel Ambassador, Manhattan last week, he suddenly clapped a hand to his side, fainted. Taken to the Polyclinic Hospital, he was operated on for appendicitis gastric ulcers. Over the wires of the world buzzed the news. At the hospital door bushels of flowers arrived. Two extra operators were detailed to the telephone switchboard to answer calls concerning Mr. Valentino (when a rumor that he was dead circulated, the calls came at the rate of 2,000 an hour). A maid delivered an Irish linen bed spread and pillow case marked “Rudy” with a card from Jean Acker. From Paris, came a message “Pray God night and day for your recovery”signed Winifred Hudnut. “This is Pola Negri in California said a brittle voice on the telephone, “How is Mr. Valentino”? Thousands, hundreds of thousands of women everywhere were asking “How is Mr. Valentino”? Mr. Valentino developed pleurisy. He was worse, said one of the telephone girls. Then a blood transfusion was performed. He was resting, sleeping. As dawn came, he awoke seemed restless. At last a scrawled note was laid before the switchboard operators. One Lucy Vanderbilt broke down sobbing into her instrument “he’s dead, Rudy’s dead”. Traffic was choked with thousands as his body was taken to the undertakers. The corpse of Rudolph Valentino adequately educated, never actually in want, he roved from one occupation to another until fame and wealth came to him as Julio of “The Four Horsemen” When he died he was insured in favor of his producer Mr. Joseph Schenck for $1,000,000.
23 Aug 1926 – Commentary
The death of Rudolph Valentino is one of the greatest tragedies that has occurred in the history of the motion picture industry. As an actor he achieved fame & distinction; as a friend he commanded love and admiration. We of the film industry, through his death, lose a very dear friend, a man of great charm and kindliness.
1952 – Valentino Fan Note
Note from a 20 year old Rudolph Valentino fan: You’ve got a bawling-out coming for your item about “The Eagle” being so bad. It being old is true but that doesn’t make it bad. “Did you ever see such acting? You could tell what he was suppose to be saying by the expressions on his face and brother, what a face!
17 Aug 1979 – Alberto Valentino Asks?
Question, I recently talked with Alberto Valentino, brother to Rudolph Valentino lives in Los Angeles and sounds hale and hearty at 82 years of age. In view of the 50th Anniversary of Rudolph Valentino’s death in 1976 we talked of Rudolph Valentino Fan Clubs, Alberto asked if any fan clubs are active in the U.S. or other countries. –M.G.I. Philadelphia, PA
Answer, there are millions of Valentino fans throughout the world almost as many as during the Roaring Twenties when he was, at the same time, the super movie star and the world’s greatest lover. In addition, the number of people who collect Valentino films, books, and momentos is in the hundreds of thousands. But, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences library, there are only two recognized fan clubs, one is in Los Angeles and one in London, neither of which is active. In “The Sheik” (1921) he is credited with ‘revolutionizing’ the art of making love. A still photograph from “The Sheik” shows him looking at a girl as though he were about to steal the maraschino from her fudge sundae. You became a fan as a small boy in 1926 when Valentino died at age 30.
24 Apr 1929 – Makes you Wonder?
1924 – All the Girls in Sweden Love Him
I am a Swedish Valentino Fan. I will tell you that in Europe Rudolph Valentino is the most popular of all the American movie stars. John Gilbert and Navarro are not so popular as Valentino. Here in Sweden all the girls love Valentino and we now anxiously await his next picture. “Monsieur Beaucaire” was a wonderful picture and so was “A Sainted Devil”. I wish he will dance in all of his pictures.
