The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-08-24

wanted ne to give her Regards
TO Rudy"
All manner of excuses were
made by persons wishing to enter.
Some wished to leave flowers-one
man had seventy-five bouquets
ready. he said. Scores Of cousins"
pleaded their claims with obdurats
policemen. a woman brought II.
inch nickel crucifix, inlaid with for
Get-me nots. in the Mosaic of Italian
workers. She asked that it be
placed on the chest of the dead man.
A spray of gladioli with a card.
Rose Fellman." was handed IN l.
was the first floral tribute received
by the screen hero i'm death.
Policemen paced before the win
dows, forcing the people to move on.
Offer Prayers
At the actors church just off
Broadway, scores of theatrical folk
knelt for a moment to offer Il prayer
for Rudy.
Girls on the subway trains read
with damp eyes the story of their
herO's death.
Yet with Rudolph Valentino
dead the stern laws of the thCat-
riCal world worked relentlessly.
Plays went on as usual last night.
And today the morning papers still
carried the announcement that to.
night will open Earl CAROLS Nanl-
ties-with seats up to 800 each.
Such is the tradition of the stage.
Valentino had been in New York
for a short time before he was taken
i'll and had lived the life of the usual
actor visiting here. lie had been
seen frequently at night clubs-often
with Miss Marion Benda, now APP
pearing in a revue here. and had
been a guest at numerous informal
dinners. dances and the like.
Two versions are told of the hours
Immediately preceding his collapse a
week ago Sunday morning. One was
that he had spent the evening at a
night club. and had gone from there
to the home of a friend, where he
was taken i'll. The other was that
he was attending a private, Informal
all-night party at friends home
when the first touch of what proved
to have been his fatal illness, came
upon him.
Started as Indigestion
Physicians said. however. that his
illness was in no way due to any
thing which might have occurred
during those hours-that 1t had been
coming on for weeks, starting orr
ginally as &" touch of indigestion"
so slight that Valentino had paid
no attention to it and had neglected
TO secure medical attention.
During his life Valentino earned
several million dollars but the ex-
tent of the fortune he left is doubt
full.
Joseph Schenck. his producer. said
he understood Valentino had little in
the way of fortune outside Of pos
sible interest in films. That. others
estimated. may make up an estate
of the quarters of a million dollars,
when added to his personal belong
ings.
5000. 900 Insurance
Valentino carried 100000 in
surance i'm favor Of the United
Artists Corporation as part of his
contract. Company officials said they
could not estimate their loss from
his death. hut had he lived to full
fill his contract. the income prob
ably would have run into two or
three million dollars.
The dead actor was reported to
have had a large collection of mis-
cellaneous antiques, art objects and
paintings.
Valentino was said to have made
a million dollars in the last year,
but most of it. his friends said he
had spent in travel, in luXuries and
i'm various ways.
The contract in effect at the time
Of Valentines death called for a
cash payment of 5000. 900 when a
picture was made and one-fourth in
terest in the gross INCOME from the
picture.