Robert Opel
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Robert Opel (23 October 1939 – 7 July 1979) was a photographer and art gallery owner most famous as the man who streaked during the 46th Academy Awards in 1974. He sneaked backstage posing as a journalist (he had worked as a photographer for the well-known LGBT publication "The Advocate", shortly before) and ran naked past David Niven flashing a peace sign while Niven was introducing Elizabeth Taylor.
In response, Niven remarked to the audience a quip quoted many ways including "Isn't it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?" Later, some evidence arose suggesting that Opel's appearance was facilitated by the show's producer Jack Haley, Jr. as a stunt.
The episode made Opel something of a celebrity. Producer Allan Carr even asked him to streak at a party for Rudolph Nureyev.
In March 1978, Opel opened "Fey-Way Studios", a gallery of gay male art, at 1287 Howard Street in San Francisco. The gallery helped bring such erotic gay artists as Tom of Finland and Robert Mapplethorpe to national attention. Opel was murdered on the night of July 7, 1979, during a robbery of the studio, by Robert E. Kelly and Maurice Keenan.[1][2]
[edit] References
- ^ "PEOPLE v. KELLY (1986) 183 CA3d 1235", Court of Appeals of California, First Appellate District, Division Three, July 31, 1986. Retrieved 12 June 2007.
- ^ "Robert Opel's Fey-Way Studios". Retrieved 12 June 2007.
- Biography from Matt & Andrej Koymasky
- David Niven at the Internet Movie Database (contains above version of Niven's quote)
- "Biron on Robert Opel and other artists", Interview by Philip Vincent, San Francisco, 1996. Retrieved 12 June 2007.
- The Gay Book of Lists, By Leigh W. Rutledge, 2003, ISBN 1555837409. Google books link.