Sincerely,
I Hermon, Stockholm, Sweden
10 Aug 1924 Date line Hollywood
Vamp Valentino Dagmar Godowsky will vamp Rudolph Valentino in his final Paramount movie taking the place of Jetta Goudal, who has been transferred to Paul Bern’s “Open All Night
10 NOV 1925 – Petrova Must Pay $7,500 As Pirate Despite Valentino Testifying
William H. Roberts, Naval Officer today, was awarded $7,500 damages against Olga Petrova, Russian actress, for plagiarism from his play “The Red Wig” in production of “The White Peacock”. Roberts had brought suit for $35,000 royalties, claiming the actress appropriated the plot and dialog of his play. The jury had heard testimony for four days and deliberated for an hour and a half. Justice O’Malloy gave both sides ten days in which to file briefs on the motion of Nash Rockwood, counsel for Olga Petrova to have the verdict set aside. Rudolph Valentino, of film fame, who playing the leading role in “Blood and Sand”, which had been mentioned during the trial as containing many similarities to “The Red Wig” was the last witness called by Mme. Petrova in closing her defense. The ace of sheiks was dressed in gray tweeds and reddish tan shoes with gray suede tops. He wore a gold “slave bracelet” on his right wrist. Rudy was a bit late getting to court and nearly lost the opportunity of testifying, as the defense already had rested, but Justice O’Malley allowed them to put him on the stand. Col William Rand, counsel for the plaintiff, seemed entirely satisfied with Valentino’s testimony and declined to interrogate him. When Valentino entered the court room, followed by a bevy of flappers and youthful sheiks, he went immediately to Mme. Petrova at the counsel table. Making a courtly bow from the waist, “Rudy” kissed Mme. Petrova’s hand in the most gallant Valentino fashion. Referring to the theme of “Blood and Sand”, Valentino said” “It is a vivid story of passionate and lustful Spanish life. The male character becomes famous because of his ability as a bull fighter. He is a man of low birth. A lady of wealth becomes infatuated with him and they a liaison. “The main theme of ‘Blood and Sand’ is propaganda against bull fighting in Spain”. When Valentino made that statement COL Rand seemed pleased, as previous testimony had been that the theme of both “The Red Wig” and “The White Peacock” promulgated the economic independence of women and the defense had introduced testimony that “Blood and Sand” and “The Red Wig” were similar. At the conclusion of Valentino’s testimony a short recess was taken while both sides prepared to start their summation to the jury. During this recess Mme. Petrova and Valentino posed together for the newspaper photographers. Mme. Petrova appeared in court yesterday gowned in another charming creation. During the four days the trial has been in session she has appeared in a new and startling Parisian creation each day. Yesterday, she wore a black velvet turban, with a black ostrich plume drooping over her right shoulder. Her costume was set-off with a shimmering silver cloth blouse and a string of pearls. When recalled to the stand she testified that she had named her play “The White Peacock” due to reference in the dialog to the “proud peacock” which denoted the pride and bearing of the leading woman character. Roberts, the plantiff was recalled the brief testimony in rebuttal. Prior to writing “The Red Wig” in 1918, he declared he never had seen, heard of or read either the book or play of “Blood and Sand”. Regarding a similarity in the description of bull fights in his play and “Blood and Sand” he could offer no explanation, but averred he had seen at least 20 bull fights and in writing his play gave his own impressions.
8 Aug 1936 Silence Stirs Anxiety for Miss Rambova
Anxiety over the safety of Natacha Rambova former dancer and wife of the late Rudolph Valentino, who is a resident on the island of Mallorca off the coast of Spain, was expressed yesterday by her aunt, Mrs. Teresa Werner. According to Miss Werner, she has not heard from her niece directly since the beginning of the present civil war in Spain. However, Miss Werner said she received a cable yesterday from friends saying that Miss Rambova was unharmed. Her niece, is now the wife of Alvaro Urzaiz, retired Spanish Naval officer.
