Who is Valentino?

Search: who is valentino manic monday

Why: I was looking at some $700 Valentino dresses on RueLaLa. In The Bangles song "Manic Monday" (written by Prince, btw, who knew):

Six o'clock already - I was just in the middle of a dream
I was kissing Valentino by a crystal blue Italian stream

Answer: This guy wrote in a blog post called "Deconstructing Manic Monday":

Now you were having a dream about kissing Valentino? A google search leads me to the conclusion that you are talking about Rudolph Valentino an Italian actor who died in 1926. He was known for his roles in the movies The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse and Blood and Sand. Awkward person to dream about, but we all have our quirks I guess.

Wikipedia says:

Rudolph Valentino. Known as the "Latin Lover," he was one of the most popular stars of the 1920s, and one of the most recognized stars from the silent film era. He is best known for his work in The Sheik and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. His death at age 31 caused mass hysteria among his female fans, propelling him into icon status.

An estimated 100,000 people lined the streets of New York City to pay their respects at his funeral. The event was a drama itself: Suicides of despondent fans were reported. Windows were smashed as fans tried to get in and an all day riot erupted. Over 100 Mounted officers and NYPD's Police Reserve was deployed to restore order. A phalanx of officers would line the streets for the remainder of the viewing. The drama inside would not be outdone. Polish Actress Pola Negri, claiming to be Valentino's fiance, collapsed in hysterics while standing over the coffin.

Source: Bricks Explode, Wikipedia

The More You Know: A scene from Blood and Sand (1922):