Chapter 13
Picked up Catherine and Jed in a cab ($4) and went to Madison Square Garden to see Bruce Springsteen (tickets $19). We'd gone on Monday night, too, but only saw the last few seconds of the show. So this time we got there right before he started and we sat right down in the orchestra, 30,000 kids in the place. They were all young and cute and why doesn't Interview Interview appeal to them? It should, it's young and modern. My head must not be in the same place because they were all jumping up and screaming for Bruce and I was the only one who didn't. appeal to them? It should, it's young and modern. My head must not be in the same place because they were all jumping up and screaming for Bruce and I was the only one who didn't.
Oh, and Susan Blond called me earlier and said that a girl had called her up because she was upset because Bruce Springsteen was upset because he said I'd taken his picture on Monday night. She said that he doesn't like anybody anybody to take pictures-that his girlfriend's a photographer and even to take pictures-that his girlfriend's a photographer and even she she can't take his picture. But the funny thing is, I'd just gotten my contact sheets back and I was sitting there trying to figure out what night I was looking at and who I'd taken a picture of-I didn't even recognize that it was Bruce Springsteen-I thought it was Al Pacino. I'd forgotten where I went! Why is Bruce Springsteen big, though? He talks the dumb way. Like Sylvester Stallone. Is that why these people are big? Because they talk that way and people identify? He does work really hard. can't take his picture. But the funny thing is, I'd just gotten my contact sheets back and I was sitting there trying to figure out what night I was looking at and who I'd taken a picture of-I didn't even recognize that it was Bruce Springsteen-I thought it was Al Pacino. I'd forgotten where I went! Why is Bruce Springsteen big, though? He talks the dumb way. Like Sylvester Stallone. Is that why these people are big? Because they talk that way and people identify? He does work really hard.
Friday, August 25, 1978 The main event was Catherine Guinness crying, telling me that she was leaving Interview Interview, that she got a job at Viva Viva. And she's fat again, so she'll be leaving as fat as she came. But then I found out she cried for everyone, so it wasn't special that she cried for me. I guess she's maybe scared, because she's going to be senior editor over there. It turns out maybe it's the job they offered Bob last year. They came after her and then she went after it. Jonathan Lieberson and Steve Aronson helped her write a paper on how she would change their magazine. Everyone at Interview Interview is so thrilled to see her go. I was surprised-I didn't know they felt that way. is so thrilled to see her go. I was surprised-I didn't know they felt that way.
Sat.u.r.day, August 26, 1978 Went over to the Plaza to interview Shaun Ca.s.sidy. The interview was terrible because he's got to keep it really clean because his fans are young. He has dark circles under his eyes so we think he has a secret life. He's very tall. He gave stock answers. We kept asking him how it felt to be an idol with thousands of girls screaming, and he was insisting that it didn't change you, and then we walked through the lobby, through the screaming girls, and (laughs) (laughs) he changed. He was he changed. He was so different so different. The limo came and he had a whole different personality.
We went downtown because he was going to be photographed for Interview Interview by Barry McKinley. Shaun just turns into something else when he's being photographed, something just happens to him, he just falls in love with himself. And Barry has a different style of saying things when he's photographing-instead of saying things like Scavullo and those people say, like, "Marvelous, marvelous," Barry says by Barry McKinley. Shaun just turns into something else when he's being photographed, something just happens to him, he just falls in love with himself. And Barry has a different style of saying things when he's photographing-instead of saying things like Scavullo and those people say, like, "Marvelous, marvelous," Barry says (laughs) (laughs), "Give it to me, motherf.u.c.ker. Push it out out. Push out all you can." "What kind of drug are you on, motherf.u.c.ker?" It was so unbelievable that I went and taped it.
Later at Madison Square Garden in Shaun's dressing room there was a beautiful girl there, his girlfriend, and he had on stretch pants with his big c.o.c.k showing, and he brought the band in to give them a lecture on when to go slow and how to turn on the thirteen-year-olds. It was funny.
When we went out to our seats Shaun's mother s.h.i.+rley Jones was there and I bent over to say h.e.l.lo where she was sitting and she looked scared, but then I said, "I'm Andy Warhol" and she grabbed my hand and was sweet and she introduced me to her husband Marty Ingels. Then Shaun came on. He jumped through a hoop like a lion and the girls went crazy. They took me on stage and it was the first time I was ever on stage at the Garden. Smart little girls were screaming: "Andy." And he does s.e.xy things with the microphone, he puts it between his legs and he touches his c.o.c.k a little, and he's like a Mick Jagger for the young kids.
Monday, August 28, 1978-New York-Montauk Went to the dentist. Dr. Lyons gets sort of mad because I keep putting off the X-rays. I told him about the dentist on TV who said it was silly to take X-rays, but Dr. Lyons said he didn't care, that if I wanted him to be my dentist, I had to do what he wanted.
