Evening Star Newspaper, April 27, 1930, Page 9

AY STAR, The Truth About Rudolph Valentino NATACHA RAMBOVA, HIS WIFE Actor and Wife Again Visit Europe Preparing for Picture. With “Beaucaire” finished in the early Spring, Rudy went to Florida for | & holiday with a French boy who was 8 friend of his, while I remained New York to prepare costumes and ;)C:Aufot the new picture, “The Sainted We had great difficulty finding the proper story for this, our second pic- ture. Finally, after much searchin we chose Rex Beach's story. End.” Rudy was delighted with the script as originally submitted. It was centered about a revolution in South America, full of the color, fire and dramatic situations that had character- ized “The Four Horsemen.” Like “The Four Horsemen,” the plot was motivated by war, and we thought it might be equally successful as a picture. But after the story had been ac- eepted, bought and paid for, the pow- ers behind the throne suddenly decided that for the sake of international policy (or expense) all traces of war must be eliminated. In other wor the very reason for the story, the spinal column of the beast, was amputated. What re- mained were a few fragmentary inci- dents strung together by a threadbare | | B\:t and given the title “The Sainted vil.” I objected loudly to this mutila~ tion of a fine story; it took all the pep from the picture. I predicted it would be a failure. But my objections were promptly overruled and, rather than cause more trouble, I sank into qui- escence. It was the last picture of our contract with Famous Players and we didn’t want more litigation. Anything for peace! Blamed for First Flop. When_this spineless drama was re- leased I was blamed for its faflure. They declared it was my poor judg- ment. Was it not I who had chosen it? It was useless to remind them that the mangled plot finally used was from the one I had chosen. By this time I had grown so accus- tomed to being the goat it is strange I didn't grow horns and a beard. They accused me of sacrificing Rudy to “my own selfish ambitions.” I wanted to be a “power in the industry!” I have }flenty of things on my conscience, but fortunately this despicable thing is not one of them! ‘We wanted Nita Naldi for the femi- nine lead opposite Rudy in “The Sainted Devil,” but when we asked Fa- mous Players for her they refused, say- she had grown too fat to appear in & picture. When we told this to Nita she laughed, saying she had grown fat on purpose because she didn't like the kind of roles they gave her. Knowing Nita would do anything for Rudy and me, even to giving up spa- ileulfi. I asked Famous if we might have r if I promised to reduce her. They said, “Yes, if you'll make her lose fi pounds, but that isn't humanly H Nita was truly Latin. Her idea of & happy life was three meals of »pa- ghetti per day and at least 14 hours of sleep. But for the sake of playing with Rudy she was willing to forego even this. By a strenuous diet of spin- ach and pineapple and with the aid of two masseurs we soon had her not only 25, but 40 pounds, lighter. And she played the role. Nita was tremendously fond of Rudy. She always spoke of him as “our Rudy,” and professed great jealousy when any of the other picture stars made a fuss over him. Nita was the enfant terrible of the screen, always up to tricks and pranks, and woe to any one who in- curred her disfavor! She particularly disliked Gloria Swanson; perhaps be- cause the two were 50 different, perhaps because Gloria, too, had a marked weak- ness for Rudy. Jeered at Gloria’s Hope. “The Sainted Devil” was filmed in the Astoria, L. I, studio and Gloria ‘was making a picture there at the same time. Her set was next our own. This was at the peak of Gloria’s stardom and she had aspirations to play “Peter Pan.” In fact, it was all arranged she should do it until Sir James Barrie in- terfered and refused to let her play the part of his favorite character. At any Tate, it was while we were all working together out there that the question of Gloria as Peter was receiving st discussion. During the long waits between ca.aera shots Nita used to sit on Gloria's set, her skirts pulled up to her knees, look- ing very demure and innocent, studying & script book in which she had painted in wlt bln:khletwn “Peter Pan.” “We won't ve our Rudy vamped,” she used to say to me. o) @ “The, Sainted