Dale C. Olson (February 20, 1934 – August 9, 2012) was an American writer and publicist who represented prominent actors and films directors during his career, and an early gay rights activist.
In 1954, he became the first man to appear on television in the United States and self-identify as homosexual, albeit using a pseudonym with his face obscured.[2][3][1][4] He served on the public relations coordinating and executive committee for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for twenty years, including three years as the committee's chairman.[3] Beginning in the 1970s he spearheaded and launched film publicity campaigns.[2][3][1]
Olson moved to Los Angeles in 1951 and became the first national secretary for the Mattachine Society, one of the first organizations of homosexual men.[1] In 1954, using the pseudonym Curtis White and with his face blurred, he appeared on Confidential File, a local "tabloid"-style television program hosted by Paul Coates, in an episode titled “Homosexuals and the Problems They Present”.[5] In a segment called “The Sex Variant in Southern California”, "Curtis White" acknowledged that he was homosexual and stated that he "didn't consider himself abnormal" and would not want to be "cured".[5] Despite the measures to obscure his identity, he was recognized by his boss when it aired and fired the next day, as he had predicted in the program. When questioned about why he would run that risk, he stated, "I think that this way I can be a little useful to someone besides myself." This has been cited as the first television appearance of an openly gay man.[4][5]
He worked as a reporter and writer for The Hollywood Reporter and Variety during his early career.[2] Olson co-founded the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle as a staff member at Variety.[2] In the 1960s, Olson joined the staff of Rogers & Cowan, a Los Angeles public relations firm, where he remained for eighteen years.[2] He eventually became the head of Rogers & Cowan's film division.
Olson left the company in 1985 to open his own publicity company.[2] He became the spokesperson for Rock Hudson in 1985 during the actor's battle with AIDS.[2] Olson persuaded Hudson to publicly acknowledge that he had the disease,[1] becoming one of the first celebrities to do so.
The Actors Fund of America named the lobby of its Los Angeles headquarters in honor of Olson and his partner Eugene Harbin, in November 2004.[3] Actress Shirley MacLaine presented Olson with the Actors Fund Medal of Honor, the organization's highest honor, on July 12, 2012.[3]
Olson died of liver cancer at a nursing home in Burbank, California, on August 9, 2012, at the age of 78.[1] He was survived by his partner of thirty years and husband of four, publicist Eugene Harbin.[1]
References
^ abcdefghi"Dale Olson dies at 78; publicity agent for Rock Hudson, other stars". Los Angeles Times. 2012-08-10. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
^ abcdefghi"Dale Olson, Hollywood publicist, dies". BBC News. 2012-08-10. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
^ abcde"Dale Olson, Veteran Hollywood Publicist, Dies at 78". The Hollywood Reporter. 2012-08-09. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
^ abGross, Larry (26 December 2001). Up from Invisibility: Lesbians, Gay Men, and the Media in America. Columbia University Press. p. 37. ISBN9780231529327.
^ abc"Dale Olson". World Queerstory. 2018-06-11. Retrieved 2018-11-03.
dale, olson, dale, olson, february, 1934, august, 2012, american, writer, publicist, represented, prominent, actors, films, directors, during, career, early, rights, activist, born, 1934, february, 1934fargo, north, dakota, united, statesdiedaugust, 2012, 2012. Dale C Olson February 20 1934 August 9 2012 was an American writer and publicist who represented prominent actors and films directors during his career and an early gay rights activist Dale OlsonBorn 1934 02 20 February 20 1934Fargo North Dakota United StatesDiedAugust 9 2012 2012 08 09 aged 78 Burbank California United StatesSpouseEugene Harbin m 2008 wbr 1 In 1954 he became the first man to appear on television in the United States and self identify as homosexual albeit using a pseudonym with his face obscured 2 3 1 4 He served on the public relations coordinating and executive committee for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for twenty years including three years as the committee s chairman 3 Beginning in the 1970s he spearheaded and launched film publicity campaigns 2 3 1 Biography EditOlson was born in Fargo North Dakota and lived in Portland Oregon 1 He worked as a newspaper reporter as a teenager One of his earliest interviews was with actress Mae West 1 Olson moved to Los Angeles in 1951 and became the first national secretary for the Mattachine Society one of the first organizations of homosexual men 1 In 1954 using the pseudonym Curtis White and with his face blurred he appeared on Confidential File a local tabloid style television program hosted by Paul Coates in an episode titled Homosexuals and the Problems They Present 5 In a segment called The Sex Variant in Southern California Curtis White acknowledged that he was homosexual and stated that he didn t consider himself abnormal and would not want to be cured 5 Despite the measures to obscure his identity he was recognized by his boss when it aired and fired the next day as he had predicted in the program When questioned about why he would run that risk he stated I think that this way I can be a little useful to someone besides myself This has been cited as the first television appearance of an openly gay man 4 5 He worked as a reporter and writer for The Hollywood Reporter and Variety during his early career 2 Olson co founded the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle as a staff member at Variety 2 In the 1960s Olson joined the staff of Rogers amp Cowan a Los Angeles public relations firm where he remained for eighteen years 2 He eventually became the head of Rogers amp Cowan s film division Olson left the company in 1985 to open his own publicity company 2 He became the spokesperson for Rock Hudson in 1985 during the actor s battle with AIDS 2 Olson persuaded Hudson to publicly acknowledge that he had the disease 1 becoming one of the first celebrities to do so In addition to representing actors and other figures Olson also worked on the campaigns for major Hollywood films He launched the publicity campaigns for several Hollywood film franchises during the 1970s including Rambo Halloween Rocky and Superman 2 He also headed the Academy Award campaigns for many films notably Terms of Endearment in 1983 American Beauty in 1999 and Gladiator in 2000 2 The Actors Fund of America named the lobby of its Los Angeles headquarters in honor of Olson and his partner Eugene Harbin in November 2004 3 Actress Shirley MacLaine presented Olson with the Actors Fund Medal of Honor the organization s highest honor on July 12 2012 3 Olson died of liver cancer at a nursing home in Burbank California on August 9 2012 at the age of 78 1 He was survived by his partner of thirty years and husband of four publicist Eugene Harbin 1 References Edit a b c d e f g h i Dale Olson dies at 78 publicity agent for Rock Hudson other stars Los Angeles Times 2012 08 10 Retrieved 2012 09 08 a b c d e f g h i Dale Olson Hollywood publicist dies BBC News 2012 08 10 Retrieved 2012 09 08 a b c d e Dale Olson Veteran Hollywood Publicist Dies at 78 The Hollywood Reporter 2012 08 09 Retrieved 2012 09 08 a b Gross Larry 26 December 2001 Up from Invisibility Lesbians Gay Men and the Media in America Columbia University Press p 37 ISBN 9780231529327 a b c Dale Olson World Queerstory 2018 06 11 Retrieved 2018 11 03 External links EditDale Olson at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dale Olson amp oldid 1065017196, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
