{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Historical Homos","title":"Rock Hudson: History of the Hollywood Closet (feat. Alonso Duralde)","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":4393,"description":"For early access to episodes and bonus content, join our Patreon. \nOur community awaits with open arms (and legs) 🤤\n\nwww.patreon.com/historicalhomos\n–\nROCK. HUDSON. The name itself kind of gives your fanny the flutters, doesn't it?\nAlthough, if you haven't heard of Rock, you would be forgiven, as he's one of those mid-20th century celebrities who's been almost entirely forgotten today.\nBut back in the 50s and 60s, he was a major heartthrob and a household name.\nRock was one of the lucky Hollywood actors who worked his way up through the studio contract system after World War II – despite having zero acting training and a famous inability to remember lines.\nHe was, however, extremely hot, and many have (rightly) seen that as a talent of its own.\nA Navy vet, Rock arrived fresh off the bus in Los Angeles around 1946, met some gay guys, got recruited by a scuzzy (also gay) agent, and the rest...was gay history.\nExtremely closeted history, however. Because while Rock's penchant for peen was no secret to the industry, his studio, agent, and inner circle rigorously managed his heterosexual image to \"protect\" his lucrative career. This gambit worked, and eventually landed him roles opposite the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Doris Day, and Jimmy Dean.\nBut the question is: how much did Rock himself resent this closet?\nDespite all the fabulous gay pool parties, great friends, and gorgeous lovers, he was loath to discuss his private life with anyone. A not uncommon approach for actors, but especially in the tight-lipped 50s when one's life \"behind closed doors\" was supposed to remain out of sight and out of mind, even amongst friends.\nLong after the studio relinquished Rock from his contract and their publicity machine, and even as public opinion about homosexuality had begun to change, Rock guarded the doors of his closet scrupulously. (Wow, good use of \"scrupulously\"!!!!)\nIt was only in the depths of his final, tragic illness that he was forced to reveal his sexuality to the...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/o92facaUR1b1tdVy-0yJpC7Dki6zYO3m9CVcZY48Hq0/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8zMDZm/OTQ2MzU0Y2Y3OGMz/ZTQxYzViMmQ4Yzll/Y2IwZC5qcGVn.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}