On p.42 of Affairs Valentino, I relate the story of a Mr. T. R. Zan and how this was a publicity stunt orchestrated by Harry Reichenbach.
Reichenbach is also credited with being the inspiration for Rudolph Valentino's beard. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Reichenbach
Curiously, in this account of “Rudy's” Party (see below), J.D. Williams' publicity man, Bill Yearsley is present. Was this a collaboration between Yearsley and Reichenbach? How much of that beard was a publicity hoax? To me it hardly seems plausible and could have been an attempt by the PR agents around Valentino to exploit his own decision to grow the infamous beard.
