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Title: Pat Rocco papers
Dates: circa
1900-2007
Bulk Dates: 1970-2000
Collection number: Coll2007-006
Creator:
Rocco, Pat, 1934-
Collection Size: 84.5 linear
feet.
Repository:
ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.
Los Angeles, California 90007
Abstract: Photographs, scripts, programs, and related
records documenting Pat Rocco's careers in radio, television, and theater;
erotic still and motion picture photographer and producer; photojournalist;
provider of emergency shelter for the homeless; and known for his charity,
organizational, and collaborative work on behalf of gay and lesbian community
in Southern California, primarily Los Angeles, and later in Hawaii. The bulk of
the collection documents Rocco's life from the late 1960s through
2008.
Languages: Languages represented in the
collection:English
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access
restrictions.
Researchers wishing to publish materials must obtain permission in
writing from ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives as the physical owner.
Researchers must also obtain clearance from the holder(s) of any copyrights in
the materials. Note that ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives can grant
copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold the copyright.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for
all other materials directly from the copyright holder(s).
Box #, Folder #, Pat Rocco Papers, Coll2007-006, ONE National Gay and
Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California.
The collection consists of a series of donations from Rocco starting in
the 1980s through December 2007 and the transfer of a Rocco collection from the
Lesbian/Gay Archives of San Diego in 1992. Deed of gift dated June 28,
2007.
Collection processed by Michael C. Oliveira, with assistance from Lee
McEvoy, Jim D. Deaton, Richard French, Marisela Guzman, and Erinne Wells,
2007.
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the
National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Pat Rocco, an entertainer, photographer, and an activist has appeared on
radio and on television; performed, produced and directed for the stage;
photographed, produced, and directed motion pictures; participated, organized
and documented the struggle for equal rights for gays and lesbians in Southern
California and in Hawaii; provided emergency shelter and job training for the
homeless, and has been with his partner, David Kirk Ghee (known as David Kirk),
since 1972.
Born February 09, 1934, Pasquale Vincent Serrapica lived in Brooklyn
until he and his family relocated to California in 1946. As a child Pat loved
to entertain his family and friends by singing, as a teenager he was featured
twice weekly for two years on a Pasadena radio station, KWKW. After completing
high school at home for his unwillingness to renounce his homosexuality, Pat
attended colleges and worked at a defense plant in Monrovia, California. While
working he meet a local Youth for Christ director, Chuck Leviston; after a
second meeting, Pat left college to sing for Youth for Christ. During this time
Pat recorded an album of devotion music for Cornerstone Records. In 1954,
theatrical programs document his adoption of the stage name, Pat Rocco; in 1966
he officially changed his name. For the remainder of the 1950s Rocco sang on
stage in musicals, toured with country with Marge and Gower Champion, and
appeared as a member of the
Top Twenty on the
Tennessee Ernie Ford Show. Also during this
period Rocco began to photograph theatrical performances. In June of 1960 he
left the stage to become the owner and operator of a motion picture theater in
Moorpark, California and later district manager for three motion picture
theaters and a skating rink. In 1962, Rocco returned to the stage as managing
director and went on to produce and direct several stage shows and musicals
until the late 1960s.
In 1967, he answered an advertisement to shoot still photographs of nude
male models, Rocco soon realized the potential of this enterprise and began
shooting his own motion pictures. Named after an earlier business, Bizarre
Production sold photographs and short non-explicit erotic motion pictures by
mail-order. The Park Theater near McArthur Park in Los Angeles expressed
interest in showing Rocco's motion picture along others of gay interest to the
general public. After the success of the first program the Park Theater sought
more programs of short motion pictures. Rocco later added Bizarre News Films to
his programs, capturing local protests and interviews on film.
His motion pictures attracted an audience of like minded individuals
that appreciated the beauty of the human form and Rocco's positive depiction of
gay intimacy. In appreciation of his films Dick Winters and others formed The
Society of Pat Rocco Enlightened Enthusiasts (SPREE). SPREE met monthly for
nine and half years (1968-1978) as a primarily gay male theatrical company and
social organization. During this time Bizarre Productions cease to exist as the
industry turned to more explicit depictions of sex, however Rocco continued to
photograph events and protests in Southern California for a number of gay
newspapers.
