Megaphone Rudy and the Film Noir Beauty 

Crooners that made women swooners. Before Elvis, there was Sinatra. And before Frank Sinatra, there was Bing Crosby. And before Crosby, there was Rudy Vallee. He was the first and it was almost 100 years ago. 

An unlikely "sex symbol" but Rudy Valley was just that for the flappers and ladies of the 1920s/early 1930s.  Women loved Rudy and he was the first pop singer that was considered a pantie dropper because of his primarily female fan base. 

With a face made for radio and a voice that literally needed the assistance of a megaphone to project in a theater, he managed to carve out quite a long-standing career.  And cashed in on his kinda goofy looks AND the megaphone for decades. 

I actually first knew him as the funny old man in the movie "How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying".  But at the time of watching that movie I had no idea that he had been a singer and bandleader, had starred in the play on Broadway and had a number of hit records and movie appearances under his belt.  Not to mention that he played a villain in Batman. What?!?! 

And I had bought a record of his that was recorded in the '60s, simply because I wanted to hear his campy versions of songs like Lady Godiva and Winchester Cathedral.   

Here’s an audio span from his biggest hit (#5) which was in 1929 – “I’m Just a Vagabond Lover” 

Compared with his 1967 version (uncharted, cough cough) of “Winchester Cathedral”.  Prepare for the whistling intro and attempted vibrato. 

It wasn't until I started writing this story about him that I realized I had so many news clippings about his death, notably about his wife finding tons of memorabilia and hidden spaces and safes that contained personal memorabilia and valuables. He was on par with Marlene Dietrich in regard to keeping literally everything from his career and personal life. She had storage units as did he, in addition to a secret attic off of his bedroom.  What a boon for his wife!   

In her book about Rudy called “My Vagabond Lover”, his wife writes about how they met at a swimming pool when she was 17 and he was 47. Hmm. 

What really surprised me though was about ANOTHER wife.  And I don't know how it eluded my celebrity radar.  When I read that he was married to Jane Greer for less than a year in 1943, I was like, how did I miss that- and what an incredible mismatched pair. Obviously.  Check out the picture of them at a table together where she’s giving him side-eye with clenched fist and he’s having a ball.  Is that just me projecting?  Or is it pretty clear that’s a “less than a year” look. 

I absolutely loved Jane Greer!  Primarily for her two film noir roles across from my favorite actor of all time, Robert Mitchum. "Out of the Past" is a noir classic and "The Big Steal" was almost as good.  

Jane was an inscrutable beauty.  Whether on film or in photographs, her direct gaze was always slightly mysterious.  Like what the hell is she thinking?  There's a few photographs and moments in film where her face conveys true intention, but mostly she had a unique quality that had you guessing.  And she was a sweetheart and gracious to fans and autograph collectors. 

Mr. Vallee, on the other hand, has been called out by many co-workers and celebs as an egotistical narcissist.  But as a singer and bandleader, he was seriously like the first version of a rock star. Ego tripping in those arenas has always been the status quo.  Especially certain bandleaders.  

But don't get me started on Artie Shaw and HIS eight wives…