August 23, 1926: The Death and Return of Rudolph Valentino

pat
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August 23, 1926: The Death and Return of Rudolph Valentino Aug 24, 2019 12:30:50 GMT -5

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Post by pat on Aug 24, 2019 12:30:50 GMT -5

Aug 23, 2019 17:38:50 GMT -5 kitty said:

I just read the Thought for the Day and Rudolph Valentino died 93 years ago today. They say that women were so crazy about him that some of them killed themselves when he died. If they did, then he must have been even more beloved than Elvis, because I can't remember anyone committing suicide when Elvis died.

I read about a man in England who was obsessed with Elvis and hanged himself in the bathroom on Elvis' birthday. I also read about a woman in London who committed suicide while holding a picture of Rudolph Valentino when he died.

kitty
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August 23, 1926: The Death and Return of Rudolph Valentino Aug 23, 2020 14:38:06 GMT -5

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Post by kitty on Aug 23, 2020 14:38:06 GMT -5

Ladies in Black. On August 23, 1927, the first anniversary of Valentino’s death, a veiled lady in black, carrying a single, long-stemmed red rose, appeared at The Sheik’s crypt. At the time, there were those who dismissed the incident as some sort of publicity stunt, but every August 23rd thereafter, she returned. No one knew her identity, but in 1974, a woman named Ditra Flame came forward and admitted she was the lady in black. She said that as a young girl, Rudy visited her at the hospital when she was ill and told her she would outlive him by many years, but when he died, he wanted her to visit his grave site and talk to him so he wouldn’t be lonely. She promised she would and did so until 1954 when several other veiled women began appearing at the dead star’s crypt. She resumed her visits in 1977 and continued until 1984 when she joined him in death. In the 1970s, Spanish actress Estrellita del Regil donned a black dress and veil and began visiting Valentino’s grave because of her mother’s lifelong infatuation for the handsome actor. To this day, on the anniversary of his death, black-clad women appear at Valentino’s resting place and long-stemmed red roses still adorn his crypt.

When the "Poe Toaster" died, someone else took over and started going to his grave every year. Is there still a "Lady in Black" who visits Valentino's grave?

pat
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August 23, 1926: The Death and Return of Rudolph Valentino Aug 22, 2023 22:17:22 GMT -5

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Post by pat on Aug 22, 2023 22:17:22 GMT -5

Tomorrow will be the 97th anniversary of Valentino's death and I just Googled his name and the most recent write-up about him is from May, nothing at all about the anniversary. Do you suppose the same will be true of Elvis when he's been dead for 97 years?

jane
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August 23, 1926: The Death and Return of Rudolph Valentino Aug 23, 2023 18:59:10 GMT -5

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Post by jane on Aug 23, 2023 18:59:10 GMT -5

Aug 22, 2023 22:17:22 GMT -5 pat said:

Tomorrow will be the 97th anniversary of Valentino's death and I just Googled his name and the most recent write-up about him is from May, nothing at all about the anniversary. Do you suppose the same will be true of Elvis when he's been dead for 97 years?

As new "idols" come along, they replace the old ones, and just like Elvis replaced Rudolph Valentino, someone will replace Elvis.

madeline
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August 23, 1926: The Death and Return of Rudolph Valentino Jul 18, 2024 2:26:39 GMT -5

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Post by madeline on Jul 18, 2024 2:26:39 GMT -5

Bernard Lafferty, the butler, whom Ms. Duke left $5 million and named co-executor of her estate, revealed to friends that both he and his employer sometimes felt Valentino’s presence and, on occasion, there was the unmistakable scent of cigarette smoke in parts of the house where no one had been smoking. Lafferty particularly recalled a warm spring evening in the late 1980s shortly after he was hired. He drove up to Falcon Lair just as it was growing dark and was shocked to see a man wearing what appeared to be light-colored riding britches near the entrance to the mansion. But when he looked again, the gentleman was nowhere to be seen. He questioned members of staff, but no one was visiting and the employees who worked outside had gone home hours earlier. Lafferty felt it his duty to mention the incident to Ms. Duke and was surprised when she smiled and commented the man was probably Rudolph Valentino, admitting she had seen him too and was happy he was still around. According to Lafferty, she said the star’s “visits” were much more frequent during her first few years in the house.

I recently ordered the DVD Bernard and Doris, in which Susan Sarandan plays the role of Doris Duke, and it's one of the most boring movies I've ever tried to watch.

snowfairy Senior Member Posts: 309	August 23, 1926: The Death and Return of Rudolph Valentino Aug 23, 2024 10:57:58 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by snowfairy on Aug 23, 2024 10:57:58 GMT -5 Does anyone know if a Lady in Black still visits his grave on August 23rd?

August 23, 1926: The Death and Return of Rudolph Valentino

Post by pat on Aug 24, 2019 12:30:50 GMT -5

Post by kitty on Aug 23, 2020 14:38:06 GMT -5

Post by pat on Aug 22, 2023 22:17:22 GMT -5

Post by jane on Aug 23, 2023 18:59:10 GMT -5

Post by madeline on Jul 18, 2024 2:26:39 GMT -5

Post by snowfairy on Aug 23, 2024 10:57:58 GMT -5