When legendary silent film star Rudolph Valentino died at age 31 on August 23, 1926 in New York City from a perforated ulcer, the announcement sparked scenes of mass hysteria. A hundred thousand mourners lined up the streets outside the funeral home, hoping to catch a final glimpse of their idol in his coffin.

As soon as the doors of the funeral parlor opened, the inconsolable fans surged and a riot erupted. “The rioting was without precedent, both in numbers concerned and in the behavior of the crowd, which in larger part consisted of women and girls,” reported the New York Times.