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==Kenneth G Hodge== Kenneth G "Ken" Hodge was born 9 Aug 1914 in [[San Bernardino County, California]] to [[#Harry Hallam Hodge|Harry Hallam Hodge]] (1886-1956) and his wife [[#Frances E Bedford|Frances E Bedford]]. Harry was at first a bookkeper and cashier, and later assistant manager and later still manager, for the flour mill Globe Grain and Milling Company in Colton. Frances died on 7 Dec 1916 at Colton when Kenneth was only 2. His father who had been promoted by this time to assistant manager, remarried between 1920 and 1922 to Anna Barbara Breitling, daughter of George Breitling and his wife Laura Smith, also residents of Colton. Harry and Anna had two children: Harry H Hodge Jr in 1923 and Richard Breitling Hodge in 1926, both born in San Bernardino County. Kenneth moved to Los Angeles, working as a guide and also in public relations before becoming an assistant producer for a few years for Lux Radio Theatre. "...Ken Hodge had worked in radio for many years, producing [[Lux Radio Theatre]]." (''Rock Hudson, His Story'', p 43) The Voters Registration rolls show Ken in public relations in 1940 so he could not have started as an assitant producer at Lux before then. By 1942 he is listed in the rolls as "assistant producer." [[Rock Hudson]], at that time still going by his name Roy Fitzgerald, was discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1946 and decided to go to California because his father, was living in Long Beach. He found a job driving for Budget Pack. In Long Beach, for the first time, he met men who were open about being gay. One of these was Kenneth G Hodge. "...Ken was thirty-six and Roy was twenty-one...he lived in a penthouse...in the [[Chateau Marmont]], a building owned by his Aunt Bernadette." (''His Story'', p 43) But Davidson was wrong as Kenneth was only 32 when they met. Davidson states that Kenneth had left the entertainment business and moved to Long Beach to manage the Chateau Marmont which his aunt owned. The Voter Registration shows Ken and Roy's address in 1948 and in 1950 as 921 E Broadway. This does not appear to be the Chateau Marmont unless it's address has since changed. Davidson states that Roy and Kenneth met in the Summer of 1947, "...together they left Long Beach and moved to Hollywood where they shared a bungalow in the hills." But again something is a bit amiss as the Voter Registrations show that Ken was registered not in Long Beach, but in Los Angeles in 1946. Perhaps he moved back to Long Beach by 1947, but both Ken and Roy were still registered in Long Beach in 1948 and in 1950. Kenneth worked his contacts and threw parties to introduce his protege. At one of these, Roy met [[Henry Willson]]. Without Ken's knowledge, Roy contacted Willson, they signed a contract and Willson became his agent. Davidson reports that "..Roy's first check, made out to "Roy FitzGerald" from Vanguard Films of Culver City is endorsed on the back "Roy FitzGerald, Pay to the Order of Rock Hudson, Kenneth G Hodge". Rock Hudson's earliest credits, quoting Davidson, were in the 1948 film ''Fighter Squadron''; in the 1949 film 'Undertow'; and then in several 1950 films: ''I Was A Shoplifter'', ''One Way Street'', ''Winchester '73'', ''Peggy'', ''The Desert Hawk'', and ''Shakedown''. A short time later, Kenneth moved back to Long Beach, alone. In her book Sara Davidson, quoting Rock's later friends, states that Kenneth "moved back to Long Beach and fell apart". Kenneth G Hodge died 23 Dec 1972 in Los Angeles County. ===Primary documentation=== *California Birth Index [http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&rank=0&f2=Kenneth&f1=Hodge&sx=&f9=&f5=&f4=&rg_f3__date=&rs_f3__date=0&f6=&f7=&gskw=&prox=1&db=cabirth1905&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-d&fh=10&recid=10042528&recoff=1+3 here] showing : "Kenneth G Hodge, born 9 Aug 1914, San Bernardino County, mother's maiden name Bedford" [Note: A reverse search using only Hodge and Bedford, shows no other children for this combination.] *California Death Index on microfiche, filmed and online at [http://www.vitalsearch-ca.com/gen/_nonmembers/ca/_vitals/cade905m.htm Vitalsearch-ca.com] showing : "Frances E Hodge, spouse H H, died age 29 years, on 7 Dec 1916, San Bernardino County" *World War I Draft Registration Card [http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&rank=0&gsfn=Harry&gsln=Hodge&sx=&f1=&f2=&f3=&f20=&f16=&f15=&rg_f14__date=&rs_f14__date=0&f18=&gskw=&prox=1&db=ww1draft&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-d&fh=2&recid=1453675&recoff=1+3 here] showing : "Harry Hallam Hodge, of 1128 N8th, Colton; born 18 Jun 1886 at Independence, Kansas; Cashier at Globe Grain and Milling Co of Colton; Single, 1 