Oh, and Bob MacBride called and said that Truman says he's been cured in Minnesota and that he's coming back this week, but I can't see how, he'll just get out and do the same things. And Brigid and I are thinking all the time that maybe Truman never did write any of his own stuff, that maybe he always had some butch guy there to do it. To do rewrites. Because I mean, Truman showed me a script he did, and it was just awful, and when he shows you these things you can't imagine that he could even think think they're any good, they're so bad. And I mean, he went with Jack Dunphy for years, and these guys are all supposed to be "writers" but you don't really know what they write, and now Bob MacBride gets his name on things, but he's not good, so maybe that's why Truman's work has gotten so... because he hasn't done anything in ten years, and that's a long time. And I mean, the things Truman they're any good, they're so bad. And I mean, he went with Jack Dunphy for years, and these guys are all supposed to be "writers" but you don't really know what they write, and now Bob MacBride gets his name on things, but he's not good, so maybe that's why Truman's work has gotten so... because he hasn't done anything in ten years, and that's a long time. And I mean, the things Truman says says are interesting, so somebody else could find clever ways to make them good on paper. are interesting, so somebody else could find clever ways to make them good on paper.
The car picked me up at 3:50 and Catherine and I rode out to Montauk, it was a nice ride. We stopped at Burger King and picked up a couple of steak sandwiches for Mr. Winters ($5). When we got to Montauk I gave Mr. Winters and his wife Millie the sandwiches and a painting I brought him, an abstract-it was a Shadow. I also brought some Interviews Interviews and I think his wife liked the magazines better than the sandwich, and I think Mr. Winters liked the sandwich better than the painting. I thought he could put it away and keep it. I tried to get Mr. Winters to be in the movie, but he didn't want to be in it. There are so many kids at the place. Twenty were out shooting and there were still so many. Said h.e.l.lo to Winnie, Tom's Danish wife, who I see is actually beautiful, after all. and I think his wife liked the magazines better than the sandwich, and I think Mr. Winters liked the sandwich better than the painting. I thought he could put it away and keep it. I tried to get Mr. Winters to be in the movie, but he didn't want to be in it. There are so many kids at the place. Twenty were out shooting and there were still so many. Said h.e.l.lo to Winnie, Tom's Danish wife, who I see is actually beautiful, after all.
Went over to the yacht club hotel and checked in. Tom brought his Betamax by. Ulli and his wife Sukey came. We had dinner at the yacht club and it was terrible, the place was rotten. Jack Palance who's in Tom's movie was staying there at first but he hated it, they were so rude.
Then at midnight we went to Southampton to one of those beautiful movie houses to see the rushes from the day before, and the movie looks sort of good, lots of airplane shots and Jack Palance, and Tom is sort of good, and the band plays in the movie, so I guess that's what he's actually making the movie for, to introduce his band. They drove me back to the yacht club and I fell asleep with my clothes on.
Tuesday, August 29, 1978-Montauk-New York Catherine came to my room and Tom picked us up and drove us over to the house for breakfast. Then Jack Palance came in and he'd been out all night drinking. He's fifty-five and looks thirty. He's there with his dog, Patches, and his girlfriend. I think he's half Russian and half Ukranian. I'd asked Tom how they thought to cast Jack Palance and he said they were thinking about Rod Steiger-they wanted somebody butch, an old butch actor-but Jack had a farm in Pennsylvania and they called him and he'll do anything, he said he just likes to drink, so he takes any role.
Jack played a character named Rof, who used to be Jayne Mansfield's manager, and Tom plays one called Destin, who's a singer with a band. We went outside to do my scene where I'm taking pictures without knowing it of the people who run off with the c.o.ke. They decided to put me in the beginning of the movie and gave me some lines, which I'm terrible at. I just don't know how to be real.
I interviewed Tom at dinner and his real life story was just like his character's life story in the movie-how he burned his body in a plane crash in Colombia and some people found him and took him in a private plane to New York.
I pa.s.sed out in the limo on the way back in, and we got to the city around 2:30.
Wednesday, August 30, 1978 Talked to Brigid who was typing the interview we did with Shaun Ca.s.sidy and she said it was no good, that n.o.body said anything.
Thursday, August 31, 1978 Bob had a fight with Fran Lebowitz on the phone, she said she wasn't going to write for Interview Interview anymore because he changed some of her words, and I mean, why would Bob want to anymore because he changed some of her words, and I mean, why would Bob want to change words? change words? Is it drugs? Is it drugs?
Friday, September 1, 1978 Catherine's leaving on Monday for her job at Viva Viva. Her salary will be $30,000 and her new date is Stephen Graham. They went to his mother's house on Martha's Vineyard, so I guess she'll be offered the editors.h.i.+p of the Was.h.i.+ngton Post Was.h.i.+ngton Post, too. Wait till they find out she can't do anything.
Fred's been invited to Avedon's dinner before his show at the Met. He's b.u.t.tering up to Fred. He wants something. I still hate him. He wouldn't give an interview to Interview Interview because he said it wasn't "right" for him. After he got Bob to do publicity on him in because he said it wasn't "right" for him. After he got Bob to do publicity on him in Interview Interview, he turned around and said that. I mean, he's just somebody who worked for Bazaar Bazaar. He took those pictures of my scars and of all the Factory kids and we signed releases for him and everything and then he never even gave us prints. Viva's in his new book, but at least she got some prints.
Sat.u.r.day, September 2, 1978 Went out and bought props for drawings (fruit $23.80).
