Rudolph Valentino (May 6, 1895 – August 23, 1926) was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. Known as the "Latin Lover", he was one of the most popular international stars of the 1920s, and one of the most recognized stars of the silent film era. He is best known for his work in The Sheik and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. His death at age 31 caused mass hysteria among his female fans, propelling him into icon status.
However, American men were less impressed, walking out of his movies in disgust. With the Fairbanks type being the epitome of manhood, Valentino was seen as a threat to the All American man. Many men desire to be another Douglas Fairbanks. But Valentino? Men may have wanted to act like Fairbanks, but they copied Valentino's look. A man with perfectly greased-back hair was called a "Vaselino".
Some journalists were still calling his masculinity into question, going on at length about his pomaded hair, his dandyish clothing, his treatment of women, his views on women, and whether he was effeminate or not. Valentino hated these stories and was known to carry the clippings of the newspaper articles around with him and criticize them.
After Valentino challenged the Tribune's anonymous writer to a boxing match, the New York Evening Journal boxing writer, Frank O'Neill, volunteered to fight in his place. Valentino won the bout which took place on the roof of New York's Ambassador Hotel.
A mourner pictured with the body of Rudolph Valentino at the actor's funeral On August 15, 1926, Valentino collapsed at the Hotel Ambassador in New York City, New York. He was hospitalized at the Polyclinic in New York and an examination showed him to be suffering from appendicitis and gastric ulcers which required an immediate operation. The operation was a success but Valentino's condition had become so aggravated by then that peritonitis set in and spread throughout his body. On August 18 his doctors gave an optimistic prognosis for Valentino and told the media that unless Valentino's condition changed for the worse there was no need for updates.[ However, on August 21 he was stricken with a severe pleuritis relapse that developed rapidly in his left lung due to the actor's weakened condition. The doctors realized that he was going to die, but decided to withhold the prognosis from the actor who believed that his condition would pass. During the early hours of August 23, Valentino was briefly conscious and chatted with his doctors about his future. He fell back into a coma and died a few hours later, at the age of 31.
An estimated 100,000 people lined the streets of New York City to pay their respects at his funeral, handled by the Frank Campbell Funeral Home. The event was a drama itself: Suicides of despondent fans were reported. Windows were smashed as fans tried to get in and an all day riot erupted on August 24. Over 100 Mounted officers and NYPD's Police Reserve was deployed to restore order. A phalanx of officers would line the streets for the remainder of the viewing. The drama inside would not be outdone. Polish Actress Pola Negri, claiming to be Valentino's fiancee, collapsed in hysterics while standing over the coffin, and Campbell's hired four actors to impersonate a Fascist Blackshirt honor guard, which claimed to have been sent by Benito Mussolini. It was later revealed as a planned publicity stunt.[69] Media reports that the body on display in the main salon was not Valentino but a decoy were continually denied by Campbell.
Films about ValentinoThe life of Rudolph Valentino has been filmed a number of times for television and the big screen. One of these biopics is Ken Russell's 1977 film, Valentino, in which Valentino is portrayed by Rudolf Nureyev. The film itself is only loosely based on his life.
When I think of Rudolph Valentino I think of MENSWEAR, the glamour, the Vaselino means the "greased hair push back" , european and very chic. 0ver the years I have created my menswear inspiration of elegant designs. Every menswear designers have always inspired Rudolph Valentino from Gucci to Pierre Cardin to Valentino. Here are several of my Menswear designs from last spring of 2010! And more will be coming soon as I am inspirating my "Rudolph Collezioni"...
the showcase of my Dsign Studio present Rudolph Collezioni appeared in the Italia L'uomo magazine in the spring; May 2010 issue. As you see, my designs inspire the film icon, told my stylist and photographer, the collection must be in black and white with the beautiful male models bring European flair and the Vaselino (the hairs inspired from the 20's).........Black Tux blazers (done by hands) with black crepe pants. white silk chermeusse shirts and simply made ties. Working with photographer from the New York studio, Moni and I made sure the designs and it captures that period of old Hollywood films of the 20's, Rudolph Valentino.
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