[78-L] What happened to Rufy Vallee...

[Taylor Bowie]

In the late 1980s I was agent for the Thousand Oaks Public Library as they 
built their wonderful collection of radio and television historic materials. 
The most difficult time I had was in our original dealings with Vallee. 
Over the years he had become ever more self-absorbed and angry,  imagining 
that many people had betrayed him and that he was not getting his just dues 
as a key figure in show business.

Although Vallee's sales agent assured us that he and his wife wanted to sell 
the material (an amazing archive of scripts,  letters,  posters,  records, 
documents, etc. etc.) it was impossible to even discuss it with the man...he 
had visions of someone buying his big house (in the Hollywood Hills) and 
turning it into a museum to the Greater Glory of Vallee.

Within weeks of Vallee's death in 1985,  his widow was again in contact with 
us and,  after even more unpleasant machinations,  the Vallee archive (not 
including a few  parts which  "mysteriously vanished") did go to the 
Thousand Oaks Library.

As I made my original examination of the material,  I was able to see 
Vallee's decline into a bizarre eccentricity in his older age...he would 
make dozens of copies of  nasty letters which he sent to the media,  old 
friends,  etc.  often full of profanity,  which were mostly complaints that 
people didn't understand how important he was.  Very sad...esp. in light of 
the many,  many fine things he did for people in the 30s and 40s,  few of 
which were made public.  He helped support and encourage many show biz 
old-timers when they fell on hard timers,  including Al Bernard and many 
others.  I know,  because I read their letters to Vallee.  My point here is 
that he was not only a show biz giant but,  at one time in his life,  a 
decent fellow.

But somewhere along the line his very strong ego morphed into something 
self-destructive,  and by the end of his life,  he was a semi-addled parody 
of his former glamorous self.  I imagine the "crazy" Vallee of later years 
has ruined the stamp chances of the pioneer and trend-setting "real" Rudy 
Vallee,  at least for the time being.

Taylor B



----- Original Message ----- 
From: <soundthink at aol.com>
To: <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 11:07 AM
Subject: Re: [78-L] Rudy Vallee rejected for postage stamp


> The article states that a person's stature has a lot to do with whether or 
> not they are accepted; thus, only major figures such as Elvis, Bob Hope, 
> and Frank Sinatra make the cut. The only way minor figures are included is 
> if they are parts of a series; which explains how lesser known personages 
> as Theda Bara, Josh White, and the Carter Family have made it.
>
> Cary Ginell
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dnjchi at aol.com
> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
> Sent: Sun, 31 May 2009 12:43 pm
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Rudy Vallee rejected for postage stamp
>
>
>
>
> In a message dated 5/31/2009 1:41:39 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> sternth at attglobal.net writes:
>
> Does  anyone know of any reason he might have been rejected? (political
> activity,  social/ethnic/racial attitudes)
>
>
>
> One wonders why Kate Smith was skipped over, considering the work she did
> for the War effort.
> Don Chichester
> **************An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy
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