lady in black

 The Ladies In Black are a strange, unaffiliated contingent of women dedicated to making fabulous apparitions at the grave of fallen silent filmstar Rudolph Valentino, whose death in 1926 led to a level of hysteria not seen again until the death of Elvis.  His New York funeral had a rumored 100,000 people lining up to pay respects, including Pola Negri, who cling to his coffin weeping and wailing.

It is rumored that the idea was another Hollywood publicity stunt years after his death. In the 1930's mysterious woman would show up, veiled, with flowers. Then there were two, then three, until there the annual memorial became sort of Hollyweird spectacle, rival mourners and all.

this is the first known photo of the Lady In Black, taken in 1947. the woman has never been identified.

The first, or so claimed, was a woman named Ditra Flame... pronounced Fla-may. She says that as a sick teenager, Rudy visited her in the hospital. He asked her then to promise to visit his grave when he died. She remained faithful until 1977, dying a few years later at 72 years of age.

There were others, such as Marion Benda, a former Follies girl and Rudy's last date the night he fell ill. Miss Marion, who's real name was perhaps the most hystrionic of them all. Having claimed to be secretly married to him, as well as claiming to be the mother of his lovechild. Sadly she was also suicidal, many attempts before the final overdose of pills in 1951. Here she is, in sunglasses.

unknown mourner