Devil” finished our work with Famous, and now at last Rudy was free for the two pictures he had contracted to make for J. D. Wil- liams of the Ritz Co. For the first one we wanted to use Sabatini’s “Cap- tain Blood,” but while Mr. Williams was debating its screen values some one else bought the script. So I myself Wro as P plot, in which Rudy was to play the part of a fourteenth century Moorish prince. With his flair for anything Oriental he would have been superb in “Rope’s | jall eyes. in | Rudy with Helen D'Algy in one of the Rambova was art director scenes from “A Sainted Devil.” for this ill-fated picture. Miss After he had read it, showed it to every picture editor in New York and received many flattering’ criticisms of it (my name was not on the script; this would have prejudiced them), he agreed to buy it for $10,000 and let Rudy play it under the title of “The Hooded Fal- con.” Sought Culture for Nita. Again we asked for Nita Naldi for the feminine lead. With her great dark eyes and Oriental features she perfect for the role. When we sailed abroad to buy costumes for this pic- ture, we urged Nita to join us over there for a part of the trip at least, to gain a little of the Old World cul~ ture from historical backgrounds. ‘While Rudy and I searched Seville and Granada for Moorish atmosphere, Nita remained in Paris for fittings, but she did join us in October for a tour of the Touraine district and the famous chauteau of the Loire. With her amusing repartee she kept the rest of us from taking anything seri- ously. In hotel dining rooms her shrill voice could be heard above all others, as she recounted her back- stage Winter Garden experiences. We kicked her under the table until her shins were raw, for most of her jokes were a bit risque for general public consumption. Undaunted, Nita prattled on, always the cynosure of Her striking beauty attracted attention even when her conversation did not. We arrived at Chaumont one morning simultaneously with a party of Cook's tourists. At once all eyes flew to Nita. While they were devouring her she sud- denly screamed: “Mimi! Mimi, my darling! Where is she? We've lost the Chinese princess!” 2 The tourists rushed wildly in every di- rection to search for the missing prin- cess—only to see Nita emerging from & flower bed, holding in her hands a wet, shivering, muddy, snarling little black- and-tan dog. ‘Throughout the chateau country Rudy reveled in renaissance architecture, and wanted to buy every chateau he saw. He took a particular fancy to Cham- bord, the largest and showiest of all, with more than 40 rooms. Untiring and enthusiastic, he ran us through the long corridors and damp cold rooms until we gasped for breath. How wonderful if he could own this place! In his fiery imagination he filled each room with guests, himself the host, staging hunt- ing_parties and banquets to excel those of Francis L Whisky to Guide Guests. “But, Rudy!” I exclaimed, trying to dampen his ardor. “We live in modern times. What about heat and servants? It would take three maids and a valet on each floor merely to direct people to their rooms.” “Oh, that's easy;” cried Rudy. “Give each guest a candle, a Cook’s guide, a hot-water bag and a bottle of whisky. ‘What more would they want?” What delighted him most at Cham- bord was the mysterious double stair- case, whereby one person may ascend and another descend without either one seeing the other. Rudy worked out the plan of this carefully, declaring it was a valuable idea to take back to his {riends in Hollywood. Nita's comment to this was pat: “Hollywood,” she declared, “is noth- | ing to the morals of these old guys. We | this role. This story I submitted to Mr. ‘Williams. ¥ «..in the knowledge that your purchase of a DIAMOND... has been perfectly represented as to color . , . as to qual- ity « » . and as to size .. . and SATIS- FACTION in the feeling that you have paid for ex- actly what you have purchased . . . OUR REPUTATION for fair dealing is ex- tended to every one « .+ . onanequal basis. carat and 19- 100ths perfect MAR- QUIS DIAMOND mounted in an exqui- site setting, featuring baguettes on either side. A very rare cut- ting. Feature $700 Price se.ceees One 38 Years at the Same Address . .. just don't get away with it so wel But of all the countries we visited in e e s s s e Satisfaction.... the artist has three of the new designs . . teresting to those DIAMONDS 35-100ths carat perfect diamond in a step set- ting of platinum con- taining 12 diamonds. AN UNUSU- AL VALUE $2]5 AT cicveevoma Jewelers ofl . oFalincJne. 