The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-08-23
Superintendent on Estate

Superintendent on Estate
The learning acquired at the Royal
Academy proved more useful. The
youth was engaged as superintend-
ent on the Long Island estate of Cor
nelius Bliss Jr. Later he became
apprentice landscape gardener in
Central Park, New York, but lost
that post through ramifications of
the civil service.
After that, for a while, It was a
question Of any Job to sustain life.
He shined brass, swept out stores.
stood behind counters. All the while
he tried to gain employment as
dancer and one day the head wait
er at Maxim's engaged him in that
role.
There was a Latin fire and grace
at Maxim's liked. With Joan Saw
yer as his partner he enjoyed
measure of success.
Started West
But Rudolpho was restless. The
farm was still deep within him, and
somewhere he heard Of the agricul-
tural possibilities of California. A
little musical comedy heading for
the coast needed another man. and.
with his surname changed to Valen-
tino, he became that man.
There are a lot Of small towns
between New York and San Fran
cisco, and Rudolpho, now Rudolph,
took long time to reach the Pacific.
The urge for farming was short
lived and Valentino went south to
Los Angeles. He tramped from
movie studio to movie studio, be-
coming an extra at SIS day.
He had that vague prequisite.
possibilities. June Mathis selected
him to play the lead in THE Four
Horsemen. 1t was long shot, but
the movies were made on such.
Gains Hold
Valentino gained a hold that could
not be shaken. Women raved over
his looks. Men sometimes sneered
at the young Italians handsomeness;
at other times they secretly admitted
that he was attractive.
Pictures followed in quick success
sion with Valentino in the leading
role. Then came the epochal
"Sheik," in which Valentino acted
a role created by an imaginative
English woman whose book,
crammed with sex, was sold in this
country wherever gum was chewed.
Probably no actor ever reached
the amount of fan mall that fol
lowed release of The Sheik."
Thousands of feminine hearts were
torn asunder by the olive Rudy"
as the dashing Arab who turned out
to be lat the end of the picture) not
an Arab after all.
Wives praised the actor; many
husbands derided him. His name
thus became controversial, the most
certain way to success. Producers
We'd with each other in futtering en-
ticing extracts before him.
Thought of as 'Sheik'
Critics-as we'll as Valentino him
self-liked best his role in Blood
and Sand" but it was as the sheik
that he was most thought of.
Valentines marital affairs fire.
quently have been before the public.
In November, 1919. he was married
to Jean Acker, screen actress. The
marriage was stormy and in 1922
an introductory divorce decree was
granted her.
Less than a year later Valentino
married Winifred De Wolfe, adopted
daughter of Richard Hudnut, per-
fume manufacturer. at Mexicali,
Mexico. The young husband was
arrested and charged with violation
of the court decree that forbade his
remarriage within a year. This
charge was later dropped and a
second ceremony was performed on
March Is, 1923.
The second matrimonial venture
proved no more successful than the
first. Mrs. Valentino, under the
name of Natacha Rambova, wanted
screen career for herself. while
Valentino was equally insistent as
to woman's place being in the home.
Accordingly they agreed to
divorce and a full decree was granted
his wife in Paris this year.
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