Tuesday, March 23, 2021

It Bears Reasserting

Today while looking through some old files, I found the following list. I wrote this sometime in 2004 or 2005. Although I could certainly add a great deal to this account of my discoveries now, it still bears reasserting I think. I titled the list:

Documents I uncovered and referenced for Affairs Valentino:

1) Extracts and Schedules from the Baskerville Audit- This audit was ordered by the court in 1930 and was an extensive review of Ullman’s estate records, the books of Rudolph Valentino Production Company and Valentino’s personal financial records going back to February of 1926.

2) The missing second page of Valentino’s will designated as Paragraph Fourth

3) Valentino’s household ledgers from January 1926- August 1926, which include records of: club dues, payroll, tax payments, legal fees, publicity fees, bootlegger bills, jewelry, overhead for his New York office, etc.

4) Business records regarding the financial management of Rudolph Valentino Production Company

5) Entire copy of Valentino’s contract with United Artists signed on March 20, 1925

6) Business records and story of Valentino’s corporate alter ego, Cosmic Arts, Inc., including the contract which transferred ownership of Valentino’s UA contract to Cosmic Arts.

7) Records of royalties from his last two films, income from rental property and his personal bank accounts.

8) Listings of all assets and debts at the time of this death, bills paid after his death and his continued income.

9) Probate court actions including payments and disbursement records

10) Itemized listing of his estate worth as submitted to the court by the appraisers.

11) Details of his real estate holdings.

12) Details of Natacha Rambova’s role in Valentino’s business/Cosmic Arts.

13) Income reports on money made from his last two films.

14) Details of two life insurance policies held on Valentino at the time of his death by Joe Schenk and Cinema Finance.

15) Court transcripts from the estate battle.

16) All court exhibit documents.

***17) George Ullman manuscript including letter from Valentino’s attending physician and copy of original managerial contract with Valentino.

***18) Campbell’s Funeral Home invoice and records.

****19) Frank Mennillo story and photographs.