38 Years at . . . 935 F Street Co-operating with the purchase plan of the Sterling Silversmiths’ Guild of America L had an exotic beauty that made her | PO! Europe, Spain was Rudy's favorite. Gra- nada with its Alhambra, Seville with its Alcazar, its bullfights—when_ we left he could have rewritten the Baedeker, for he was a tireless sightseer. Because he spoke Spanish perfectly, and was al- || ways quick to assume the mannerisms of the country he was in, he was every- where mistaken for a Spaniard. Even the banker, to whom Rudy presented his much-strained letter of credit, would not believe he was Italian instead of Spanish until Rudy produced his pass- rt. ‘Happily, we arrived in Seville in time to see & famous bullfighter give an ex- hibition of his skill in the presence of | the royal family. I did not want to g0 | to this fight; cannot bear to see ani: mals tortured, but, in the skill of th toredor I forgot many of my inhibitions. | | As for Rudy, he grew so excited he for- got to take films of the scene and I had || to hold fast to his coat tails to keep him from leaping into the arena. ,He was shrieking. “From now on I'm through with the | movies. Spain for me! I'm going to be a toreador!” Beard Scared Producers. He serlously believed this for a week. || Of course, we took countless photo- graphs of interiors and exteriors to | ide us in the sets for “The Hooded lcon,” particularly of the Alhambra, which was to be featured in the scene. ‘While I searched Spain for old ivories Rudy bought tons of armor and a magnificent toreador costume once worn by a famous matador. Among families connected with the bullring there is a superstition that the clothes of their dead heroes must be destroyed at once or they bring bad luck. Hence mag- nificent costumes of fine velvet, em- broidered in real gold, which it would | cost a fortune to make, may be bought from dealers for a song, due to this dark superstition. It was in Spain that Rudy started || to grow the beard he was to wear in |/ “The Hooded Falcon.” The immacu- late hero of the screen made the rest of his foreign travels rough and shaggy, | with a few weeks' growth on his face. But he nursed it tenderly. As it grew it proved enormously becoming. Arrived in New York, his appearance electrified the cinema world. He was handsomer than ever. But, alas, for the best laid plans of men! He was not permitted to show it on the screen. is producers de- cided the American girls would not like axmH with a beard; he had to shave off. (Copyright, countries, b i 1030, in the U. . and foreign reserved.) y Natacha Rombova. —_— FAMILY GETS FORTUNE NEW YORK, April 26 (P).—The | widow and three children receive the bulk of the estate of the late Frank H. || Jones, chairman of the board of the | Michigan Steel Corporation of Detroit, | according to a transfer tax appraisal filed yesterday. Mr. Jones, who died December 10, 1927, left a net estate of $2,393,973. The widow, Mrs, Clara Wardell Jones, || receives a life estate in $100,000 and property at Moose Lake, N. J. and the children, Mrs. Elizabeth H. Barry, Dorothy W. Jones and Wardell Jones, ||} each receive one-third of the residuary estate in trust. All live in New York. + o+ 935 F Street sketched just in- now selecting 63-100ths carat perfect diamond in a solid plat- inum mounting dis- playing 6 diamonds in a very new marquis ef- fect AS $315 ILLUS- TRATED ... Platinumsmiths WASHINGTON, 0. 0., APRIL 27, 1930—Parl ON All rights | lacy Note the extra length. These are better sheets in every way and you can buy them with con- fidence in their good service. Free from starch. You save 40c on each sheet! $ 80x105 size crinkled spreads that require no ironing. Size to cover both the bed and the bolster. Wide stripe patterns in rose, blue, green and goid. Street Floor Washable $1.69 Seamless Sheets ! 