The happy couple decided to buy a house on Wedgewood Drive, ‘Whitley Heights’. With the purchase of the house, plans were made for the time when the young couple would be free to marry. Both were short of cash. Included in both their weekly expenses were the secretaries and the maid at the bungalow. They had not been able to save very much, and after securing ‘Whitley Heights’ there was little left over for furnishings. Natascha moved as much as possible up the hill from Sunset Boulevard.*

Valentino and Natashca spent Christmas 1921 in the half empty house. They decorated the main room with a Christmas tree, put up wreathes and their stockings making Natascha stay in her bedroom Valentino disappeared from the house and ran down the hill. When he returned she heard a muffled bark, and was allowed to see her Christmas present. The tiny head Pekinese puppy peeped out of her stocking ‘Chuckie’ became a much loved to their already family of pets.

After Christmas preparations were made for one of the most important films Valentino ever made. ‘Blood and Sand’ was considered by most critics to be an outstanding film. It was adapted my June Mathis from the novel by Vincente Blasco Ibanez. Genuine Torero costumes and complete outfits were obtained from Spain Valentino played the part Gallerdo with understanding and sympathy. His love of costume and character study were very evident in the excellent performance that he gave. For two months he trained under the tuition of Rafeal Paolomer an accomplished bull-fighter. Films of the Corrides of Madrid and Serville were studied.

For the interested researcher this film is worthy of review because more than any other of Valentino’s films it provides material which upon analysis proves the sincerity, emotional reaction, and a fine sense of timing of which Valentino was capable. With ‘Blood and Sand’ as an example there is no reason to suppose that had he lived he would have realised his ambition to make historical films of Ben Venuto Cellini and Cesare Borgie. Lile Lee played the part of Gallardo’s wife Carmen, and Nite Neldi that of his seducer. His only regret was the fact that Paramount refused Valentino’s request to have the film made in Spain.

On march the fourth 1922 Valentino was granted his Interlocutor Decree of divorce from Jean Acker, but he would have to wait a full year before receiving the final decree on March 4th 1923.

Valentino consulted his attorney Mr W I Gilbert who explained that he could not marry again with one year. This was indeed a terrible blow.

In Mexico the law was different and several film stars and friends, which included Dagmar Godowsky and Frank Mayo, had gone their to be married immediately after receiving their first decree. No action had been taken upon their return, so why should not valentino do the same?

Natascha had finished her work on ‘Salome’. ‘Blood and Sand’ was nearly finished. When they were both free Valentino collected two friends Doctor White and Douglas Gerrard, to accompany them to Palm Springs. From there they crossed the border into Mexico where the Mayor of Mexicali married Rudolph Valentino and Natacha Rambova on May the 13th 1922.

 With the help of an orchestra and the Civil Band their wedding day was turned into a Gala by the population of the town. The Mexican dishes served at the wedding breakfast were the best that the Mayor could provide Mexican people are a happy and demonstrative people who celebrate a wedding in every possible way their was music, dancing, everything was done with the happiness of the Bride and Bridegroom who they had taken to their hearts.

Returning to Palm Springs the Valentino’s were summoned back to Los Angeles where Valentino was arrested and next day the press of the world carried the headlines: ‘Valentino Arrested for Bigamy’.

Within the confines of the jail Valentino raved and swore, demanding to know what he had done wrong had he not been legally married in Mexico? Why should he be forcibly parted from his legal wife.

What Valentino did not know was that he had been made the subject of a contemptible stunt urged on by a couple of news-hounds.

Three friends June Mathis, Thomas Meighan and Gorge Melford, the director put up the money demanded for his release in jail and after a couple of weeks the case was dismissed. Acting upon the advice of Mr Gilber, Natascha left for New York and Valentino stayed to make a new film.

In a statement to the press Valentino said ‘I of course regret that I should have done anything that would lower me in the estimation in the American people who have been so kind in accepting me at every turn for more than I can conceive to be my real worth. And have graciously called me ‘The Lover of the Screen’ I will say that the love that made me do what I have done was prompted by the noblest intention that a man could have. I love deeply, but in loving I may have erred innocently.’

The new film was the ‘The Young Rajah’ a weak story about India. A film in which Valentino was festooned with pearls and made to look ridiculous.