Got a load of 1950s used shoes down on Ca.n.a.l Street for $2 a pair. It's just the shoes I used to draw, all the Herbert Levine shoes with the creative lasts. Shoes first got really pointy in '5455, and then they got round in '57.
I went in the back and I tried to paint but my painting wasn't too good. I was working on a German guy.
Sunday, September 3, 1978 I worked on the Fruit drawings and Diamond drawings and watched TV, and my painting had improved from the day before, I was back into it, it had been so bad on Sat.u.r.day. And I got paint on my shoes and here I am trying to grow long fingernails and I get acrylic on them and I guess acrylic attracts acrylic because it gets more and more.
Tuesday, September 5, 1978 When I got to the office, Brigid was sitting there at her typewriter looking her age which was going to be forty tomorrow. What can I give her? Some chocolate? I'll give her another tape to type.
Wednesday, September 6, 1978 Went to the garment center with the girls from Interview Interview to sell copies of the magazine there, even though I was nervous because on the news the night before there was a new outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease on 35th Street between Sixth and Seventh, that now they think is caused by a bacteria that forms in air-conditioning systems. to sell copies of the magazine there, even though I was nervous because on the news the night before there was a new outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease on 35th Street between Sixth and Seventh, that now they think is caused by a bacteria that forms in air-conditioning systems.
Blue Cross called to say that Ronnie sent them a doctor's bill he wanted compensation for- when he was murdering the cats they struggled against him and he got scratched.
Toni Brown came up and she wants me to do the cover of High Times High Times. I told her she shouldn't have told Carole that I said she was crazy, and then I had to call Carole and say, "I didn't say you were crazy, I said you were crazy," crazy," and then and then (laughs) (laughs) she understood. It's so funny when you just say the same word but in a heavier way and she understood. It's so funny when you just say the same word but in a heavier way and then then people understand. people understand.
Cabbed to the Waldorf ($3). There was a party in honor of me because this was the day we were supposed to leave for Iran, but then the civil war broke out. The Hoveydas looked really suntanned and healthy. Mrs. Hoveyda said she didn't know anything about what was going on in Iran because her husband wouldn't tell her, and he just said, "If things were really bad, would I be sitting here tonight?"
Thursday, September 7, 1978 Called Truman's apartment and Bob MacBride answered and said Truman had just gotten back from Minnesota an hour ago, that they'd practically just walked in the door, and Truman was going over to Dr. Orentreich's to get his face sc.r.a.ped or sandpapered.
Met Catherine at La Folie for the Joan Fontaine book party (cab $4). I introduced her as the new senior Viva Viva editor, and what a difference that made. Everybody was suddenly, "Oh right this way-oh here you go," and they really hustled. She was Miss Big. editor, and what a difference that made. Everybody was suddenly, "Oh right this way-oh here you go," and they really hustled. She was Miss Big.
I dropped Catherine off and near 63rd Street we ran into her new editor, the girl who hired her, and (laughs) (laughs) she's so thrilled to be getting Catherine. she's so thrilled to be getting Catherine.
Bob got a car and we picked up Fred and went out to Alex Guest's party for his sister Cornelia who's going off to Foxcroft. There was a girl there named Lisa Rance who's after Robyn Geddes, but she's chubby and I told her. She was wearing a white Valentino and some kid came and threw "invisible ink" on it, and it did disappear but I'll bet it's not really gone, that in a different light you can still see it. I think the dress is finished.
Friday, September 8, 1978 Had lunch with Truman. He wasn't drinking so he was boring. I paid for lunch because he looked like he was out of money ($60). I taped, took pictures, and then we went over to his bank, the Midland Bank. Bob MacBride went home, he had an allergy. As we were walking together, someone said, "Look! Living Legends!" And at the bank Truman was getting $5,000 in cash in fifty-dollar bills and the bank guy asked him was he sure he wanted it like that since he'd taken out $25,000 eight months ago in hundreds and lost it. Truman's checking account had $16,000 in it and his savings $11,000 and he took $10,000 out of the savings to transfer so that made $36,000 in his checking. So he does have money, the money does come in. And then we walked and it was starting to rain and this girl from Radcliffe came up to us, she said she was working on the Brian DePalma movie and that she would be so honored if she could let us use her umbrella so we walked with her for a little while.
Sunday, September 10, 1978 Picked up Bob and we walked over to
Truman wasn't drinking so he was boring again. He had a guy there from California who wore bluejeans, and I can't stand people with 38" waists who still wear bluejeans.
Truman had told me we'd be having caviar and potatoes, but instead he had bad quiche. Truman was listening to records, Donna Summer, I think.
The guy from California had joints and he and Bob and Truman smoked them, and Truman said that after the joint he would be really exciting and interesting but he wasn't. I was talking about the Gay Bob doll. Robert Hayes had one at the Factory, it's a doll that comes out of a closet and it's wearing an earring and a necklace and a plaid s.h.i.+rt and bluejeans and a handbag and a big c.o.c.k, and I guess I said the wrong thing because everybody there was named Bob, but if you ever want to get anybody anything, get them that, it's so funny.
Monday, September 11, 1978 Rupert came over. Worked on some Fruits and "landscapes" and Jewelry. Catherine called from over at Viva Viva, she's nervous, she was having lunch with Delfina Rattazzi who still works at Viking to try to pick her brain. Catherine was trying to find out how you find new writers. And today she's having lunch with Victor Bockris to try to pick his his brain. So she's sc.r.a.ping the bottom of every barrel. brain. So she's sc.r.a.ping the bottom of every barrel.
