Queer Places:
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Sleepy Hollow, Westchester County, New York, USA

W. Robert La Vine (1919 - August 6, 1979) was a theatrical costume designer.

LaVine was a graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago and had been an aide to Sir Cecil Beaton, the British costume and set designer. He was in charge of the reproduction of the Beaton costume and set designs for Herman Levin's 1976 production of “My Fair Lady” at the St. James Theater. LaVine designed the costumes for the 1968 musical “Maggie Flynn,” and in the, following year for “Jimmy,” a musical based on the life of former New York Mayor James J. Walker. For this role, he was nominated for Tony Award for Costume Design in 1970.

He made his way into the film industry as the costume design for the film version of "The Boys in the Band" in 1970, which is a landmark in the history of gays in film.

In 1972, LaVine was appointed archivist of the Paramount Pictures Corporation, and in 1974 he was assistant to Diana Vreeland in planning “The Glamour of Hollywood Design,” an exhibition at the Costume Insitute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Shortly before his death, LaVine had completed a book on Hollywood costumes, “In a Glamorous Fashion.” which was published by Scribner's.

La Vine died following heart surgery on August 6, 1979, in St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center. He was 59 years old and lived in Manhattan. He is buried with Joseph W. Pool (Apr 26, 1912 - Jul 21, 1994), in Pool's family plot.

W. ROBERT LA VINE (1920-1979) Costume design for the character "Donald" in the 1970 film "The Boys in the Band." Ink, and wash on paper. 610x483mm; 24x19 inches. Signed and dated "La Vine `69" in lower left image; titled "`The Boys in the Band' Donald / Mr. Frederick Combs" and with La Vine's signature within United Scenic Artists Local 829 union stamp, lower right. Mounted to board at four corners. 1969. /em>