Arthur L. Wilde, a Hollywood publicist who worked on more than 100 motion pictures, including ‘Bridge Over the River Kwai,’ ‘Lust in the Dust’ and ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter,’ died on April 15 at St. John’s Health Center. The Pacific Palisades resident was 90. A San Francisco native, Wilde came to Hollywood in the 1930s and got his first job on the labor gang at Warner Bros. studios. Three years later, he joined Warner’s publicity department and spent the remainder of his professional life working as a publicist. His other studio jobs included 20th Century-Fox, RKO Pictures, Columbia, Paramount , Universal and CBS. As an independent publicist, Wilde helped guide the careers of such stars as Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe, Orson Welles, Errol Flynn, Bette Davis and Milton Berle. He formed his own public relations firm, Rothschild Associates, and did location unit publicity in a career that took him to 50 foreign countries. Wilde is survived by his son, Tony Wilde of Santa Rosa; daughter Lucienne Wilde-Haenel of Santa Rosa; and his companion of 13 years, Joan Horner of Pacific Palisades. Private services have been held. Donations may be made in the name of the Kids’ Street Learning Center scholarship fund in Santa Rosa: (707) 525-9223.
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