Oh, and I forgot to say that on Sat.u.r.day my house shook. They bombed the Cuban emba.s.sy on 67th between Fifth and Madison and when I looked out the window, across the street where the girl with the crewcut who works for YSL lives, her boyfriend was leaning out the window and he was naked and good-looking.
Tuesday, September 12, 1978 I discovered that Archie and Amos both are covered with fleas and what I thought were mosquito bites on me turned out to be flea bites, so now they're wearing flea collars and I should be wearing a flea collar, too.
Thursday, September 14, 1978 Ran into Barry Landau. It's so great to have him not calling me. Bob told him I was mad at him and amazingly that made him stop. I think that's the bee that sticks in his bonnet, when someone tells him, "You have to cool it." Then he does. Like Stevie told him that once. I guess so many people have told him.
We went to Halston's and got into limos to go over to Studio 54 for Dr. Giller's birthday. There was a cake with a syringe (laughs) (laughs) that said "Dr. Feelgood." I ran into Barbara Allen and she was laughing. She said that she'd just been up in the balcony with one of the Robert Kennedy sons-the one with buck teeth who looks really like his father-and he took out a joint so they could smoke it and when he lit the match he paused and looked into Barbara's eyes and said, "When I look into a flame, I see the face of my uncle." You know, the Eternal Flame. I left, and the bouncer got me a cab and I tried to give him $10 but he wouldn't take it (cab $2.50). that said "Dr. Feelgood." I ran into Barbara Allen and she was laughing. She said that she'd just been up in the balcony with one of the Robert Kennedy sons-the one with buck teeth who looks really like his father-and he took out a joint so they could smoke it and when he lit the match he paused and looked into Barbara's eyes and said, "When I look into a flame, I see the face of my uncle." You know, the Eternal Flame. I left, and the bouncer got me a cab and I tried to give him $10 but he wouldn't take it (cab $2.50).
Sat.u.r.day, September 16, 1978 Walked over to meet Bob and Joanne du Pont and Paul Jenkins on the corner. Drove out to New Roch.e.l.le where there was a birthday party for Mr. Kluge who is chairman of Metromedia. Everybody there was really, really rich. The house was on the beach and painted yellow. They had a tent for food and a tent for dancing, and lots of security people. I sat next to a lady who said she had a sore thumb and I asked her if it was a "murderer's thumb." She was awful. She said she was "Mrs. Goldenson" and I asked her who she was and she said, "If you don't know, I'm not going to tell you," and I'd ask her another way and she'd say, "You should know, so why should I tell you." Later on I found out her husband is a chairman at ABC, Leonard Goldenson. But she was so rotten, I didn't talk to her for the rest of the night.
Then Bob found me and said that Mrs. Potamkin-Luba-who does the TV ads for Potamkin Cadillac was dying to meet me so we went and found her. And Bert Parks was there and I was so excited, Bob and I had been sitting at his table, and I started talking to Mrs. Bert Parks and she got a little fresh, she pushed her t.i.ts against me. And then Bob saw I was getting into trouble and came over and put his arm around her to distract her and she squeezed his a.s.s, and then Bert saw that she was getting fresh and said, "Let's go dance, darling."
I think everybody must have been somebody. Everybody was rich and straight, a new crowd. All rich old people and attractive young girls for the old fogies. They started serving breakfast at 1:00. They had huge seash.e.l.ls made out of ice. Bob was telling me that everybody wanted portraits, but I was so drunk I didn't care.
Monday, September 18, 1978 Got up early. Slept with my clothes on so I wouldn't get bitten by fleas. I have about forty bites all over me and they came on different days, you can tell by when they disappear.
We haven't heard from Doug Christmas and if he doesn't pay us I'm not going to California tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 19, 1978 Pa.s.sed out Interviews Interviews in the morning. Called Vincent and asked if Doug Christmas sent us the check. He didn't. Called Fred and threatened not to go to California. So here it is now Wednesday morning and I in the morning. Called Vincent and asked if Doug Christmas sent us the check. He didn't. Called Fred and threatened not to go to California. So here it is now Wednesday morning and I still still don't know if I'm going, the plane's at 12:00. I can't decide. don't know if I'm going, the plane's at 12:00. I can't decide.
Wednesday, September 20, 1978-New York-Los Angeles In the morning we were waiting for the check to arrive from Doug Christmas to see if we were going to California or not. It didn't come in the morning so we didn't get on the flight at noon. But right after 12:00 it arrived, so the driver picked me up at 860 and then we picked up Fred and drove out to Newark to get a plane. The driver was nice (tip $10).
The plane left on time. What we were really having to go out there for was a dinner that Marcia Weisman was giving. That meant we'd be missing the big glamorous YSL Opium party in New York on the Chinese boat downtown at the South Street pier.
Checked into our hotel, L'Ermitage. It's for people who don't want to be discovered-if you're having an affair, that's the place to go. There's no lobby, and it's chic in a funky way. It was very elegant. When you pick up your key you get to pick a four-number combination, so I was 1111 and Fred was 2222.
