As I mentioned in previous posts, Alberto Valentino initiated a false narrative about what happened to Rudolph's estate which included his plaintive tale of how he received only “pennies”. Throughout, he neglected to mention a great deal to the reporters eager to help him find a few pennies. He neglected to mention Rudolph Valentino did not have “rightful heirs”, (in the plural). Rudolph named one sole heir, and only one and that was Jean Valentino. Alberto was never entitled to anything more than the weekly allowance Rudolph stipulated in that second page of the will. Only if Jean died before he turned 25 years old, would Alberto be elevated to the status of an "heir".
Alberto neglects to mention how for four years after his brother died, he lived on generous advances from Ullman and lived like a veritable sultan in Hollywood. He neglects to mention he actually was given, by today's value, over a half a million dollars which is neatly recorded in those court records I discovered... the copies of those records which are still so well hidden from the public.
Alberto neglects to mention he was the one who refused to settle the estate over 40 times as he refused Ullman's Executor's Accounts again and again... and Alberto neglects to mention it was he who squandered Jean's rightful inheritance on his own lavish lifestyle, lawyers and the frivolous pursuit of an innocent man, S. George Ullman.
Rudolph's estate did not “vanish in thin air” as Alberto tells this reporter (see below). According to the meticulous accounting in the court records and the audit of Ullman's books as executor, Alberto spent the estate funds as fast as he could until they vanished. And Alberto did not “watch” the estate vanish... he was there ground zero, enjoying the benefits of his brother's success...in that Ambassador Hotel bungalow, with Jean, the “rightful heir” spending those years far, far away in the most expensive boarding school in Turin.
This is a common theme presented by Alberto throughout his life...which is parroted even today because it still can be. With the complete file of the Valentino probate records passed about from the Alberto Valentino family and collectors, they have little fear anyone will refute Alberto's “woe is me, I got only pennies” narrative. Anyone heading down to the LA County Hall of records... as I did to fact check what he said will find nothing because the entire case file is gone. And today it is easier to say I forged the records I found and call my work “trash fiction” as does Tracy Terhune... than to address the issue historically and correct this story factually.
I did find the records.. not all but about 1000 pages of them and this was ample material to see what really happened. I have transcribed the first part of this article I found today. Alberto then goes on to lament his lack of work and poverty, etc.
“American Injustice - There has seldom been such a case of the miscarriage of the much-boasted American justice as that which concerns Alberto Valentino. The brother of the beloved Rudolph Valentino has watched Rudy's estate, originally valued at close to a million dollars, vanish in thin air.
One property after another was sold or declared worthless until now only Falcon Lair remained. Now that has gone too, purchased for a mere eighteen thousand dollars of its one hundred and twenty-five thousand appraisal. And even at that price, not a penny will go to Rudy's rightful heirs. Administration and expenses, income taxes and other liens against the estate will absorb it all.”
