Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-17
The Truth About Rudolph Valentino
Actor Married Jean Acker at Giddy Hollywood Party

Rsdy and I wanted to be married
but we couldn't. He was married tc
jean Acker and Miss Acker was max
ing 1t as difficult az possible for him to
get his divorce.
It was during the filming Of THE
Eheik" that divorce proceedings were
started and reached their peak of dim
culties, so it was a trying period fof us
both.
This early marriage had taken place
shortly after Rudy came to hollywood
Just as a lark at a party. From the
inst It had been a mistake, but all
HOLLYWOOD, Of course, was crazy-mad
People acted on impulse and regretted
It. later.
Rudy and Miss Acker scarcely knew
each other. They had met one eve
ming at Pauline Frederick's, planned a
horseback ride together and during that
ride became engaged A few hours
later Rudy sauntered into the Holly
wood Hotel. where he CHANGED to meet
May Allison and Mr.. and Mrs. Max
we'll Garger. In the exuberance of a
young man in love Cor who fancied
himself in that romantic state) he con-
feSsed to them he was going to be mar
RED! Mr. and Mrs. Garger were plan
ming q party the next evening as a
farewell to Richard Rowland, president
event, they suggested he get his license
Immediately and turn their party into
q wedding. Rudy. impractical and care
less child that he was, agreed.
Bride for Dance Only.
After the ceremony and supper they
danced until in the morning-when
the bride unceremoniously left him.
Jean at that time was working with
Fatty Arhuckle in THE Roundup
and when the disillusioned bridegroom
sought her out on location next morn
Sng he found she had skipped to Los
Angeles. He followed her there, only
TO be told she could never return to
him.
Rudy left at once for New York 10
make tests for THE Four Horsemen"
anG Jean asked for an annulment.
They didn't see each other again for
four months.
When the amazing success Of his
Julio in THE -Four HorSemen" changed
Rudy from q penniless unknown to
rising star, with fame and fortune as
sured, Miss Acker changed her de-
mands from annulment to separation,
with alimony. But Rudy fought this
and asked for divorce, for in the mean
time he and had met.
Re continued to pay dearly for this
mistake OF his youth even after the
divorce was granted and our own mar
rage legalized. Later, when the very
name of Rudolph Valentino stood for
magic box-offce receipts, Jean Acker
made vaudeville tour as Mrs. Ru
dolph Valentino, which brought f1nan-
ciaI difficulties. Rudy did not feel that
. few hours of marriage qualified her to
the use of that title.
But am getting ahead Of my story:
After Rudy and became engaged
(while he was still far from famous and
dis name meant nothing at the box Of
feel chose painless way Of breaking
the news to my mother, Mrs. Richard
Hudnut. Mother at that time was In
New York, about to sail for Europe.
wrote suggesting she go to see THE
-Four HorSemen" and write me what
she thought of it. Her reply was full
of enthusiasm for the young man it
starred, Rudolph Valentino. Who was
he? She had never heard Of him.
Modern Parents Obey.
She and Mr.. Hudnut had scarcely
reached Paris when sent them a cable
announcing my engagement to Mr.
Valentino, demanding their congratu-
iations. They replied at once with the
desired word, saying they were modern,
well trained parents, who never dis
obeyed their, children.
could always trust mothers sense
Of humor to carry her over any crisis.
This was in May, 1921. The following