Thursday, September 21, 1978-Los Angeles Went to Getty Museum. It was thrilling. A reproduction of a building they haven't excavated yet in Italy-they know where it is but there's another building on top of it. Bought a book on painting ($17).
Bob arrived in L.A. and described the YSL Opium party for us. Then Joan Quinn arrived in fuschia hair and lots of matching amethysts. Fiorucci sent a limo in exchange for us going to their opening. We went to pick up Ursula Andress first. She's staying with Linda Evans. The house is very big, English country-style, a pool and tennis courts. Ursula was wearing a YSL scarf over the cast on her broken arm. She was surfing in Malibu with Ryan O'Neal when Hurricane Norman hit her and broke her arm, tore it out of her socket. Joan whispered that everyone in L.A. wonders if it was Hurricane Ryan that actually did it.
We went to Fiorucci where we ran into Ronnie Levin with Susan Pile and Tere Tereba. Susan screamed that the party was cancelled but we thought that was just a joke and started to get out of the limo but a cop pushed us back in and said we were blocking traffic, that the party was cancelled by order of the Beverly Hills Fire Department. A transvest.i.te handed us business cards through the window.
Then we went back to the hotel and then I went with Sue Mengers and everyone else waited around for Mick Jagger to call. Sue is really fat again. And G.o.d, her att.i.tude is so cheap. There was no dinner, so she suggested we stop at Burger King on the way to Diana Ross. It was so abstract, you talk into a machine. She ordered a double Whopper but then she worried that maybe two separate hamburgers would have been cheaper.
Sue treated the driver like dirt and I know that if I ever said one little remark to her that she didn't like, she would never speak to me again. She said she'd introduced Isabella Rossellini to Martin Scorsese and that they've been living together for two months. She hates Jerry Hall because Jerry told Bob Weiner that Sue wanted to take an acid trip with Timothy Leary. "What do they think I amww." amww." Like it had ruined her reputation. So vulgar. G.o.d. Arrived backstage and she said, "I'm Miss Ross's agent." A cute little waiter was serving meatb.a.l.l.s. She said, "If we knew there would be meatb.a.l.l.s we wouldn't have had to stop at Burger King." I got myself really drunk drinking straight Stolichnaya. Sue told me she'd just been really after John Travolta, to represent him, but he reminded her that she'd turned him down when he was on TV in Like it had ruined her reputation. So vulgar. G.o.d. Arrived backstage and she said, "I'm Miss Ross's agent." A cute little waiter was serving meatb.a.l.l.s. She said, "If we knew there would be meatb.a.l.l.s we wouldn't have had to stop at Burger King." I got myself really drunk drinking straight Stolichnaya. Sue told me she'd just been really after John Travolta, to represent him, but he reminded her that she'd turned him down when he was on TV in Welcome Back, Kotter Welcome Back, Kotter and she didn't remember it. But then, she said, sitting on the toilet seat one night she remembered it. and she didn't remember it. But then, she said, sitting on the toilet seat one night she remembered it.
Then Diana Ross came out looking really lovely. Thrilled to see me, kissed me. Then she went on stage. She had a shot of brandy in her coffee before she went on.
We were sitting in the seventh row. Universal Amphitheater. A plane went over with lights on it that said, "Welcome to my show." Laser beams on the stage. She came out of a big screen, down an elegant staircase. Her brother is cute. I want him photographed in Interview Interview. She told me she got the whole idea for her show from the Interview Interview photo of guys carrying her down a staircase. photo of guys carrying her down a staircase.
Diana didn't say she liked her cover and I just know it's because it made her look too black. At the end of the show she did a Wiz Wiz number and she apologized for the music being too slow, and said, "Forgive me, audience," which she didn't have to say because no one knew the difference. number and she apologized for the music being too slow, and said, "Forgive me, audience," which she didn't have to say because no one knew the difference.
Afterwards, backstage, Diana started to cry. She wanted to have another rehearsal tomorrow. Then Berry Gordy and Diana had a fight, he told her he wasn't going to spend the money on another rehearsal. Diana wanted Sue to take her side, but Sue said it wasn't her area and then she said to me, "Let's get the h.e.l.l out of here."
Friday, September 22, 1978-Los Angeles Back to Fiorucci. This time it really was opening. There were 3,000 kids on the street dressed in every form of punk possible, but it's clean-cut Los Angeles punk. And we were pushed through the crowd, just like going to Studio 54 on a big night. I went behind a counter where they had 300 copies of Interview Interview and I autographed them all. A star of and I autographed them all. A star of Roots Roots, Levar Burton, asked for one. He was covered in sweat from dancing. They turned the whole thing into a discotheque.
Sat.u.r.day, September 23, 1978-Los Angeles Wendy Stark picked us up and we drove out to Venice. Went to the Ace Gallery for my Torso show. It was a beautiful sunny day, 100 degrees but dry. The show looked good-c.o.c.ks, c.u.n.ts, and a.s.sholes. They had 1,000 copies of Interview Interview ready to be given away. ready to be given away.
I did two interviews-one with Connoisseur Connoisseur magazine, and one with magazine, and one with Society West Society West. Wendy did them with me, and Fred was being funny and lied and told everyone that the shaved v.a.g.i.n.a in the painting was Wendy's.