81x99—Perfect Quality $1.69 Crinkled Bedspreads | O ol S 12 810-818 Seventh St. N.W. P e Silk Dresses Every Dress 100% Pure Silk—Not a Thread of Rayon in the Sale! 70 $gN] & 10X Values Marvels of beauty and value! These bewitching .all-silk dresses represent a special purchase at a spe- cial introductory price —and will be selected with enthusiasm by fashion-wise women who know a saving when they see it. Sizes 14 to 20, 36 to 50 Washable Flat Crepe Dresses Washable Printed Silk Dresses Washable Georgette Crepe Dresses Washable Dotted Silk Dresses Washable Chiffon Silk Dresses Two of the host of lovely models are sketched—hardly more than a suggestion of the measure of quality, beauty and value offered in this timely sale. Fashions include capes, semi-capes, jacket novelties, dips and drapes. Sleeveless models; also sizes 40 to 50 in white silk dresses with sleeves. NEWEST COLORS! White Aqua Orchid Green Topaz Taupe Coral Beige Turquoise Peach Rose Lavender Mais Sand New Blue See these exquisite dresses in our window—you'll _enthuse over their novelty and distinction! Wash These Dresses with RINSO The Granulated Soap Regularly 10c 3«23¢c "600 PAIRS Arch-Support Spring FAMOUS $1.98 All-Silk Washable Flat Crepe Of course flat crepe will be your choice for one or more new frocks—and of course you'll be quick to take advantage of this opportunity to buy a pure silk quality that washes perfectly—at a genuine bar- gain price. Heavy, serviceable weave in 25 new shades, also white and black. Printed 2 9c Chiffon Voile YARD 40-inch extra sheer dainty chiffon voile printed in new floral, figured and dotted patterns of all colors, on light and dark grounds. 99 59¢ Rayon Flat Crepe : 36-inch rayon flat crepe, excellent ‘washable quality in all the fashion- able colors. Good weight, firm and serviceable. Street Floor Another Shipment of Those Beautiful Rayon Crepe Once more King's Palace stages a thrifty sale of actual $4.00, $5.00 and $6.00 Arch-Support shoes at $2.95—and once more hundreds of women will profit by the oppor- tunity. In BLONDE, black and tan kid, patent leather and black satin, Straps, ties and step-ins— all scientifically constructed on combination last. Foot specialists in constant attendance to fit you Smart, New HATS Worth $5.00 & $6.00 High-grade hair hats. Beautiful straws! And Baku braids, toyos and fancy straws galore. Newest brim hats for every faste and every taste; clever off-the-face models, dips, drapes and flares and plenty of chic small, brimless styles. Black and all colors. $ 1 .88 $2.00 & $2.50 Millinery of beauty, charm and quality offered in wonderful variety —including lacy straws, plain and novelty straws in black and all col- ors. All styles, all head sizes. Street Floor $1.50 Rayon Beautiful New Garments Underpriced Tailored, lace-trimmed and appliqued styles in Chardonize and heavy rayon garments, in- cluding gowns, princess slips, combinations, bloomers, chemises, step-ins and French pan- ties in regular sizes; also extra and double extra sizes in chemises, step-ins, bloomers and Underwear of quality, in a French panties. thrifty sale. N perfectly, Sizes 3 to 9, widths AA N 2 (o EEE. Advance Summer Styles in This Sale of WY & | N Printed Values Sizes A fabric of shimmering richness and novelty, woven for satisfactory service. @ modernistic designs. Created in a nuni- ber of chartiing fashions, one of which is straightline models with long or short sleeves. Trimmed with vestees, bows and 529 $F .98 40 to 48 A Patterned in dots, figures, flowers and sketched. New draped, shirred and ties. Second Floor Dollar Sale for Boys! WASH SUITS—Hundreds of well made, at- tractive, new wash suits in all sizes 3 to 10. Smart button-on styles in plain and fancy broad- cloth, linen, chambray and peggy cloth. Many in contrasting colors. KNICKERS for boys of 8 to 17. Tailored of good looking and good wearing fancy mixtures to give sturdy service. A number of popular patterns. SWEATERS—New shipment boys’ slip-over sweaters in new and novel jacquard patterns of all colors. V-neck style. Weight for Spring and Summer. All sizes 26 to Underwear Street Floor i covering! $11.00 3-Piece Slip Covers 38g Living room set. in striped linene and crash. Cut full in 84-inch size with button flap. Attractive col- ored stripes. 59¢ Certainteed o Save 20c a yard on this famous felt-base floor carpet and modernistic patterns for all purposes. Bring your measurements. $3.50 Printed Linoleum Rugs | Size 46x9 in these beautiful and practical rugs b that wear so well. Ideal for small rooms and halls. Third Floor Shirt Every Yard Perfect 8/4 width, heavy and durable. In new tile, 39c Square Yard A Thrifty Sale of Grass Rugs ‘Handsome and durable grass rugs to brighten the home for the warm days to come. Heavy Warp quality in new patterns. 