Comments on: My Funny Valentino

By: âFor this stunt, hire a woman dressed entirely in black mourning, complete with veil, and have her visit the local newspapers. . . | The Sheila Variations

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:17:24 +0000

[...] you are not familiar with the Lady in Black, here’s a good summing-up by Suzidoll over at Movie Morlocks, although when you’re talking about Rudolph Valentino, [...]

By: myidolspencer

myidolspencer — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 03:58:46 +0000

Great detail Suzie! Never been a fan of Valentino’s myself, but did visit his virtually legendary grave on my first of the three trips to whats left of an empire once called HOLLYWOODLAND Matter of fact from this cem./park you can easily see that sign as well. It was much smaller in person then you’d think & *Peter Finch-(l9l6-l977) niche was directly across from his. All likely heard of the big media coverage devoted to this particular cem. when almost condemned, the new & very young millionaire(s)(Tyler Cassidy)think they were brothers, but only 1 now seems at the forefront-(NOTE: There is a good docu on tv quite a lot titled “The Young & the Dead” that really shows all this & in great detail. Where in they don’t celebrate “morbid stuff’ but whats on that “silver-screen” & forever. Holding anniversaries-(& of course most have to do with Valentino) people/fans can get married there & in cooperation with say some deceased star they both admired (i.e. Valentino, Fairbanks, Sr. & Jr., *DeMille, Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer, Tyrone Power, Marion Davies-(P.S. Arthur “Dagwood” Lake was also laid to rest in her crypt) & what even James Bacon devoted an article to in 1 of his tremendous & must have books “The Most Hated Man in Hollywood” *Harry Cohn. *Paul Muni is also somewhere in it’s 62 acres-(though like a nitwit I searched on it’s touchtone comp. for that name, as opposed to his birth name?) It’s small compared to Glendale’s 320 acre “Forest Lawn” Where you also need hiking boots! Plus, unlike the latter they welcome fans to visit BIG-TIME!) Unfortunately, for us TCM-ITE’S about 80% of the stars on the station chose Glendale’s Nicknamed “The Disneyland of Graveyards”-(NOTE: “Films of the Golden Age” once had a great article on just this stuff) But it’s famous for it’s rudeness & sev. sections are closed to the public-(where *Bogie chose as his final resting place for example. As Bacall & son Stephen say, they have the key though.) “Westwood, cem.” is another that truly welcome’s all. At only 3 & 1/2 acres though it’s amazing how many recent celebs have joined it’s small ranks, where: Marilyn’s even more famous grave than Rudolph’s is located-(some sickie’s once tried to chisle into it though!) & on a personal note, the day I visited Natalie Wood had more flowers-(& pennies) then MM’s! Within the 10yrs since my visit-(April of ’99) Carroll 0′Connor, R. Dangerfield, *Lemmon, *Matthau & *Billy Wilder, *George C. Scott, *James Coburn, R. Stack & sadly most recently Farrah was interred, among others. The 1/2 of “Hollywood forever’ where Valentino is was the original section & it’s owner was rascist, ani-semetic the works. So, when I stopped off-(it’s literally 5 blocks from same motel I stayed at & borders Paramount/RKO Radio)they were combining it all together. What also drew media was that *OSCAR winner: *Hattie McDaniel was being given a lg lithograph at the time. Even “Bugsy” Siegel was in the once blocked-off jewish section.
Great research Suzie, most don’t know of why the silent star was left at this park. & the “Lady in Black” as TCM showed on those marvelous-(WE NEED MORE PLEASE!!!) “Hollywood Hideaways” her daughter carries on the tradition. Ben Mankiewicz & his pal-(I always forget his name?) only visited 5 places-(this cemetary)- (I prefer the term park) “Eddie Brandt’s Video”/ “The Formosa”-(wish I coulda’ visited it too)/ “Nat & Al’s”/ “Musso & Franks”-(a legendary place I did visit & dig this, it cost $35 bucks for 2 sands & 2 ice-teas!) (TO SUZIE & OTHERS IN GARGOYLE’S THIS WOULD ALSO BE AN EXCELLENT TOPIC ON “HOLLYWOOD HIDEAWAYS” OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I CAN TELL YA’ OF AT LEAST A DOZEN OFF TOP OF MY HEAD “Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel” is an absolute! “Highland Arms” another/ *Chaplin’s original studio-(“Dream Factory”) is still-standing & mostly intact as when he left the country. He shot “C. Lights” “M. Times” “Great Dictator” inside it’s walls located on La Brea Ave.-(was Jim Henson prods.) “Greystone park/mansion” is yet another. used for “Witches of Eastwick” “B. Hills Cop” “Bodyguard” “Ghostbusters” & I still see it op up all the time on shows like “Entourage” “Curb Your Enthusiasm”-(905 Lorna Vista in B. Hills) AFI once used it as it’s headquarters. to quote a famous comic “I got a million of ‘em’ unquote
Thank You again