Then we went to Polly Bergen's house in Holmby Hills. Polly's house is very modern and well-decorated. There were Architectural Digests Architectural Digests everywhere. And her dressing room looks like a department store, with racks of blouses and skirts and dresses and gowns, and she has a telescope that's for looking at the stars, but she uses it to look at the stars' houses, and we looked into Danny Thomas's house across the canyon, but nothing was happening there except a few geraniums were growing. everywhere. And her dressing room looks like a department store, with racks of blouses and skirts and dresses and gowns, and she has a telescope that's for looking at the stars, but she uses it to look at the stars' houses, and we looked into Danny Thomas's house across the canyon, but nothing was happening there except a few geraniums were growing.
Then back to our dump (room service tea with tip $3, breakfast $2). Wendy made a phone call to Stan Dragoti to invite him to the opening-he's really unhappy about Cheryl Tiegs running off to Africa with Peter Beard. Then it was time to go off to Julia Scorsese's and she told Fred on the phone to be sure no one we brought had any drugs on them because she's trying to get more straight.
We got to Julia's and everyone was sitting around smoking joints. Tony and Berry Perkins, Firooz Zahedi and his fiancee, a lot of young writers and composers. Tony asked us how was Chris Makos doing these days, he said Chris was the biggest hustler, but that he was so seductive you ended up giving in. He asked me if I liked L'Ermitage, and I said it was a good quiet place to have an affair, and he said, "But could you have two two affairs there?" affairs there?"
And Doug Christmas told us earlier that Ronnie Levin had had a friend keep the receptionist busy while he walked in, took one of my drawings out of the frame, rolled it under his arm, and walked out. Then he had the nerve to try to sell it back to the gallery, and they pressed charges and the police said he had a record a mile long.
Fred's outfits on this trip were his new s.h.i.+rts from London-they're really long so they look like Indian tunics-and Sue Mengers said to Fred, "In New York your hair is slicked back, you wear beautiful suits and gorgeous ties, and in L.A. your s.h.i.+rt's hanging out, there's no jacket, no tie-oh I know you, you probably said, 'This 'This is good enough for those Hollywood Jews.' " is good enough for those Hollywood Jews.' "
Sunday, September 24, 1978-Los Angeles We went to pick up Ursula Andress and when we got to Venice I was dragged through the crowd. Marisa was wearing a gold sequined beret and a gold sequined jacket and skin-tight black stretch pants-you could see her p.u.s.s.y-and her sister Berry was wearing a blue and white-striped cotton dress. Sue was wearing a flowing hot pink chiffon gown. Three thousand, five hundred people showed up. Then we got it all coordinated so that I got into my car real quick and was taken to the restaurant, Robert's, where the party was. It was on the beach.
A guy came over and said that he had the biggest c.o.c.k in L.A., so I offered to sign it and Marisa got so excited she leaned over to look at the c.o.c.k and her hair caught fire in the flames of a candle-it was like instant punishment. And Ken Harrison was at the opening but he got lost in the shuffle, and Sue was dying to meet him. Everyone was dying to meet him because of his big c.o.c.k in my show.
Monday, September 25, 1978-Los Angeles-New York The new Interview Interview arrived from New York and Fran's column was so boring I told Bob we should fire her. So we had a fight. Then Wendy picked us up and she took us to Giorgio's in Beverly Hills to sell some ads and Fred and Gale Hayman who own it were thrilled to see me. And now they're selling mink V-neck sweaters and I said, "Oh I'd love one." and he said, "I'll sell it to you wholesale." And then I realized I'd really stuck my foot in it and I said, "Oh no no no. I'll just pick one up the next time I'm in town." arrived from New York and Fran's column was so boring I told Bob we should fire her. So we had a fight. Then Wendy picked us up and she took us to Giorgio's in Beverly Hills to sell some ads and Fred and Gale Hayman who own it were thrilled to see me. And now they're selling mink V-neck sweaters and I said, "Oh I'd love one." and he said, "I'll sell it to you wholesale." And then I realized I'd really stuck my foot in it and I said, "Oh no no no. I'll just pick one up the next time I'm in town."
Johnny Casablancas was checking into the hotel and a bunch of Rastafarians were out in front because Bob Marley was staying there (maid tips $30, concierge tips $20, bellboy tips $10, limo driver $10, Redcap tip $5, magazines for the plane $14.50).
The plane sat in the airport for five hours having its fuel system repaired. Meanwhile, the talk of the town was the air crash in San Diego that morning that killed 150 people.
Tuesday, September 26, 1978 Dropped Fred. Truman was coming to the Factory at 3:00 for the High Times High Times Christmas cover photograph of him and me. Truman was early, 2:30. Bob MacBride peed on one of the p.i.s.s paintings in the back for me, and he kept going back to see if the colors had changed. Truman told Brigid about the drying-out place, and she interviewed him, and that's where her sister Richie is, too. Christmas cover photograph of him and me. Truman was early, 2:30. Bob MacBride peed on one of the p.i.s.s paintings in the back for me, and he kept going back to see if the colors had changed. Truman told Brigid about the drying-out place, and she interviewed him, and that's where her sister Richie is, too.
