Picture Play Magazine (Sep 1928 - Feb 1929)

16 Photo by "Wasman Thousands of letters and poems have been written deploring the death of Valentino, but little else has been contributed to his memory. RAYS from the California sun, filtering through a stained-glass window, fall in checkered design upon the crypt which holds the body of Rudolph V alentino, in the mausoleum of a Hollywood cemetery. Throughout the day. and night fresh flowers exude their fragrance before his bier. Through the marble corridors little groups of visitors occasionally tread, to pause before the plaque which reads : "Rudolfo Guglielmi Valentino, 1895-1926." Wayfarers and tourists peep in to see where lie the remains of one of the greatest celebrities of our time. A few, faithful friends still come, bringing blossoms. But the numbers rapidly are diminishing, and the fact remains that all that is nwrtal of Valentino lies in a borrowed Uftnb. Once, already, his casket has been moved. Again, some time, it must be taken from its present sepulcher, in order to make way for the one to whom it rightfully belongs. Where it will go no one knows. Its final resting place has not been determined. Has the beloved Rudy been forgotten by the world in the span of two short years? When news was flashed from New York in midAugust, 1926, that Valentino was dead, all the world stood aghast. It seemed unbelievable. Strong, clear All That is Mortal Lies in a Borrovstecl Despite the adoration and admiration of Rudy lies in a crypt reserved By A. L. eyed, athletic, imbued with the fire of youth, he was the idol of millions. Throngs gathered outside the hospital in New York where his body lay. Newspapers issued extra editions. Telegrams arrived in sheaves. When the casket was transported to the funeral train, more than a thousand policemen acted as escort to keep back the multitudes. All the way from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast, in cities, villages and hamlets crowds gathered to watch the black-draped cars pass on their way to the West. Flowers were massed in the Pullmans in every conceivable place. The spectacle seldom, if ever, has been equaled or surpassed. Following the funeral service, the casket was placed temporarily in the crypt reserved for June Mathis, famous scenarist, in the mausoleum of the Hollywood Cemetery, and a movement was started for the erection of a worthy memorial. Five hundred thousand dollars was set as the goal. "Make the memorial something that will be everlasting!" women admirers, in particular, urged. "Let's build a beautiful mausoleum of marble, set in a garden of flowers, and establish a fund which will care for it perpetually." "Let us establish hospital beds, nurseries and erect art galleries in his memory," said others. "Dedicate a granite monument which will last throughout the ages," suggested a third. What a glorious tribute ! S. George Ullman, executor of the Valentino estate, acting in conjunction with friends, named Joseph M. Schenck chairman of a committee to handle the proposed Valentino Memorial Fund, as it was to be called. With him were such other producers as Carl Laemmle, M. C Levee, and John W. Considine, Jr. A magazine made an appeal to its readers for one dollar each to help swell the fund. Memorial societies were organized in New York and Chicago, whose ramifications were to extend to other cities throughout the land. Admirers in England, Germany, Italy, France, and India joined in the movement to raise a huge sum. Mr. Ullman sent out a thousand letters to members of the motion-picture industry, in which he said : My personal feeling is that the success of the memorial will be a tribute not oniy to Rudolph Valentino, but to the motionpicture industry as a whole. Monuments have been erected to leaders in almost every field except ours, and I believe that this is an opportunity to show the world that the motion-picture industry has a heart as well as a purse. It is not necessary to contribute more than you wish. Only, please send in some subscription, so that your name may be added to those who wish to show their respect for the things that Rudolph Valentino accomplished. The outlook appeared to be splendid. Letters deploring the death of the actor poured in by the thousands. Assured that sufficient contributions would be forthcoming, the committee authorized publication of