24. From Male Prostitute to Superstar
As seen from the Charlie Chaplin and Fatty Arbuckle scandals, above, early Hollywood scandals make today’s Tinseltown controversies look tame by comparison. Another early superstar whose public image was marred by scandal was Rudolph Valentino (1895 – 1926). Also known as “The Latin Lover”, Valentino was a Hollywood superstar and heartthrob of the silent film era, and a 1920s’ symbol of masculinity. He shot to fame with captivating performances in silent film blockbusters such as The Sheik, and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. His sudden death at age 31 resulted in mass hysteria among his female fans, and solidified his iconic status.
However, before becoming a star, Rudolph Valentino had probably been a male prostitute. Before rising to fame, Valentino had worked as a dancer in what was known as “taxi dance clubs”. Such clubs were basically escorted services, where clients would come in, examine the club’s stable of dancers, and pay to dance with whichever one caught their eye.