Motion Picture (Aug 1940-Jan 1941)

Hollywood today among top actors. It was the grind and nervous tension that eventually caused him to resort to sedatives to calm his shattered nerves. And how women made his life miserable ! Dorothy Davenport Reid, his level-headed wife, saved him as much as possible. But idolizing femmes actually broke into his bedroom, hid in his automobile and made his life miserable hanging around his neck in public. "Woman trouble" was actually so bad in Wally's case that when a group of young girls, 16 to 20 years of age, were engaged to go on a location trip when he was making The Charm School, Paramount sent along only those young extras, who had mothers, to make the trip with them. A lot of good that did ! It wound up with the young charges watching their mammas to see they didn't make eyes at the good-looking star ! What a genial, likeable big kid he was ! He used to go around with a set of false teeth in his pocket which he would put in his mouth when adoring women swooped down on him. Just as the ladies were about to make fools of themselves Wally would take out his "falsies," click them like castanets, put them in his mouth so he would look toothless — and then laugh like thunder when the disillusioned fans started running in terror. Wally and Rudy Valentino worked on the same lot, the old Paramount studio on Sunset and Vine, and they were great friends. There was never an iota of jealousy between them and they used to pitch ball with their camera crews between scenes. Speaking of teeth, Rudy actually let a wild ball fly one day that hit Wally in the face and knocked out two of his teeth ! By way of revenge Wally sent Rudy a bill for his new fangs. T KNOW I have spoken A of Rudy Valentino many times in this series — but no story about the tragedies of the Great Lovers would be complete without more details of the one and only Valentino. It wasn't long after this snapshot of Louella Parsons and Valentino at Marion Davies' swimming-pool that he died. The most tragic assignment that ever came to Miss Parsons in 25 years of reporting I can shut my eyes now and visualize Rudjft' dark, handsome and courteous with the real Latin politeness, and his hair slicked tight to his head like black patent-leather. My first date with him was, interestingly enough, the first interview he ever gave any newspaper. Looking back over my scrapbook I find it was published in the old Morning Telegraph, in New York City. How well I remember that evening. I was very pleased with myself, wearing a bright red velvet gown — new for the occasion — and not in the least appropriate to interview Paramount's new idol, Valentino, (who had just signed a contract) . But I had what I thought was a much more exciting date with good-looking Edmund Goulding (he's now directing the Bette Davis pictures in Hollywood). I went with him to the opening of a Belasco play. At that time Eddie was the script writer of Tol'able David and was very attractive to the ladies. So I compromised. I told Paramount I would meet Rudy after I had attended a theater with Eddie. I suppose it will amuse Eddie no little bit now, in reading this, to realize that the great Rudy was practically "stood up" for him I When I arrived at the Claridge I was surprised at the rather shy boy who turned out to be the great Valentino ! My first impression was — "well you may be thrilling on the screen — but you're no more than just a nice boy, off!" That proves how wrorH first impressions can befi There was a great deal of depth and sincerity to Rudy that he did not wear on his sleeve. But that meeting was the beginning of a real friendship between us and as the months and the years rolled by, I realized what a fine person he really was. The most tragic assignment that ever came to me in 25 years of reporting movie news was that of writing Rudy's obituary before he died! I was at the Virginia Hotel in Long Beach with my [Continued on page 60] 24