Paul Morrissey was down, and he and Truman talked all afternoon about scripts and things. Then Toni arrived four hours late, she had a Santa costume for me and a little girl outfit for Truman. But Truman wasn't in the mood to go into drag, he said that he was already dressed like a little boy boy. Truman was really drunk, hugging around.
Truman was pleading with Brigid to get him a drink and not tell Bob-this is after she caught him drinking in the kitchen. Ronnie was trying to make the makeup girl. My makeup wasn't working, it was no use, I had too many pimples.
Wednesday, September 27, 1978 Some German photographers came. Rupert came and helped with the Fruit drawings. The lineup for the evening: 5:30 Roberta di Camerino's at "21"
6:00 Barneys for Giorgio Armani 6:30 MOMA for the Rolling Stone Rolling Stone anniversary anniversary 7:00 c.o.c.ktails at Cynthia Phipps's 8:45 Dinner at La Pet.i.te Ferme 10:30 Joe Eula's party 11:00 Halston's 12:00 Studio 54 for an animal benefit 1:00 Flamingo's for a t.i.t-judging party that Victor arranged for me to go to.
Thursday, September 28, 1978 Bob was in a grouchy mood because the doctor told him he couldn't drink anymore, and now he's bored by absolutely everybody he sees, he's a camp. He only perks up when there's royalty around. He's as bad as Fred.
Sat.u.r.day, September 30, 1978 Went home and was picked up by the limo to go to the Jack Nicholson-Ara Gallant screening of the movie Jack directed, Goin' South Goin' South. The one Barbara Allen "auditioned" for.
The movie-I'm not sure, I think it was a light comedy. It didn't say anything, though. It's good in the beginning and you think something's going to happen, but it doesn't. The new girl, Mary Steenburgen, is okay-she's good, but not beautiful. She looks a little like Anjelica and you just know that's why he did it, and he just should have used Anjelica, but that's when they were having the Ryan O'Neal troubles.
And you know, I was thinking the other day about commercial movies and then all the great art movies, and I've decided something: Commercial things really do stink. As soon as it becomes commercial for a ma.s.s market it really stinks. I know I always rave and say my favorite movies are things like The Other Side of Midnight The Other Side of Midnight and and The Betsy The Betsy, but I guess I'm... going to change my tune. You have to do stuff that average people don't understand, because those are the only good things. And even though the arty foreign movies are boring to sit through, at least they try to do creative things. So I'm going to start going to the New Yorker and seeing strange movies again. I'm missing so much, going to parties.
I was a little drunk and I went over to Jack and said I really really loved it, because Fred told me those kind of things really do make a difference to people.
Afterwards Catherine and I went into this place on 54th Street that said "Female/Male Nudes," and there were almost naked girls on like a big long banquet table with men sitting around and it's so abstract. They put their t.i.ts and a.s.ses into the guy's faces, an inch away, and the guys just sit there like zombies. And there's a sign that says "Do Not Touch." And one of the hookers looked at me and said, "Oh my G.o.d, oh my G.o.d." And then the girls came over and one said, "Oh will you buy me a drink?" And I did-I (laughs) (laughs) didn't know yet that the drinks were $8.50 apiece. And then more girls came and they made me feel really good, like I was straight, and they kept saying to come upstairs, that upstairs was really really really fun. What do you think was up there? Is that where they do it? And the girl told Catherine she would really like it up there, too, she was trying to make Catherine, and I bought drinks for the other girls so that's 3 X $8.50 plus $5 tip ($30.50) and then 8 X $8.50, plus $20 ($88) until I ran out of money. Then we left and went next door to a gay p.o.r.no movie. Catherine wanted to see it and it was a glory-hole movie and it was too peculiar and we just stayed for ten minutes (cab $3). didn't know yet that the drinks were $8.50 apiece. And then more girls came and they made me feel really good, like I was straight, and they kept saying to come upstairs, that upstairs was really really really fun. What do you think was up there? Is that where they do it? And the girl told Catherine she would really like it up there, too, she was trying to make Catherine, and I bought drinks for the other girls so that's 3 X $8.50 plus $5 tip ($30.50) and then 8 X $8.50, plus $20 ($88) until I ran out of money. Then we left and went next door to a gay p.o.r.no movie. Catherine wanted to see it and it was a glory-hole movie and it was too peculiar and we just stayed for ten minutes (cab $3).
Sunday, October 1, 1978 Brigid and I talked about old times. She was on amphetamines for twenty-three years. Isn't that something? I mean think of it, twenty-three years. Then we started to watch The Users The Users on TV and we called each other about five times. Jaclyn Smith was so good. They had her hair commercial on, too. on TV and we called each other about five times. Jaclyn Smith was so good. They had her hair commercial on, too.
Monday, October 2, 1978 Doug Christmas wants to show the p.i.s.s paintings in Paris after we go to Denmark, so I'll have to drink more water and make more. I can do two a day now, and Fred told me to put two of them together, that they look more interesting that way.