Trouble had been brewing between Valentino and Famous Players Lasky corps. For some time. He wanted more say in the choice of his films, and after ‘The Young Rajah’ things came to a head the ‘The Young Rajah’ by every standard was a very poor film.

Anything baring the logo ‘Valentino’ could be sold to the public or so the producers thought. Valentino would not agree to make inferior pictures, he mad himself quite clear on the subject. On October the 1st 1922 Valentino broke off his association with the studio, and refused to make any more films, unless he had some degree of control over his work. The producers retaliated by obtaining an injunction that forbade him from work. Valentino had a deep sense of obligation to the public and insisted that a film star should at all times be given the opportunity to express his appreciation of their esteem by making first rate films.

No other star had ever stood up to the powerful film companies the issue was followed by than abstract interest by the other artists. At a later date Valentino’s example was to be followed Catherine Hepburn.

Leaving California Valentino went to live with his friend Frank Meniello at the hotel Des Artiste in New York to be near Natascha who occupied an apartment with her Aunt.

Valentino and Natacha

It was in New York where Valentino first became involved in Psychic Phenomena. Mrs Virginia Mathis the mother of June Mathis had died and was known as ‘Jenny’. A friend of June Mathis named C.M.G. possessed the gift of automatic writing she said that she had been asked to pass on a message to Valentino from his mother who had died in France the communication contained many evidential references to his early childhood of which no one but himself knew anything about. Interested he and Natacha ‘began to sit’ with their new friend, and was soon convinced of the truth of life after death.

Continuing to investigate, Valentino discovered he also had the gift of Mediumship, and could be in constant communication with his mother, his friends who had passed over Meselope an old Egyptian and member of the Hermetic Brotherhood, he like all the higher teachers only gave spiritual guidance. Valentino also learn of his own guide: ‘Black Feather’.  Thereafter no important decision was taken without the aid of Valentino’s friends on the other side.

When George Ullman first met the Valentino’s he was connected with The Mineralava BC Co. Being an astute businessman he decided as there was nothing in the injunction granted to Paramount restricting Valentino from dancing a tour could be arranged. The dancing tour acting as an advertisement for the products of his firm. Valentino’s salary would be several thousand dollars a week, and the tour would include most of the large towns in America.

Weeks before through the automatic writing, Valentino and Natascha had been told about a long extended trip to many cities. This was the confirmation. Natascha in her book comments: ‘The prophecies were the facts that did the most to convince us, of this truth. As no prophecy of future events can be explained by the usual theory of mind reading- conscious or sub-conscious’.*

In a special car the Valentino’s travelled to Omaha, where they were to appear on the first stage of a very long tour. Valentino selected the Tango from ‘The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse’ and for this he wore the original costume. Then he and Natashca gave an exhibition dance of their own creation after which a talk was given by Valentino.

Crowds turned out in each town to welcome them even in the worst climactic conditions and in some places schools were closed so that children could see the star. Beauty contests were held the towns people would select their winners by their votes and Valentino presenting the prizes to the winners.

Across America, the fans showed their loyalty to Valentino and encouraged him to fight on. In his spare time a book of poems had been prepared by Valentino, and they were published under the title ‘Day Dreams’ certainly, they were written down by him but they were psychically received, and not a product of his own thoughts. Where there is a dedication to an initial those initials stood foe the soul that inspired the poem M stood for Meleope G.S stood for George Sand, and so on.

Of course the Magazines printed articles and the gossip columnists made wild guesses thinking the poems were dedicated to Valentino’s past love life. Nowhere in the book does Valentino use the word ‘by’. All the poems were received by his automatic writing.

During this day in Chicago Valentino receives the telegram announcing the final decree of divorce from Jean Acker. Again, there were difficulties to be surmounted with the law of Chicago so Mr Michael Romano, the Assistant District Attorney, and Mrs Werner travelled to Town Point Indiana where Valentino and Natascha were legally married on March the 14th 1923.

The dancing tour had been a wonderful success. For seventeen weeks the Valentino’s had travelled in luxury through the excited towns, most of the time the heat was intense they had enjoyed themselves, but now they needed to be alone, away from all the glamour and excitement.

*See:’Rudy’ An Intimate Portrait.

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