9x12 Size, $5.50 Value. . .. 8x10 Size, $4.50 Value. ... 6x9 Size, $3.50 Value.... Third Floor Foral and carpet patterns. $1.25 Tie-Back 24 yards long. Made with col- ored overstitched edge and fancy valance. Trimmed in blue, rose, green and gold. New Purchase, Special Ekonomy Kolumn || Silk-and-Rayon Hose; 45¢ ‘Temptation and other brands of perfect quality hose in all colors. Chiffon Silk Hose, 59¢ Dieek sl wigwarn Becls Saht and sel irregulars. $1.50 Silk Hose, 50c Seconds of full-fashioned thread | silk hose, in chiffon and service weights. $1.00 Bemberg Hose, 69¢c Full-fashioned Bemberg hose, famed for beauty and good service. Slight irregulars. $1.00 Misses’ Silk Hose, 50c Pure thread silk hose with plain or picoted tops. All shades. Slight irregulars. $1.50 Silk Hose, 88c Two famous brands of full-fash- ioned pure silk hose in chiffon and service weights. Slight irregulars. $1 Rayon Underwear, 55¢ Tallored and lace-trimmed bloom- ers, chemises, step-ins, and panties. Also extra and double | extra sizes in' bloomers. 2 for $1.00. Street Floor $1.00 Silk Gloves, 59¢ Milanese silk gloves in smart two- clasp style. White, black and colors. Perfects and irregulars. 75c Fabric Gloves, 39¢ Women’s chamoisuede gloves in fancy cuff and two-clasp styles. Pop- ular colors. $2 & $2.50 Atomizers, $1 10 different styles in guaranteed atomizers. Colored glass and cut glass. $1 Cappi Face Powder, 42¢ In light flesh, dark flesh, light ette, dark brunette and white. 75¢c Noxzema Cream, 49¢ Boudoir size. This greaseless cream heals and besutifies the skin. Street Floor $1.69 Linen Napkins $1,29 Dozen 12x12 all-linen damask napkins. $1.39 Linen Tablecloths, 894c 54x54 all-linen crash tablecloths | with borders in gold, green, orchid, rose and blue. 29¢ Turkish Towels, 23c 22x24 white Turkish bath towels, heavy and absorbent. Street Hair Nets, 19c Dozen Avalon and Fashionette hair nets, cap shape. in dark brown, light auburn, blonde, gray and 39c Rubber Aprons, 29¢ New household rubber aprons in bright colors, self trimmed. Dress Shields, 19¢c Pair ‘White and flesh dress shields in regulation and crescent shapes, Mothproof Bags, 3 for $1 Cedarized bags, size 26X3x57. Mothproof, dustproof, dampproof. 5c¢ Sewing Silk, 3 for 11¢c Clark’s 50-yard spool sewing silk in nearly all shades. Street Men’s 79¢ Union Suits, 55¢ Athletic suits of madras and nain- sook, also white, pink, peach an green broadcloth. Sizes 36 to 46. Men’s Socks, 2 Pairs fer 25¢ Perfect “quality plain and fancy cotton socks in all sizes, 10 to 11%. | Men’s $1.00 Rayon Union Suits, 77¢ Athletic style, tailored of pink, blue and peach rayon. Sizes 36 to 46, Men’s $1.50 Pajamas, $1.00 Plain colors, stripes and figures. Of end-to-end madras, fancy broad- cloth, Alrln‘quhetm and cotton pon- gee. sizes, Street Floor Boys’ $5 & $6 Suits, $3.98 Tailored of fancy mixtures. Sizes 8 to 15. Two pairs knickers or one pair knickers and one pair long trousers, Boys’ Blouses, 47¢ Serviceable quality percale blouses in fast-color patterns. Sizes 7 to 15. Boys’ Play Suits, 79¢ Sizes 3 to 8 in suits of blue denim, khaki and Steifel blue and white | stripes. Long pants, long or short sleeves. Street Floor 39¢ Hair Bow Ribbons 25c Yard 4-inch ribbons in plaids, moires, satins and pastel shades. Lampshade Fringe, 49¢c Yd. 30-inch bugle and bead fringe in combination colors, also 4-inch silk fringe in rose, copen, gold, green and old rose. Trimming Beads, 35¢c Doz. For making necklaces. Rose and daisy designs in pastel colorings with I rhinestone centers, Street Floor $2 Day Bed Covers, $1.19 Cretonne day bed covers, full size, with ruffle all around. 49c¢ Hall Runner, 33c Yd. 24-inch Certainteed felt-base hall runner in new patterns. 49c Cretonne Cushions, 29¢ 18-inch cushlons covered with durable fancy cretonne and filled with sanitary cotton. $1.00 Window Shades, 52c Slight seconds of oiled opaque and Holland shades with perfect rollers. Green, white. ecru and blue. Third Floor Sale! 69 The {resh shipment of these fast-selling shirts contains shirts of broadcloth, madras and percale—in white, plain colors and fancy patterns. At- collar or* neckband Perfects and slight ir- All sizes 14 to 17. The buying signal for thrifty men! Street Floor