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JAN. 31 ISSUE ANSWERS: Edward Rice, history professor, at Macomb Community College responded, “This week’s photo is Rudolph Valentino in the Sheik. It was controversial due to racial miscegenation.” When Ed and I discussed his answer today we agreed that there was miscegenation and eugenics related to Rudolph’s film and acting. Eugenics refers to keeping the races pure as they said in the 1920’s under Presidents like Coolidge, “America for Americans.” This was popular then in America. Many immigrants were coming to America. A recent author reports that the Nazi Party was researching how America was using discriminatory practices against minorities. In the case of Rudolph Valentino who had an Italian father and a French mother, many Americans did not like an Italian man in a romantic scene with American women. From his very humble beginnings, Rudolph fought his way to America, tried to change his accent and finally made it to Hollywood. He would lighten his skin to prevent discrimination and try to present a macho image. He tried to show he was a “man’s man.” American women loved his romantic films. In the Sheik photo above the controversial part was the Arabic character was kidnapping European women and selling them. This activity was definitely controversial. The film made Rudolf famous Worldwide. When he died in 1926, there were funerals in numerous American cities. His grave is still being celebrated and visited almost 100 years later on a regular basis. His films would have been shown at the Palace Theater in Romeo. Richard Beringer, Romeo Historical Society staff

JAN. 31 ISSUE ANSWERS: Edward Rice, history professor, at Macomb Community College responded, “This week’s photo is Rudolph Valentino in the Sheik. It was controversial due to racial miscegenation.” When Ed and I discussed his answer today we agreed that there was miscegenation and eugenics related to Rudolph’s film and acting. Eugenics refers to keeping the races pure as they said in the 1920’s under Presidents like Coolidge, “America for Americans.” This was popular then in America. Many immigrants were coming to America. A recent author reports that the Nazi Party was researching how America was using discriminatory practices against minorities. In the case of Rudolph Valentino who had an Italian father and a French mother, many Americans did not like an Italian man in a romantic scene with American women. From his very humble beginnings, Rudolph fought his way to America, tried to change his accent and finally made it to Hollywood. He would lighten his skin to prevent discrimination and try to present a macho image. He tried to show he was a “man’s man.” American women loved his romantic films. In the Sheik photo above the controversial part was the Arabic character was kidnapping European women and selling them. This activity was definitely controversial. The film made Rudolf famous Worldwide. When he died in 1926, there were funerals in numerous American cities. His grave is still being celebrated and visited almost 100 years later on a regular basis. His films would have been shown at the Palace Theater in Romeo. Richard Beringer, Romeo Historical Society staff

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