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Affairs Valentino
Rudolph Valentino's sudden death inspired mass hysteria among his fans. His fans were not the only ones to mourn. His grieving business manager and close friend, George Ullman, was appointed executor of Valentino’s estate. In this role, Ullman found himself a key character in a byzantine tale of betrayal and subterfuge involving moguls, Valentino's relatives and sinister collectors. Affairs Valentino is not only the story of George Ullman’s affiliation with Valentino, but a revised, documented life story of Rudolph Valentino.
Affairs Valentino is an expose of the dross written about Valentino, as well as the shady dealings and alliances of collectors and myth mongers. As a result of her discoveries of previously unpublished court documents and Ullman’s personal memoir, Ms. Zumaya challenges the studio-generated version of Rudolph Valentino’s personal and professional life.
This full color “Special Edition” includes a new Postscript by Ms. Zumaya in which she reveals her latest research, as well as seventy new images including photographs and newly-discovered documents.
….”Evelyn Zumaya spent years delving into formerly closed archives. The portrait that emerges of Valentino is, without a doubt, the most accurate and compelling that has so far been published.......Too often, Hollywood finances are, well boring, but money is the name of the game in Tinseltown, and Zumaya does a masterly job of unraveling the maze of greedy and dishonest players who tried to gouge the estate for every penny to which they had no right.
Affairs Valentino is that rare Hollywood book that informs us of previously unknown facts yet tells a compelling narrative with terrific velocity. This is Hollywood as I know it: a glorious yet bitter moral landscape. “
Robert Avrech - The Seraphic Press
"This is the BEST researched book about Rudolph Valentino ever written."
Michael Morris - biographer of Natacha Rambova and author of Madam Valentino
...”Zumaya has faced viciously barbaric opposition to her work, which has compelled her to cease publication of this fine book. This is a disastrous pity for she has done more than any other researcher to advance our understanding of this fascinating screen legend.....If you find her book, buy it and don’t flinch at the price. It tells a story worthy of any Hollywood scandal.”
Tony Bonn – Publisher of The American Chronicle