Customer Reviews

Valentino Forever: The History of the Valentino Memorial Services

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"Valentino Forever: The History of the Valentino Memorial Services" is a terrifically entertaining and informative book for anyone intrigued with the fact that Rudolph Valentino's death has been formally recognized by generations of fans since his untimely demise in 1926. Tracy Ryan Terhune has amassed a wonderful array of documented details and a plethora of rare photographs pertaining to the evolution of this quirky Hollywood tradition and put them into highly readable, present day perspective. I particularly enjoyed reading about the original "Lady in Black," a legend in her own right, and her successors. Just when you think there's nothing new to learn about the legend of Valentino, Mr. Terhune surprises and delights with a story decades in the making.

For nearly 80 years, a memorial service to honor the memory of Rudolph Valentino is held every August 23rd at Hollywood Forever (formerly Hollywood Memorial Park). What may seem as a bizzare ritual to some (over the years, it has been just that), it is also a heartfelt tribute to a silent star who, it really seems, will*never* be forgotten.

Tracy Terhune has taken great pains to take us back through the years to experience the grief and remorse felt by family and fans in 1926 and onward through the decades as the memorial services continued amid acrimony between competing factions of Valentino fans and the drama of the mystery of the original and one and only "Lady in Black." Having amassed an amazing collection of original materials that belonged to Ditra Flame, the Lady in Black (it appears she never threw anything away and thank goodness she didn't), Mr. Terhune sets out the story, the highlights, the bitch fights all in an entertaining and very readable fashion. One cannot help but be impressed with the photographs in the book. It is profusely illustrated, many of the photos are one-of-a-kind and have not been seen since they were used in the newspapers in August 1926 (if they were previously published at all). It's fun to see all the players through the years and all the new faces who were born decades after Valentino died, who take part in paying tribute to this day.

While books on Valentino's life abound, the story of the ritual of the only annual memorial held in Hollywood for a departed star was a story that needed to be told. With a literal cast of thousands, Mr. Terhune does just that, he tells it like it is, warts and all when warranted! Ultimately, the book is quite touching and heartwarming to think that there are still so many people who are touched by this silent and shadowy figure. It is a unique phenomenon, a story that needed to be chronicled and Mr. Terhune wove a tale that is quite an entertaiing read. Anyone who loves old Hollywood would love this book.

What a great book! It gave quite an insight into the yearly services for "The Great Lover", as well as entertaining reading about those who attended them. I highly recommend this book, it's fascinating.

This book delivers exactly what it promises. An asset to any Valentino collection. I'm planning a visit to the mauseleum after reading this!!!

This is a wonderful addition to Rudy Lore. Not very well edited, but full of new facts/info and many never seen photos. Detailed accounts of EACH yearly Memorial Service since 1926! Well worth the price. Thanks to the author for such a well-researched Labor Of Love. thank you, Tracy!

This book was obviously very well researched, and included some of the best photos I have ever seen of the subject. The book was chock-full of facts and details about the memorial that have never been included in a published work. Thank you, Tracy for such an amazing book.

"Valentino Forever" is a unique study on the memorial services honoring the anniversary of Rudolph Valentino's death that have been held at his crypt at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery from 1927 to the present day. Tracy Terhune--who runs an eGroup on the silent film legend and was a speaker at at least one of the memorial services--brings together all the news accounts, letters and paraphernalia to complete a thorough study not told before.

Many colorful characters were involved in the services, the most famous of whom were the Ladies in Black. The first known Lady in Black--considered by most who follow the memorials to be the original--Ditra Flame, is covered extensively and her essay "Red Roses At Noon" is printed in its entirety at the end of the book. Other Ladies in Black included a former Ziegfeld Follies star who was Valentino's last date before his sudden death who claimed to have been his wife and bore his child and would plunge into drug addiction. Another Lady in Black announced she was taking over for her mother who she claimed was an early love interest of the actor and the true original Lady in Black.

Other peculiar characters who attended the memorials at one time or another included Amanda, the spiritualist, "Rudolph Florentino" who had made his apartment into a shrine for the star, dressed in sheik garb and tried to communicate with Valentino through seances, a speaker who talked about Valentino's reincarnation, visitors dressed in gaucho or Arab attire, etc. This quasi circus atmosphere makes for some fun stories, not to mention the in-fighting between competing Valentino Guilds as well as the guilds and Valentino's family. The book does slow down in spots as the memorials themselves were bogged in a rut of repeating speakers and stories.

There are many photos of the services most of which were never before published. It is the definitive account of the Valentino Memorial services. My main criticism, though, is the organization and presentation of the book. The book runs in chronological order but, it would have read more smoothly, I think, if it were divided up with more sub headings. Terhune mentions Rudolph Florentino at one point (quite an intriguing name), but doesn't explain who he was until later. There are many long quotations but they are not indented. They are printed like the rest of the text and, sometimes running for multiple paragraphs, I found it easy to lose track of where the quotes begin and end. There are also quite a few typos.

Presentation aside, this book is a must for those who cannot get enough Valentino. It includes a foreword by Emily Leider (also a Valentino Memorial participant) who wrote the definitive Valentino biography, "Dark Lover." An epilogue is provided by Donna Hill who runs a Valentino website and is working on a book. It is 239 pages and very well-illustrated; albeit the illustrations are photo copy quality, they are rare and unusual.