Gernreich, Rudi, 1922-1985

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Gernreich was born on Aug. 8, 1922 in Vienna, Austria; in 1938 he escaped Nazi persecution and came with his mother to the US; in 1939 he joined Lester Horton Dance Company as both a dancer and designer, and finished his education at Los Angeles City College in 1940; took his first collection to New York in 1944 for Harper's Bazaar; revolutionized the acceptance of slacks for women's fashions, created the knit look, the topless bathing suit, the Unisex look, and the "thong" swimsuit; from 1976-82 designed sets and costumes for Bella Lewitzky's Dance Company; lover of Harry Hay at the time Hay founded the first modern American gay liberation movement, the Mattachine Society, in LA in 1950-51; Gernreich died in LA on Apr. 21, 1985.

From the description of Papers, ca. 1933-1985. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 41450810

Biography

Gernreich was born on August 8, 1922 in Vienna, Austria; in 1938 he escaped Nazi persecution and came with his mother to the U.S.; in 1939 he joined Lester Horton Dance Company as both a dancer and designer, and finished his education at Los Angeles City College in 1940; took his first collection to New York in 1944 for Harper's Bazaar ; revolutionized the acceptance of slacks for women's fashions, created the knit look, the topless bathing suit, the Unisex look, and the thong swimsuit; from 1976-82 designed sets and costumes for Bella Lewitzky's Dance Company; lover of Harry Hay at the time Hay founded the first modern American gay liberation movement, the Mattachine Society, in Los Angeles in 1950-51; Gernreich died in Los Angeles on April 21, 1985.

From the guide to the Rudi Gernreich Papers, ca. 1933-1985, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Rudi Gernreich Papers, ca. 1933-1985 University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
referencedIn Oreste F. Pucciani papers, circa 1890-1998., 1950-1985. ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.
creatorOf Gernreich, Rudi, 1922-1985. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
creatorOf Gernreich, Rudi, 1922-1985. Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
creatorOf Gernreich, Rudi, 1922-1985. Papers, ca. 1933-1985. University of California, Los Angeles
creatorOf Gernreich, Rudi, 1922-1985. Miscellaneous manuscripts. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Gernreich, Rudi, 1922-1985 : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Pucciani, Oreste F., 1916-1999 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
California--Los Angeles
Subject
Fashion designers
Occupation
Fashion designers
Activity

Person

Birth 1922-08-08

Death 1985-04-21

Americans

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