Rudolph Valentino's Hobbies

Valentino showing off his physique

Rudolph Valentino had many interests besides trying to make the best films he could.  He was a man who was interested in everything!  As fame brought him wealth, he was very much able to indulge his passions, his whims and varied interests.

First off, along with Douglas Fairbanks, Valentino was a notable health addict, long before a buff bod was something that was both fashionable and demanded of our screen idols.  He worked out at home, at the studio and at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.  Valentino even went so far to pen (aka ghostwritten) book on fitness entitled How You Can Keep Fit published by Physical Culture Magazine owned by Bernarr MacFadden (media magnate and health fanatic of the teens and twenties).  How You Can Keep Fit is a very rare volume, indeed. I am still seeking a copy for my own collection. Thanks to Internet Archive, we all can check out Rudy's fitness tips online and for free.

There are plenty of photographs showing Valentino indulging in some of his fitness activities.

Valentino during a workout session
with a medicine ball

Sparring with pal Douglas Gerrard and
Robert Florey is referee.

Valentino training
during filming Monsieur Beaucaire

He prided himself on being in superb shape. 

Rudy enjoying a pipe and a book. 
Though he does not look like he is enjoying being photographed!

Valentino had few vices with regard to his physical health, his one real vice was that he was a chain smoker.  Back in his day it was unfiltered cigarettes.  He also liked unusual smoking devices and he also enjoyed smoking a pipe.  It is a rare photo of him where he does not have a cigarette in hand. 

With his fame came the ability for him to indulge in collecting all manner of things, swords, books and cars.  He loved cars!  From his earliest days he had a fascination with all things mechanical.  In fact, the legend of one of his first jobs in the U.S. working for Cornelius Bliss as a gardener, he got himself fired by stealing and wrecking a motorcycle.  One does wonder if fame had not come his way if he would have ended up as a mechanic in a garage?  He likely would have been just as happy and contented had he been.  

Posing with the new Cobra Car Mascot on his 1923 Avion Voisin

Of course, being a lowly mechanic would not have allowed Valentino to indulge in very expensive cars, like the Avions Voisin and his enormous and expensive Isotta Fraschini. Valentino enjoyed doning a pair of coveralls and taking everything apart down to the chassis.  It was a good day that allowed him to play like this.

Rudy, clearly having a good time.

Valentino, not always known for practicality, he did have a Ford truck and a Franklin Coupe for tooling around and getting things done at Falcon Lair.

At the studio by his bungalow
and Franklin Coupe

Valentino was also able to indulge his whims and passion for horses and dogs.  (No evidence of his loving cats except Natacha's pet lioness cub Zela).  Valentino's favorite of his many dogs was likely Kabar.  Many legends have arisen about Kabar, that he haunted Falcon Lair and such.  I suspect the real thing was he loved his master and mourned him.

With his Mastiff and Wolfhound

Kabar is seen here excitedly barking while Valentino exercises Yacqui and shows off for Nealson Smith's publicity camera.  The stables at Falcon Lair were quite posh, by horse standards and also housed kennels for his numerous dogs.  The stable building is no longer a part of the Falcon Lair property having been parceled off decades ago.  It was converted into a house and is still quite posh, now very much habitable for humans.

Rudy bringing Centaur Pendragon home in January 1926

Photography was another great passion. From his earliest days, Valentino indulged himself and recorded his travels and adventures by taking photographs.  He had a brownie, or some such camera from his earliest days in America.  Many candid photos of him posing on walks, in NY, and on tour survive.  His own snapshots preserved in his scrapbooks, not always so well composed, do show a flair.  As his personal wealth grew, he was able to invest in much more expensive camera and movie equipment, such as top of the line Debrie cameras from France.  He is using a Debrie to film Natacha below.  He also shot home movies while traveling and even on the sets of his movies.  Nobody was safe!

Valentino also had the opportunity to travel, a pastime he enjoyed, but, did not get the chance to do all that much.  He stayed in America from 1913 to 1923 when he was finally able to return to his home country and also see Great Britain (where he visited Crabbet Stables to shop for his own Arabian horse), France, where he bought cars, Italy to see his family (and to order his Isotta Fraschini).  In 1924 he visited Spain on his summer trip to Europe.  He hobnobbed with the rich and famous, the peerage and royals as often as he could.  He had a love of the finer things in life and being one of the biggest movie stars of the era enabled him to do that.  The rich and famous flocked to him!

Rudy and Natacha waving on board ship

The Valentinos looking tres chic!

During his travels across the U.S. he also took the chance to meet mayors and other local politicians.

Rudy and Fiorello la Guardia
at the Columbus Day celebrations in 1922

Valentino collected books, armor, weapons and other beautiful things he displayed at his home Falcon Lair.  Sadly, so many items were auctioned off and scattered to the four winds to pay his debts after he died at the young age of 31 in August 1926.  He displayed a love of finery from his earliest days.  How wonderful that because of his hard work and fame he was able to indulge his passions and whims and enjoy a life to the fullest measure, as he did.