child; Tall, Stout, Gray eyes, Light Brown hair; One eye blind; June 5, 1917 at Colton" *1920 Census of Colton, San Bernardino County, California [http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&rank=0&gsfn=Kenneth&gsln=Hodge&sx=&f8=California&f9=&f10=&f20=&rg_fa5__date=&rs_fa5__date=0&f16__n=&rg_f19__date=&rs_f19__date=0&f18=&fa20=&f21=&fa18=&f22=&fa14=&gskw=&prox=1&db=1920usfedcen&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-d&fh=1&recid=6593363&recoff=1+3+21 here] showing : "Fred C Waldschmidt 42 b IL; Bernardine 34 b CA; Harry H Hodge 33 widower b KS/NY/OH; Kenneth G Hodge 5 b CA/KS/CA" *1920 Census of Colton, San Bernardino County, California [http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=View&r=an&dbid=6061&iid=CAT625_128-0885&fn=Anna&ln=Breitling&st=r&ssrc=&pid=81944039 here] showing : "George Breitling, 60, immigrated in 1872, b Germany, no occupation; Laura M, 44, immigrated in 1890, b Denmark; Anna, daughter, 22, single b CA; Fred, son, 19, b CA; Mildred 12 b CA" *1930 Census of Colton, San Bernardino County, California [http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&rank=0&gsfn=Kenneth&gsln=Hodges&sx=&f12=&f4=&f7=&f15=&rg_81004011__date=&rs_81004011__date=0&f18=&f14__n=&_8000C002=&_80008002=&_80018002=&f10=&f16=&gskw=&prox=1&db=1930usfedcen&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-d&fh=6&recid=8763904&recoff=1+3 here] showing : "Harry H Hodges 43 b KS; Anna B 32; Kenneth G 15; Harry H 6; Richard B 3 9/12" *California Voter Registrations, 1900-1968: **[http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=view&dbid=1249&ti=0&iid=losangelescounty_45-0269&rc=1006,2626,1058,2638;1077,2625,1144,2636&fn=Kenneth&ln=Hodge&st=d&ssrc=&pid=1585142822 Los Angeles City, 1938] : "Kenneth G Hodge, 1825 1/2 Grace av, guide, R[epublican]" **[http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=view&dbid=1249&ti=0&iid=losangelescounty_51-0433&rc=980,2336,1034,2349;1048,2335,1117,2348&fn=Kenneth&ln=Hodge&st=d&ssrc=&pid=1961063045 Los Angeles City, 1940] : "Kenneth G Hodge, 6058 St Clair av, public relations, R[epublican]" **[http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=view&dbid=1249&ti=0&iid=losangelescounty_56-0900&rc=962,1902,1017,1914;1031,1901,1100,1912&fn=Kenneth&ln=Hodge&st=d&ssrc=&pid=2279048557 Los Angeles City, 1942] : "Kenneth G Hodge, 7136 Sycamore Trail, assistant producer, R[epublican]" **[http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=view&dbid=1249&ti=0&iid=losangelescounty_68-0499&rc=613,1053,666,1066;682,1052,751,1065&fn=Kenneth&ln=Hodge&st=d&ssrc=&pid=3133651023 Los Angeles City, 1946] showing : "Kenneth G Hodge, 7136 Sycamore Trail, R[epublican]" **[http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=view&dbid=1249&ti=0&iid=losangelescounty_71-0340&rc=683,1348,738,1362;749,1348,817,1361&fn=Kenneth&ln=Hodge&st=d&ssrc=&pid=3329475570 Long Beach, 1948] showing : "Roy H Fitzgerald, 921 E Broadway, R[epublican]; Kenneth G Hodge, 921 E Broadway, R[epublican]" (this appears to be an apartment building, about 15 people list it as their address) **[http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=view&dbid=1249&ti=0&iid=losangelescounty_78-0373&rc=640,1437,696,1452;707,1437,776,1452&fn=Kenneth&ln=Hodge&st=d&ssrc=&pid=3783253743 Long Beach, 1950] showing : "Roy H Fitzgerald, 921 E Broadway, R[epublican]; Kenneth G Hodge, 921 E Broadway, R[epublican]" *[http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=CAdeath1940%2c&rank=0&gsfn=Kenneth&gsln=Hodge&sx=&gs1co=1%2cAll+Countries&gs1pl=1%2c+&year=&yearend=&sbo=0&sbor=&ufr=0&wp=4%3b_80000002%3b_80000003&srchb=r&prox=1&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-d&o_iid=21416&o_lid=21416&pcat=34&fh=1&recid=3353226&recoff=1+2 California Death Index] showing : "Name: Kenneth G Hodge, born 9 Aug 1914 CA, died 23 Dec 1972, Los Angeles" ===Secondary sources=== * ''Rock Hudson, His Story'', by Rock Hudson and Sara Davidson; William Morrow and Company, New York. 1986 ISBN 0688064728 [http://www.amazon.com/Rock-Hudson-His-Story/dp/0688064728 Buy it] at Amazon * [http://books.google.com/books?id=GC0X-2FGdx8C&pg=PA149&lpg=PA149&dq=rock+hudson+hodge&source=web&ots=YoeaAwceDS&sig=qIN8R99kOxBLsgqoWM8lJRsnHB4 ''The Bad and the Beautiful : Hollywood in the Fifties''], by Sam Kashner, Jennifer MacNair, page 149 : "... Ken Hodge, a boyfriend of Rock's who acted as his first agent." * [http://books.google.com/books?id=yMMlpx4d_qcC&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11&dq=rock+hudson+ken+kenneth+hodge&source=web&ots=52bnzr-Zao&sig=XE8STsueT7V7Gl4aDtJzKFXDGJY ''The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson: The Pretty Boys and Dirty Deals of Henry Wilson''], by Robert Hofler, page 11
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