Card of Admittance to Rudolph Valentino's Funeral. The funeral for Rudolph Valentino -- who died August 23, 1926, of a perf...

Description

Card of Admittance to Rudolph Valentino's Funeral. The funeral for Rudolph Valentino -- who died August 23, 1926, of a perforated ulcer at age 31 -- was a sensational event, famed for its mob of 80,000 and its unleashing of public hysteria. This is a pass to St. Malachy's Church in New York City on August 30, 1926, for the "Solemn High Mass for Rudolph Valentino." The 3.5" x 5.4" black-bordered card provides the location and time for the funeral, noting that it's necessary for admittance to the church -- adding "it is also necessary for passage of Automobile through Police Traffic LInes." By the way, Clifton Webb attended the funeral and apparently asked several fellow mourners for their pass cards -- this (and the identical card Heritage offers in this auction) come from Webb's estate. The card has some staining on the front. In Very Fine condition.

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