Pat Rocco

Pat Rocco was born Pasquale Vincent Serrapica in 1934 to an Italian-American family in Brooklyn, New York. Moved to California at 11, and "came out" at 13. Had his own radio show, in which he featured as a singer, at 16, and recorded an album at 19. As a charismatic, openly gay youth, Rocco pursued a career in entertainment in Southern California, singing and appearing on televised talent shows. Appeared in some early TV shows in the late 40s and early 50s, and created the part of Mack the Knife in the West Coast premiere of "The Threepenny Opera". A job as a photographer of male nude studies turned into a successful mail-order business of his own 8mm and 16mm films. Shown publicly for the first time in 1968 in L.A.’s Park Theatre, Rocco’s films were widely embraced by the gay community and favorably reviewed by mainstream press. The films were ecstatic affirmations of gay love and identity, groundbreaking at a time when homosexual activity remained illegal. “They were the first reall...