By: Ann

Ann — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:53:59 +0000

Suzi, thanks for the wonderful Valentino tribute. Growing up in an immigrant Italian family, Valentino was one of the idols of my parents’ and grandparents’ generation. So much so that my eldest cousin, born in 1952, has the middle name Rudolph, in his honor. My aunt was obviously such a fan and yet, interestingly, she was born a year or two after Valentino’s death. I agree that his mystique and legend have lasted for decades and even lifetimes. (A note about my cousin: being named Rudolph in the 50s and 60s proved difficult. Most kids our age did not associate it with the great Valentino. By the early 60s, especially, “Rudolph, the Rednosed Reindeer,” of course, was not only in print but an annual TV show. To this day, my cousin doesn’t use his middle name. Very unfortunate.)

By the way, great info on the Lady in Black. Thanks for uncovering the mystery.

By: Suzi

Suzi — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:56:10 +0000

Thanks Hamlette: I just ordered the book based on your recommendation.

By: Hamlette

Hamlette — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:25:32 +0000

I’ve been a Valentino fan for about a decade — I used to think he was an overhyped “powder puff” until I actually saw one of his movies. Boy, was I wrong! Although I haven’t seen any of his films on the big screen yet, I’ve been fortunate enough to see half a dozen of them on the small screen.

The best biography of Valentino I’ve found so far is “Dark Lover: The Life and Death of Rudolph Valentino” by Emily W. Leider. I definitely recommend it — it’s an enjoyable read and tries to present Rudy as a person and not just an image.

By: debbe

debbe — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:16:06 +0000

hmmm the more things change the more things stay the same. I was fascinated to read about the outpouring of emotion and the effect his death had on popular culture. I was much younger when I saw Son of the Sheik and got what the big fuss was. this was very interesting to me suzidoll. the ladies in black I had actually not heard of, but so interesting. I ask my husband during these pop culture tributes… would you get up and go down to the staples center for example to mourn a pop star? I think that unknown thing that propels and compels people to go be a part of something makes it bigger than it actually is. just so amazing that that hasnt changed in oh so many years.

By: Medusa

Medusa — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 05:24:05 +0000

I love Valentino and remember doing a report on him in 9th grade history class — obviously I was a weirdo back then, too!

Great article about a completely charismatic performer whose death created such distress. He definitely was the first objects of such widespread affection, wasn’t he?

Fascinating stuff!

By: Lisa Wright

Lisa Wright — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:37:50 +0000

That photo of Valentino in the newspaper clipping holding his pipe is so funny…such sharp contrast to all those romantic costumes and the eye makeup! Makes me wonder if he was really very ordinary, or boring even? I have only seen “The Son of the Sheik” on the big screen, thanks to the Silent Film Society of Chicago and while his image is legendary, I did not know about the Lady (Ladies!) in Black. Thanks for this insight into the fan-mania of Valentino.

By: Jenni

Jenni — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:40:53 +0000

I agree, very interesting post. I do know that my great-grandmother on my maternal side of the family was distraught over Valentino’s death, according to family lore. I’ve just begun to try and watch the Silent Movie’s on Sunday nights, and they are so different, and yet do have an appeal, to me. Maybe it’s the music in the background, the overacting by some of the players, or the intriguing story lines. Recently viewed “Wild Oranges”, which starred actors I’d never heard of before and “Broken Blossoms”, which starred Lillian Gish.

By: morlockjeff

morlockjeff — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:15:47 +0000

Fascinating information. I never was clear who the real Lady in Black was since there were more than one but you helped clarify the confusion and rumors. We’re showing the Ken Russell biopix VALENTINO in October but I’ve never been able to get through it.