Posts Tagged With: Rudolph Valentino
22 Apr 1982 – Valentino Shirt Sells in London for $673.00
A cream-colored silk shirt worn by screen idol Rudolph Valentino in his last movie, “Son of the Sheik,” was sold for $673 at Christie’s auction house in London on Tuesday. The trimmed shirt was among the memorabilia in a sale of clothing and relics belonging to stars of stage and screen. The shirt was bought by Ray Jackson, manager of a British magician known as “Zee” who intends to use it in his act. “He is doing a Valentino number and particularly wanted the shirt. He told me to pay up to 5,000 pounds ($8,850) so I didn’t do too badly,” Jackson told reporters. A Valentino ribbed silk sash also worn in “Son of the Sheik” was sold to an unidentified Englishwoman for $974 The film was made in 1926, the year of the actor’s death at age 31. The woman also purchased a black velvet casket belonging to Valentino and five letters written by the cult figure to Maria Elliot, British founder of the Rudolph Valentino Association. The 65 lots, originally owned by Miss Elliot, were bequeathed after her death to an Italian countess who in turn left them to the seller, an unidentified Englishman.
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Tags: Rudolph Valentino
1918 & 1922 – Hotel del Coronado
In February 1888, the Hotel del Coronado, brought luxury on a scale that could only be appreciated in Southern California with its warm and sunny climate. This Victorian style all wood material hotel and a ocean backdrop, held many firsts with the introduction of electricity and the first outdoor Christmas Tree. This hotel had 399 rooms, with tennis courts, yacht club, Olympic sized saltwater swimming pool. The hotel played host to the very rich and famous Lillie Langtry, Prince of Wales, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplain, Mae Murray, Tom Mix, Gloria Swanson, Rudolph Valentino and many others past and present. The hotel was becoming famous as a film location in many silent films: Princess Virtue (1917), Married Virgin (1918), Beyond the Rocks (1922), My Husband’s Wives (1924), Flying Fleet (1929) and many others.
In 1918, Rudolph Valentino, Kathleen Kirkham, Edward Jobson starred in an independently produced movie directed by obscure neophyte Joel Maxwell. In 1920, this movie was in limited release by Fidelity Pictures with the title “Frivolous Wives”. During his time filming at the Hotel del Coronado, Valentino was deemed the hotels most popular guest. A favorite past time for single and married ladies was to lookout for where their movie star hero might be located on the hotel’s property. During each day, from the hotel’s ocean front veranda ladies were his most enthusiastic and appreciative audience. This was shown by a continued and hearty applause whenever they could grab a glimpse of their idol. During his time on set, Valentino took his acting role seriously. by isolating himself in order to prepare for the next day’s filming. Due to his immense popularity, there were many times he was called upon to dine with other famous guests or persons of influence. Although he would love to decline the many invitations he received it was understood as a rising film star, he could not afford to offend his fans and the various movie producers so he took it all in stride. However, truth be told Valentino did enjoy his hotel stay, whether it was fine dining in luxurious surroundings, motoring over scenic roads, a game of tennis, or enjoying a cold swim. Valentino truly loved his time at the hotel, that he came back a couple of years later to make another memorable film in 1922 Beyond the Rocks with Gloria Swanson. The hotel became famous as a vacation playground where Hollywood’s elite would come down for vacation stays.
Here is a YouTube 6.41 clip of Rudolph Valentino near the Hotel del Coronado.
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Tags: Beyond the Rocks, Hotel del Coronado, Mae Murray, Rudolph Valentino, The Married Virgin
1915-1962 The Barbara Worth Hotel, El Centro, CA
On 8 May 1915, the 4 story Barbara Worth hotel was open and located on the corner of seventh and main street in El Centro, CA. This hotel was built at a cost at a cost of $300,000. In 1917, it was expanded at an additional cost of $125,000 adding 42 luxury suites in a Spanish style design keeping with the current architecture. A patio and a fountain designed by Felix Peano were added from a quote in the novel “the desert waited, silent hot, and fierce in its desolation. Holding its treasures under the seal of death against the coming of the strong ones”.
This hotel was named after a fictional character in a novel titled “The Winning of Barbara Worth” by writer Harold Bell Wright. The author dedicated the book to his friend W.P. Holt who returned the compliment and built the hotel. In 1926, Samuel Goldwin made a movie based on the novel that starred Ronald Coleman and Vilma Banky. The hotel has a spacious lobby and an artistic dining room with 4-star quality cuisine. Sixty feet below the oceans level in the heart of El Centro the building is a gem of old Spain that keeps alive the traditional hospitality.
Over the years, this hotel has suffered from allot of negative press. For example, 23 Jun 1915, the hotel collapsed in complete ruins from an earthquake. On 9 May 1916, the hotel’s manager shot and killed himself. His suicide note read “life became too lonely for him to live longer”. Some of the more famous guests were Natacha Rambova and Rudolph Valentino. In May 1922, while enroute, to Mexicali, Mexico to get married, both famous movie stars and other members of their first wedding party stayed there for two days enroute to Mexicali, Mexico. In 1962, the hotel burned down by a fire.
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Tags: Barbara Worth Hotel, Mrs. Rudolph Valentino, Natacha Rambova, Rudolph Valentino, Vilma Banky
