Oral History Interview with Carol Horne Dennis: Video, Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project

Title: Oral History Interview with Carol Horne Dennis: Video, Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project
LC Subject: Lesbianism Lesbian community
Local Collection ID: Coll 520
Repository: University of Oregon. Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives
Interviewee: Dennis, Carol
Interviewer: Long, Linda, 1956- Raiskin, Judith L.
Description: The Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project collection consists of interviews of 83 people for the Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project, conducted by Professor Judith Raiskin and Curator Linda Long at the University of Oregon starting in the summer of 2018.
Abstract: Carol was born in October 1952. She grew up identifying as a boy, and was attracted to girls at age five or six. She grew up with sexual tension in the house, as her father was possibly a sex addict. Carol discusses her sexuality growing up and in school. Carol had a difficult time, and contemplated suicide. She went to the University of South Florida, but left after two years. She then went to New York and worked in theater. She was involved with the Godspell tour during which time she was drinking and using drugs. She discusses her attraction to the theater, and the love and acceptance at curtain call. She discusses her father’s death and her father’s friendship with actor Brian Keith. Carol went to Los Angeles and worked primarily as a stage manager, but she had difficult relationships there and decided to move to Eugene because she had heard it was the “San Francisco for lesbians.” She became reacquainted Bob Skerry in Eugene, and he helped her create Little Apple Productions to produce plays by and about women. She produced Last Summer at Bluefish Cove. Carol talks about the challenges in running a production company. She also discusses politics, the Oregon Citizens Alliance and the anti-gay ballot measures of the 1990s. She concludes her interview by discussing transgender issues.
Subject: ACT UP; AIDS (disease); Alcoholics Anonymous; Alcoholism; Ballot Measure 9; Boosler, Elayne; Boys in the Band, Mart Crowley (1968, Drama); Drug abuse; Lesbian separatism – Oregon; Skerry, Robert; Sex addiction; Theater – Oregon – Eugene; Transgender people
Location: University of Oregon >> Lane County >> Oregon >> United States
Date: 2018-08-23
Identifier: Coll520_do010
Rights: In Copyright
Dc Rights Holder: University of Oregon Libraries
Local Collection Name: Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project
Type: Moving Image
Format: video/mp4
Set: Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project
Institution: University of Oregon