He became increasing involved in the struggle for equal rights for the
gays and lesbians in the community and through the Democratic Party. Rocco
campaigned for the resumption of the Christopher Street West (CSW) pride
parade, developed and championed the idea of an accompanying festival, and the
participation of a float from the gay and lesbian community in the annual Santa
Claus Lane Parade in Hollywood. Rocco also organized events to raise money for
those arrested at the Mark IV "Slave Auction" and to pay tribute to Councilman
Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone. He collaborated in organizing and
participated in numerous organizations and events in Southern California. As
Rocco worked in the community he became aware of the need for emergency housing
for gay, lesbian, and transgendered individuals in Los Angeles.
Through the auspices of the United States Mission, Rocco branded his own
emergency housing program, Hudson House, that rewarded industry, provided
meals, and later job training to those in need. Rocco operated Hudson Houses in
Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Hawaii.
Rocco and his partner have retired to Hawaii where they continue to be
active in the community and in the struggle for equal rights for gays and
lesbians.
Scope and Content of Collection
The bulk of the collection consists Rocco's photographs documenting gay
and lesbian demonstration, events, protests, pride parades, primarily in Los
Angeles and the Society of Pat Rocco Enlightened Enthusiasts (SPREE) theatrical
and social events. The collection is basically arranged chronologically in
twelve series tracing the careers of Pat Rocco. The Entertainer Series
documents his performances on stage and as a director and producer by the way
of programs, photographs, contracts as a performer on radio, television, and
the stage; photographer and producer of erotic motion pictures and still
images. The Bizarre Productions Series contains the correspondence, business
records, programs and photographs of Rocco's production companies Bizarre, P.R.
and C.R. Productions. Rocco mentored those interested in the many facets of
theater through SPREE; the series documents many of the theatrical performances
and social gatherings. The series consists of minutes, treasurer reports,
photographs, ephemera, event flyers, newspaper clippings, SPREE t-shirts and
beanies, newsletters, theatrical and award show flyers, programs, scripts and
photographs. The Untied States Mission Series documents Rocco's work to provide
emergency shelter and later job training for gay, lesbian, and transgendered
individuals in southern California and Hawaii. The series contains United
States Mission and Crossroads Employment Agency administrative records,
souvenirs, and photographs. The Journalist Series consists of typescripts of
articles, photo essays, and captions submitted by Rocco. The Community Service
Series and Business Ventures Series document many of the various community
organizations and businesses Rocco championed, initiated, or collaborated in
creating. The Community Series is arranged alphabetically by organization or
program, while the Business venture series is arranged chronologically. The
Personal Series documents his personal life through photographs,
correspondence, and biographical information from articles and applications.
The multiple Photograph Series represent the bulk of the collection. Rocco
arranged his photographs chronologically in a numbered subseries then a titled
subseries, the photographs of the two succeeding subseries, Personal Name and
Subject, lack context to place them with their negatives. The Other
Photographer Series consists of photographs collected by Rocco of the same
genre as his photographs. The final series, Hawaii Photographs contains color
photographs documenting Rocco and his partner, David Kirk's lives and pursuits
in Hawaii, including theater productions, political events for the local
Democratic Party, and their vacations.
Pseudonym
Real Name
- Adair, Joed
- Adair, Joe
- Bach, Paul
- Magill, Frank
- Dakota
- Sprague, Ken
- Dilly, Ron
- Dillihay, Ronald
- Kelle
- Kelley, Micah
- Kirk, David
- Ghee, David
- Majal, Ral
- Friend, Raleigh
- Matthew of Glendale
- Schmidt, Matthew
- Robinson, Chuck
- Reynolds, Brian
The collection is basically arranged chronologically within each series
or subseries. The following series are arranged alphabetically the Community
Series, the Miscellaneous Photographs by Personal Name Subseries, Miscellaneous
Photographs by Subject Subseries, and the Hawaii Photographs Series.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Actors--California--Los
Angeles--Photographs
Allen, David L.
Bizarre productions
Festivals--California--Los Angeles
Gay bars--California--Los Angeles
Gay clubs--California--Los Angeles
Gay erotic photography
Gay erotica
Gay liberation movement--California--Los
Angeles
Gay men--California--Los Angeles
Gay men--Social conditions
Gay men--Societies and clubs
Gay rights--California--Los Angeles
Gays--California--Los Angeles--History
Homosexuality--Law and
legislation--California
Jordan, Steve, 1948-
Journalism, pictorial
Kight, Morris, 1919-2003
Men photographers--United States
Men's shelters--California--Los Angeles--
History
Performing arts--California--Los Angeles--
History
Perry, Troy, 1940-
Photographers--United States
Photography of men
Photography of the nude
Singers--California--Los Angeles