Background
Olson, Dale C. was born on February 20, 1934 in Fargo, North Dakota, United States. Son of Arthur Edwin and Edith (Weight) Olson Neubauer.
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Dale C. C. Olson
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Dale C. Olson, American public relations executive. Recipient Golden Key, Public Relations News, 1982, Les Mason public service awards Publicists Guild, Golden Satellite award for lifetime achievement International Press Academy, 1999, Prism award for public service Entertainment Industries Council, 2000, Named in his honor, Dale Olson Lobby, Actors' Fund Los Angeles Office, 2005.
Career
He also spearheaded and launched the film publicity campaigns beginning in the 1970s. He worked as a newspaper reporter as a teenager. One of his earliest interviews was with actress Mae West.
Olson moved to Los Angeles in 1951 and became the first national secretary for the Mattachine Society.
He worked as a reporter and writer for The Hollywood Reporter and Variety Magazine during his early career. Olson co-founded the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle as a staff member at Variety.
In the 1960s, Olson joined the staff of Rogers & Cowan, a Los Angeles public relations firm, where he remained for eighteen years. He eventually became the head of Rogers & Cowan"s film division.
Olson left the company in 1985 to open his own publicity company.
He became the spokesperson for Rock Hudson in 1985 during the actor"s public battle with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Olson persuaded Hudson to publicly admit his diagnosis with the disease. In addition to representing actors and other figures, Olson also worked on the campaigns for major Hollywood films. He launched the publicity campaigns for several Hollywood film franchises during the 1970s, including Rambo, Halloween, Rocky, and Superman.
He also headed the Academy Award campaigns for many films, notably Terms of Endearment in 1983, American Beauty in 1999, and Gladiator in 2000.
Dan Olson, a resident of the Hollywood Hills, died from cancer at a nursing home in Burbank, California, on August 9, 2012, at the age of 78.
Achievements
Membership
Vice president Diamond Circuit City of Hope, Duarte, California, 1980-1983. Member advisory board California Museum of Science and Industry, Los Angeles, 1975-1981. Member board governors Film Industry Workshops, Inc., 1965-1980.
President Hollywood Press Club, 1963-1966. Associate Los Angeles County Art Museum, 1981-1983. Board trustees Hollywood Arts Council.
Chair 1999 jury United States of America Film Festival, Dallas. Consultant Los Angeles 2000. Member National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (chairman public relations coordinating committee since 1982), Actors Fund American (chairman Western council 1991, trustee 1992, executive committee 1998), Hollywood Arts Council (board directors), President's Club, Thalians.
Connections
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Born
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Died
August 9, 2012 (aged 78) -
Nationality
American -
Religion
Lutheran
Career
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2003
Awards
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Recipient Golden Key, Public Relations News, 1982, Les Mason public service awards Publicists Guild, Golden Satellite award for lifetime achievement International Press Academy, 1999, Prism award for public service Entertainment Industries Council, 2000, Named in his honor, Dale Olson Lobby, Actors' Fund Los Angeles Office, 2005.Recipient Golden Key, Public Relations News, 1982, Les Mason public service awards Publicists Guild, Golden Satellite award for lifetime achievement International Press Academy, 1999, Prism award for public service Entertainment Industries Council, 2000, Named in his honor, Dale Olson Lobby, Actors' Fund Los Angeles Office, 2005.