2 Aug 1934 – Egotism of Stars
The late Harry Reichenbach, an American publicity agent, revealed in his book “Phantom Fame” some of his most interesting experiences with movie stars. “”I first met Rudolph Valentino in the tearoom of the Alexander Hotel, Los Angeles” he wrote. “He functioned as a dancing partner for girl patrons of the hotel, a hanger-on one of the myriad of hopefuls that dreamed of being an extra to the movie lots close by. I noticed him, and he came over to greet me. It happened that Clara Kimball Young needed a handsome, young, straight man in “Eyes of Youth” a sort of gigolo, and I told Herbert Sanborn, her manager, to come and have a look at Valentino. At first Herb, turned Rudolph down flat, for his left ear; but after I convinced him that Rudolph didn’t have to be photographed with a left profile, he agreed to take him on. Valentino never photographed with a left profile throughout his entire career on the screen. A few months later Reichenbach met Valentino again, and the latter, who had not been able to get a footing in the movie world early accepted an offer of twelve dollars to go round Los Angeles posting up notices of the actors strike. “When I saw him again he was a star,” wrote Mr. Reichenbach. “He had appeared in “The Four Horsemen” in 1919, and had galloped in first. In 1925, I was placed in charge of his pictures at the Paramount office. I know first-hand, for my publicity work played an important part in the life of Rudolph
26 Jul 1938 – Capitol Names Prize Winners
The recent letter writing contest on “Why I want to see Rudolph Valentino” has met some unusual responses and printed here are two prize winning letters that will receive cash awards if the parties please call the Capitol Theater Office.
First Prize – “I want to see Rudolph Valentino because when I was a small girl, in boarding school, my mother came after me for a holiday weekend. We ate in cafes, shopped and went to see Rudolph Valentino in Son of the Sheik at the Queen Theater, Houston, Texas. My mother’s birthday is 31 Jul and I want to give her a holiday and myself a memory trip by taking her to see the movie idol of her time again at the Capitol Theater 31 Jul”. Signed: Mrs. L.E.J East 10th Street.
Second Prize – Mr. Rudolph Valentino fourteen years ago when I saw you in Son of the Sheik played at the Woodlawn Theater, Chicago, Illinois. I went because friends and salespeople exclaimed of my resemblance to you. I could double as your sister. I wonder if you were here today, would your mirror reflect the same changes as mine does? Although I have run true to form, by being “fair, fat, and fortish” the similarity in features remain. My reason for seeing Son of the Sheik now is for the memories brought back from that time, are nice to remember as the picture again unfolds before me. Your most ardent admirer: Mrs. D.R. NW 3rd.
Everyone is invited to send in their letters this week before the picture comes to Amarillo on “Why I want to see Rudolph Valentino”. You may win a cash prize and a guest ticket to see Son of the Sheik.
17 Apr 1935 – ZUNILDA MANCINI, Respondent, v. S. GEORGE ULLMAN, Appellant.
1920 – Stolen Moments St Augustine, FL
8 Mar 1925 – Where Rudolph was when the lights went out
24 Apr 1988 Secret to Manhood May Lie in Rudolph Valentino’s Ring
Franklin Mint is selling the secret to manhood. Or at least copies because the original stays where it is. The secret to manhood as implied by its ads is a ring worn by Silent Film Star Rudolph Valentino. The mint a mail-order firm in Franklin Center, PA is selling copies of the ring for $295.00. “Rudolph Valentino” one magazine ad reads “His name is synonymous with self-assured style”. Off and on the screen. And his taste in jewelry reflected an undeniable confidence in his own masculinity. “Now, for the first time, the ring that he actually wore has been recreated from the original now in the permanent collection of the prestigious Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum, Rochester, NY. In 1967, the ring was purchased for $1000, in an auction in Portland, Maine, and the museum will not say what the piece is worth now. In any case, the ring has never been displayed though in might be included in a 1990 exhibit on American Heros of Pop Culture. The ring is made of hammered platinum with an oval setting of black star sapphire, which has an intaglio of two Greek warriors, one standing and one on a horse It is a huge affair more than 1 inch from front to back, more than 1 inch from side to side, and close to an inch from top to bottom. The copy replaces the platinum with silver and the sapphire with black hermatite. But at least you can get your own copy in any size you want. Museum records say the ring was made in Italy in 1925. Valentino bought it that year and reportedly wore it in three movies “A Sainted Devil” “Cobra” and “The Eagle”. He died in 1926 and the ring was bought by James Perkins a Portland Sea Captain. Strong bought it from Perkins estate which was auctioned when his widow died. In 1967, Margaret Strong bought the ring to go with her Rudolph Valentino Doll.
All About Rudolph Valentino 
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