BURIED TOGETHER
Partner Robert L. Spencer, buried together
Queer Places:
531 S Windsor Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90020
532 S Irving Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Richard
Blackwell (August 29, 1922 – October 19, 2008) was an American fashion critic,
journalist, television and radio personality, artist, former child actor and
former fashion designer, sometimes known just as Mr. Blackwell. He was the
creator of the "Ten Worst Dressed Women List", an annual awards presentation
he unveiled in January of each year. He published the "Fabulous Fashion
Independents" list and an annual Academy Awards fashion review, both of which
receive somewhat less media attention. His longtime companion, former Beverly
Hills hairdresser
Robert L.
Spencer, managed him. He wrote two books, Mr. Blackwell: 30 Years of
Fashion Fiascos and an autobiography, From Rags to Bitches.[1][2]
Blackwell was born Richard Sylvan Selzer in the Bensonhurst section of
Brooklyn[3]
to Henry Selzer, a working-class printer,[4]
and Eva Selzer, who were the American-born children of Jewish immigrants from
the Russian Empire. He had one older brother.[3][5]
He claimed he was severely beaten by a stepfather, often sleeping in the alley
beneath a fire escape with a broken bottle for protection rather than face
further abuse. He told Howard Stern that as a 7-year-old boy, he had once had
to beg for a quarter on the street so he could buy something to eat. His
mother was frequently absent or drunk, and men would take him to a nearby
alley and abuse him. He was scared, hungry, and did whatever he could to stay
alive. He only went as far as the third grade in school.[6]
When he was 11, he was raped by an adult at a boys' camp.[3]
Blackwell began acting in theaters in his teens, appearing in the original
1935 Broadway production of Sidney Kingsley's Dead End. Relocating to
the West Coast (where he studied with
Judy Garland and Mickey
Rooney) he adopted the professional name "Dick Ellis" and played small parts
in the movies. Between acting parts, he worked as a messenger at Warner Bros.
Studio in Burbank, California.
Howard Hughes then
signed him to RKO and changed his name to Richard Blackwell.[7]
He returned to Broadway in 1944 for Catherine Was Great, which starred
Mae West, but left acting to become a Hollywood agent. He discovered his
talent for fashion design while making stage costumes for his clients.[8]
Mr. Blackwell, still as Dick Ellis,
spent a few months living with
Cary Grant and
Randolph Scott, considering them
"deeply, madly in love, their devotion complete... Behind closed doors they
were warm, kind, loving and caring, and unembarrassed about showing it."
Many survivors of the 1950s speak of the long relationship between
Cesar Romero and fellow Fox actor
Tyrone Power. Romero, howeveer,
insisted that Power "loved the ladies... he couldn't help it, every place he
went, boy, those women were there." True enough, Power's affairs with women
are well documented, but the star was also, as documented by his biographer
Hector Arce, involved with a number of men. Mr Blackwell, then a young actor
known as Dick Ellis and, in his own words, a popular "boy toy," was another of
Power's romances. They met for "romantic moments in his dressing room and took
long rides, speeding down Sunset to Malibu."
The name "Mr. Blackwell" came in the late-1950s when he launched his
clothing line. As with
Valentino,
Versace and later Richard Tyler, he and his line became synonymous. He was
an important designer and during the 1960s he became the first in history to
present his line on a television broadcast, and was the first to make his line
available for plus-size women.[9]
His designer dresses sold for between $800 to $1,000 and were very successful.
During the nearly two decade existence of the "House of Blackwell", he was
designer to Yvonne DeCarlo, Jayne Mansfield, Dorothy Lamour, Jane Russell and
California first lady Nancy Reagan.[10]
At the height of his prominence, he openly declared his disdain for Women's
Wear Daily and its publisher, John Fairchild.[7]
During the 1980s, the emerging drift toward casual wear brought an end to The
House of Blackwell.
