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Robert Gerald Mackintosh (May 26, 1925 - February 13, 1998) designed costumes for several dozen Broadway and Off Broadway shows and evening dresses for some of the world's most glamorous women, including Marilyn Monroe and Lena Horne. The work of Broadway's gay and lesbian artistic community went on display in 2007 when the Leslie/Lohman Gay Art Foundation Gallery presents "StageStruck: The Magic of Theatre Design." The exhibit was conceived to highlight the achievements of gay and lesbian designers who work in conjunction with fellow gay and lesbian playwrights, directors, choreographers and composers. Original sketches, props, set pieces and models — some from private collections — represent the work of over 60 designers, including Robert Mackintosh.
Robert Gerald Mackintosh was born in New York. Mackintosh's designs made their Broadway debut on June 25, 1952, in the musical ''Wish You Were Here,'' at the Imperial Theater in New York, when he was only 27. The hit show was produced by Leland Hayward and directed by Joshua Logan. Perhaps the zenith of his career came in 1966. ''Mame'' was at the Winter Garden theater, a Hollywood character actress named Angela Lansbury was the lead, and the costumes belonged to Mackintosh. ''He made Angela Lansbury glamorous,'' said Betty Lee Hunt, a Broadway publicity agent and a longtime friend of Mackintosh. That year Lansbury won a Tony Award and Mackintosh won first place in the Variety New York Drama Critics Poll for best costumes. Also among his credits were the 1974 revival of ''Gypsy,'' also starring Angela Lansbury, and the 1992 Tommy Tune touring production of ''Bye Bye Birdie.'' ''Robert Mackintosh's costumes splash the sets with bright and broad colors, and Tune's bright array of suits are a special joy here,'' wrote The Los Angeles Times. Mackintosh, described by friends as a bon vivant and a raconteur, also designed for television and nightclubs. Among his clients: Bette Davis, Susan Hayward, Celeste Holm, Ginger Rogers and Estelle Parsons. He also called them friends, Hunt said. His career spanned four decades, beginning with study at the Parsons School of Design in Manhattan and a stint as a designer with the Ice Capades. In his later years, Mackintosh created more steadily for Off Broadway productions. Among his last works were the costumes for ''Green Heart,'' by the drag performer Charles Busch. ''He designed a 40's white-crepe off-the-shoulder gown with black beading for me based on a dress he made for Lena Horne,'' Busch said. ''Of course Lena and I are built quite differently, but we both ended up looking terribly glamorous by Bob's magic.''
Mackintosh was the author of two novels, ''Silk,'' and ''A Heritage of Lies,'' and was the co-author of the Bobby Short memoir ''The Life and Times of a Saloon Singer.''
Although he became ill in later years, Mackintosh continued to design for the stage and screen. The gown that Ruby Dee wears in her one-woman show, ''My One Good Nerve,'' was his creation. The show opened at the Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College just hours after his death.
Robert Mackintosh died on February 13, 1998, in his Manhattan apartment. He had been suffering from emphysema, said his cousin, Gladys Bourdain. He was 72.
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