Rudolph Valentino in Cobra (1925)
Seated model, seen from the waist down, wearing a lame dress, satin Perugia shoes decorated with tassel-shaped rhinestone ornaments, diamond bracelets and ring, and holding a cigarette holder, Photo by Edward Steichen for Vogue Magazine, August 12, 1925
Rudolph Valentino with Congressman Fiorello LaGuardia (left) and Frank Mennillo (right) at a marathon in New York, 1925.
When
Rudolph Valentino
arrived in New York from Italy in 1913 he was taken under the wing by Frank Mennillo. Frank acted as his “Padrino” (Godfather), accepting responsibility for his welfare. Frank was a successful Italian businessman and old family friend who made his fortune importing Italian goods,namely olives which earned him the title the “Olive King.”
Fiorello LaGuardia became the 99th Mayor of New York City for three terms from 1934 to 1945. Olympic runner Ville Ritola is in the last photo.