In his beginning years as a designer he was asked to do a one-time article
for American Weekly magazine of the "10 Best and Worst Dressed" people and
developed the franchise from it.[8]
Although best known for his "Worst Dressed" list, he maintained a successful
career as a fashion journalist. He was syndicated in The Globe tabloid and
wrote features in newspapers and lifestyle magazines.[11]
His "Fabulous Fashion Independents" often featured celebrities whom in prior
years have been listed in his Ten Worst-Dressed.[12]
The first "Ten Worst-Dressed Women" list premiered in 1960, to moderate
media success, but as the House of Blackwell became more successful, the list
took off.[13]
By its third year every television and radio network and virtually all news
services worldwide began to cover it. Forty-seven years after first release,
Blackwell annually spent a week after its publication on telephone interviews
to fashion magazines, radio programs and news networks.[14]
The list is a conglomeration of techniques from first letter alliteration:
Martha Stewart – "dull, dowdy and devastatingly dreary" and consonant:
"fabulous fashion independents", to free verse: Cher – "A million beads/And
one overexposed derriere", and pun: Queen Elizabeth, "Was she the palace
Christmas tree, or just a royal clown?" About Wynona Judd – "She looks like
Hulk Hogan in sequins." Often, he simply quipped: Martha Stewart – "Dresses
like the centerfold for Farmers' Almanac", and other times combines
forms: Dixie Chicks – "They look like a trio of truck stop fashion tragedies/
trapped in a typhoon".[15]
The list's popularity has waned in some segments of contemporary culture, many
feeling that it is mean-spirited. However, Blackwell has displayed personal
missives from many celebrities including Dolly Parton, Mariah Carey and
country singer Tanya Tucker expressing their thanks for being selected.[16]
Other former list alumni like "Hollywood Beat" editor, Marci Weiner – "Why
does Marci Weiner always dress like she's auditioning for a
Federico Fellini movie?" –
who was initially angered by her inclusion, now considers it an honor.[17]
Still, despite its decline in universal acceptance, it was nonetheless
published each year.[18]
The list spawned a parade of imitators from TMZ's In The Zone: Mr.
Blackwell vs. TMZ[19]
to the UK's The Sun newspaper's Sun Women Online: Celebrity Style
Watch[20][21]
Not all are lists, but virtually all include jibes and jabs similar to those
that Blackwell first used to capture media attention in the early 1960s. Harry
Shearer's Le Show radio program has featured "Blackwell on Blackwell". Roger
Stone, himself known for his taste in fashion, has taken up Blackwell's
tradition of best and worst dressed lists (albeit with a greater emphasis on
the best dressed) since Blackwell's death.[22]
Mr. Blackwell was a pioneer in television fashion and had been a fixture in
the medium throughout his career as a designer and critic. Most recently, he
appeared as himself on an episode of the ABC daytime soap, Port Charles.[23]
He hosted a daily program on Los Angeles' talk radio powerhouse KABC from
1972–74, moving to KIEV 1975–1981.[24]
In 1968 he starred in his own KCOP two-hour color television special,
Mr. Blackwell Presents, with Anna Maria Alberghetti, Nick Adams and Rose
Marie.
It was the first telecast in history in which a designer presented his line on
television. He continued to be recognized as preeminent during his years in
the field.[27]
He often participated in audience critique segments on daytime talk and
variety shows. He appeared on The Mike Douglas Show on numerous
occasions,[28]
and on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, as a guest on the first
broadcast after Carson moved the show from New York to Burbank. The May 2,
1972 edition also featured Rob Reiner, George Carlin and Johnny Mathis.[29]
He appeared on a total of four additional Tonight Shows between August
1970 and January 1973 and is included in the series Best Of The Tonight
Show DVD sets. In 1992 he sued Carson for $11 million after the late night
host joked that he had included Mother Teresa on one of his worst-dressed
lists. The suit was quickly dismissed.[30]
In 1997, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars
was dedicated to him.[31]
Blackwell lived in the Hancock Park enclave of Los Angeles with his partner
of 60 years, Robert Spencer.[32]
In 1964, they rented their home to The Beatles for the English band's first
visit to the city. It was leaked to the media, however; and the group made
other arrangements.[33]
He was also an artist known for his avant-garde, and he published several
editions of his work, including his "Mother America" series.[34]
In 2001, Blackwell was diagnosed with Bell's palsy, which causes limited to
severe paralysis of facial muscles and can affect eyesight as well. If treated
in time, it is completely curable; however, if not treated it can have life
lasting effects. Blackwell was unable to unveil the 2000 list at a live news
conference for the first time in its 40-year history and remained out of the
public eye for six months. He came back for the 2001 "Worst Dressed" and
returned to a full, normal social life.[35]
Blackwell died in Los Angeles on October 19, 2008, of complications from an
intestinal infection.[36]
My published books:
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