Today

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michaelmas

 

Pathos

 An open letter to Ms. Cindy Martin,

This is my response to your message of a few days ago which you sent to me through the www.zumayawinslawsuit.com website. I know people would tell me you just want the attention and to ignore you. All true. But I reply because Renato can't and I know he sure would. I will only reply publicly and believe that you just copy- pasted the same piteous message you seem to send our way about once a year.

So I reply.

I have managed to learn a few things about myself. One of them is that I can not tolerate pathos. I am not so bothered seeing, for example, a dead animal out of its misery. But if that animal is wounded and struggling, it is a piteous, pathetic sight.

Pathetically piteous is how I perceive your wounded and struggling message. After all you have done so maliciously to us over all these years, you think we could just toss back some tea together and be friends? On what planet. Am I honestly on your bucket list as you imply? Number twelve maybe.... be Evelyn's e-mail pal? Nope.

Regarding your explanation as to who runs what on the two cult forums that ban the mention of our names, etc.... I actually got it all perfectly correct. Because you are the “ad-minions” of Tracy Terhune, who owns all your asses, always has and always will.

You have not issued public retractions for your gross lies and miserable behavior towards us over the many, many years. The list is so long on those needed retractions, it would take me months to compile them all. Hardly worth the time. Today I will just leave this one here for the record:

And maybe Donna Hill could issue a retraction for being on that thread and saying nothing when that epic lie was told at Michael Morris' expense.

"Somewhat Hidden in his Tiny Office..." Reposted

In The True Rudolph Valentino by Baltasar Cue, he includes an article titled, “My Last Visit with Rudolph Valentino” which I excerpt.

“It was on the eve of Valentino's last trip from Los Angeles to New York, when I surprised him, somewhat hidden, in his tiny office attached to the rich library of his brand new mansion, Falcon Lair; perched high above the populated city of Beverly Hills. He was writing a love letter by hand and I could not help noticing it began with the eternal words, "My love," in English. It was not inscribed to his beloved Pola Negri. Was, then, the 'Sheik', in the disposition which most characterized him, in life as well as on screen?”

...on p. 149, Cue writes:

“Pola Negri entered her boyfriend's office that day and saw on his desk the letter which began with the eternal words "My love," as it was addressed to another woman. She did not pluck a single hair from the Italian actor's head! She remained as calm as if the epistle was something required as a prop for some movie. 

Did she know it had a different significance, that it was destined for a real person and that Valentino was not working for any movie at the time? Probably, Pola could not conceive that Rudolph could love another woman and this was the reason for her unheardof trust.

Once, when she visited the studio where the movie The Son of the Sheik was being completed, she arrived just at the time when Valentino and Vilma Banky were engaged in an enviously tight and long-lasting kiss. Those around Pola at the time watched to see her reaction to such a situation. Very calmly and with a broad smile showing her confident happiness, the Polish actress told them, "He kisses Vilma, but he thinks of me.”

I guess the love letter could have been written to a number of women, but it makes me wonder who. Did the reconciliation with Natacha begin sooner, was this a secret lover who was never known publicly? Who was the lady and did she receive her love letter. And more to the point, where is that letter today?

The events in Falcon Lair before Valentino left for New York on his final trip east, as witnessed by Baltasar Cue make his account unique. Baltasar Cue's reputation as a respected journalist opened some doors for him as far as interviews and in the case of Valentino; an autobiography. Cue was not a gossip columnist, not a reporter rushing about trying to get some scoop. He was distinguished, hard working, sought after and talented. 

A Positive Thing

...New post on my Patreon account. Subscribe to comment. 

https://www.patreon.com/AffairsValentino

On Being Uncommonly Nonconformist

If something, or someone is referred to as, “mainstream”, imo this describes thought under siege. Whatever the designated mainstream is, you can believe it is a narrative issued by and approved of by a controlling authority. "Mainstream" is to accept that narrative without question and march along blindly with sheeple who obey and believe whatever propaganda is tossed their way.

“Ordinary, orthodox, conventional...” is how the dictionary describes “mainstream”. I do not consider that superior or appealing in any way. “Common, conformist...” the definition goes on and in no way will that ever describe me.

Most often a mainstream mentality will never dispute anything challenging the status quo and instead parrot whatever the controlling authority has to say. Why am I even pondering this? Because I am often taunted with accusations I am not a part of the “Valentino mainstream”. I say thank God for that.

Why would I ever want to be part of a mainstream; swept along by blind acceptance, fearful of appearing insubordinate by questioning a tired old orthodoxy? I proudly consider myself far, far outside of that, “Valentino mainstream”.

To those of you who attempt feebly to insult Renato's memory and our work by saying we are not part of the “Valentino mainstream”, I say that is more praise than insult....so thank you. Because this was the result...

A Word From Renato Reposted From August 16, 2022

"Nobody's perfect.

I confess here Evelyn and myself have three serious flaws, which I list below:

The first is that we don't know how to lie. I'm sure being able to lie is an indispensable gift these days for some in the world which revolves around Rudolph Valentino. But I am not sorry that we do not know how.

The second is that we do not know how to construct fakes of any kind. What we communicate to the world is only and uniquely the result of our research on the truth about Rudolph Valentino and all the documents we present are only genuine testimonies. Not sorry for that!

The third is that we do not know how to hate. We do know how to feel compassion for those who continually denigrate us and attack us because we are an easy target, too easy even if we defend ourselves with our intellectual honesty.

Our compassion for our opponents is enormous and we pity them because they deny what we discover. In this they do nothing but root themselves once more and deeper in their ignorance. Very sorry for that.

I guess we will not be able to achieve the peaks of hate, lying and constructing fakes of those who, without rest, attack us."

Audio Note Posted

https://evelynfloris.substack.com/

Minou

A new Substack audio note will post soon....

https://evelynfloris.substack.com/
 

Rambova's "Egyptian Woman"

 In 2017 we published Michael Morris posthumous book, Beyond Valentino – A Madam Valentino Addendum. In the course of my completing his work, it was necessary for me to secure many copyright permissions for images. I contacted the Roerich Foundation in New York in this regard and they were extremely helpful and even contributed additional images for our use. They also put me in touch with the Roerich expert in Moscow, Dr. Vladimir Rosov.

Dr. Rosov is writing a biography of Svetoslav Roerich and plans to include a chapter on Svetoslav's engagement to Natacha Rambova. Michael Morris knew about this three year engagement but did not include it in Madam Valentino on the request of the Roerich Foundation. This was something he sorely regretted.

In 2009, Michael Morris seized the opportunity while delivering his speech at the Convegno Valentino in Turin to amend this issue. He explained why he did not include this in Madam Valentino and how it was his belief Svetoslav Roerich was Natacha Rambova's “great love.”

Dr. Rosov verified the three year engagement and also informed me he had two other portraits painted by Svetoslav of Rambova. He was not ready to share these as I believe he will make them exclusive to his book. He did however share the rare colored sketch by Rambova of “The Egyptian Woman” (see below).

Although dated 1921... this design was the inspiration for an iconic scene in Valentino's movie, Cobra...the scene where the little statue comes to life. This incredible little watercolor had never been published before until we included it in Beyond Valentino.

Curiously Dr. Rosov once interviewed Michael Morris and this entire interview is included in the book. We had the article translated from the Russian and will no doubt do the same with the chapter Dr. Rosov includes in his book on the Svetoslav and Rambova love affair.

“The Egyptian Woman”. Courtesy of Dr. Vladimir Rosov