George Ullman's Complete Exoneration

In April of 1934, Rudolph Valentino's close friend and trusted business manager received a complete exoneration. He was also praised by the ruling court for his services as Valentino's executor. This is seldom if ever reported and although it received minor press in the day, eight years after Valentino's death - this stands as a critical document verifying Ullman's honesty and integrity. 

 

Contract Appointing Ullman as Valentino's Business Manager

On July 6, 1923, Rudolph Valentino met with S. George Ullman in the office of his new lawyer Max D. Steuer to sign a contract appointing Ullman as his business manager.

 

Executor's Exhibit 4 - Maria Strada Letter

George Ullman included this personal note from Rudolph Valentino's sister, Maria Guglielmi Strada in his appeals case because it proves she charged him with advancing estate funds to the godfather Frank Mennillo. Ullman made several advances as secured business investments in Mennillo's business, Vab, Inc., and these were disputed by the Valentino heirs. 

This note is also significant in that Ms. Strada acknowledges the "difficulties" taking place with her brother Alberto's interference in estate affairs. Mennillo is also established as a godfather/padrino personage for the Valentino family.

The estate monies Ullman advanced to Mennillo were eventually dismissed as being legitimate investments of profits Ullman generated for the Valentino estate. 

 

Financial Status of Valentino Estate - 1930

 The Court of Appeals ruling exonerating S. George Ullman, reported the "actual value" of the Rudolph Valentino estate @1930 to be $300,000.00. (see extract from case file) By today's monetary exchange rate x 15, this would be a value of $4,500,000.00, When Valentino died he left a heavily involved estate as the court extract in this post refers to it as, "a practically bankrupt estate". The meekest implication Ullman mismanaged the estate is absurd.

Granted for decades this could not be proven because the court records revealing all of this were conveniently stolen from their rightful housing in The Los Angeles County Hall of Records. The proof of Ullman's true, stellar performance as Valentino's executor has consequently for years been lied about to fit an agenda. 

As the point is made in the extract, his amazing performance was "emphatically" not pointed out.