Monday, October 9, 1978-Paris Went to Loulou de la Falaise's party. s.h.i.+rley Goldfarb was there, and she's just beat her cancer. She's 106 again-she'd been down to 78 pounds. She only lost a little bit of hair from the chemotherapy. She's back being just as obnoxious as ever and now that she's better, people treat her badly again. Her husband was there. Wished I had a tape recorder to tape her. She was happy, looking good. Loulou's got a duplex with a balcony. There was a birthday cake but I didn't have any, I was so involved with s.h.i.+rley.
Tuesday, October 10, 1978-Paris Club Sept invited us to a private dinner ($40 to chauffeur). We got there and our table was actually reserved for Bette Midler. Saw Isabelle Adjani, so beautiful. Bette came in and got an ovation. She saw me and made me kiss her hand. Told her we just missed her in Copenhagen, she said she knew all about it. I tried to talk to her but she reminds me too much of Fran Lebowitz-like she's afraid you'll steal her material. We just don't hit it off.
Valentino was there and he and Bette chatted, she asked him how the shmatta trade was, and what did Jackie O. buy and she wanted four of them and what was the new look. She gives everybody the Sophie Tucker answers. Then she left and the party kept going on.
Thursday, October 12, 1978-New York Went over to Bob MacBride's new studio and guess where it is-33 Union Square West! On the tenth floor! So I got pangs going over there, riding up in that elevator to the floor where Interview Interview used to be. Bob MacBride has the room next to that. It's too bad we didn't buy that building, though, because it's narrow and used to be. Bob MacBride has the room next to that. It's too bad we didn't buy that building, though, because it's narrow and Interview Interview could have had four floors already. Bob's stuff, now I really like it, I honestly do. It's bent wood sculpture. Truman was bouncing around. I don't know if he's drinking or not. could have had four floors already. Bob's stuff, now I really like it, I honestly do. It's bent wood sculpture. Truman was bouncing around. I don't know if he's drinking or not.
We got a call-the call I didn't want to get-saying that we had to go to Paris next week, the twentieth, Friday, for the p.i.s.s paintings.
Dropped Bob on Park at 7:00 ($3.20). The police just arrested Sid Vicious for stabbing his twenty-year-old manager-girlfriend to death in the Chelsea Hotel, and then I saw on the news that Mr. Bard was saying, "Oh yeah. They drank a lot and they would come in late...." They just let anybody in over there, that hotel is dangerous, it seems like somebody's killed there once a week. I was tired so I stayed home, did some drawings, worked, watched TV, snoozed. Then the alarm system went off and I was afraid to go down and look, but finally I got brave and took Archie under my arm and went down to the kitchen but there was nothing there. I watched TV but kept worrying that there was someone in the house. All Fall Down All Fall Down. When Brandon De Wilde kicks the picture of Warren Beatty and Angela Lansbury grabs it and holds it close, it's so good, you know? Who wrote that movie? Was it the one who committed suicide who was like Tennessee Williams? The one who wrote Picnic Picnic... Inge.... Inge.
Sunday, October 15, 1978 Picked up Bob and we cabbed over to U.N. Plaza for lunch ($2). Truman was in the kitchen. He said that he was cooking but I think everything was actually bought. It was really hot in the kitchen, the oven was on and the sun was pouring in, but nothing was cooking. I think he was actually just in there drinking, pretending pretending to cook. There was a bottle of Stolichnaya in the refrigerator. He offered some to Bob, who had to turn it down, and then he insisted that to cook. There was a bottle of Stolichnaya in the refrigerator. He offered some to Bob, who had to turn it down, and then he insisted that I I have some, and he took one of those double wine gla.s.ses and poured it three-quarters full and then put in a drop of orange juice. I took it but just kept it in my hand. I went to the other room and talked sculpture with Bob MacBride but I kept running into the kitchen to check on Truman. He had some tomatoes sitting around the kitchen. He showed me a pie he'd baked, he said, but I don't think he had. I think it was bought because it had cardboard under it. But he let me take a picture of him holding it, like he had just baked it. He was talking about what a great cook he was, how he'd made veal stew the night before. have some, and he took one of those double wine gla.s.ses and poured it three-quarters full and then put in a drop of orange juice. I took it but just kept it in my hand. I went to the other room and talked sculpture with Bob MacBride but I kept running into the kitchen to check on Truman. He had some tomatoes sitting around the kitchen. He showed me a pie he'd baked, he said, but I don't think he had. I think it was bought because it had cardboard under it. But he let me take a picture of him holding it, like he had just baked it. He was talking about what a great cook he was, how he'd made veal stew the night before.
Eventually he stole my drink. He served black bean soup, and he insisted it had to be served lukewarm, so after all that cooking in the kitchen the soup was cold. And it looked grey. I didn't really eat any of it, but Bob-Bob Colacello-thought it was great. I dumped my bean soup in the bathroom. n.o.body saw me. I had to run around the apartment a little before I finally made it to the bathroom with the soup so they wouldn't notice. Truman was getting more and more loaded. I taped all afternoon. He told us he went one night to Flamingo with Liza and Stevie and there were all these s.e.x acts with boys in cages and they went into the owner's office and it was a really straight-looking guy about thirty-five and Truman asked him, "Why did you start this place?" And before he told us the guy's answer, Truman looked at us and really built it up, he said, "This has got to be the greatest line in history." Then he said, "The guy looks at me and says, 'Sometimes I get h.o.r.n.y.' " And Truman kept repeating that all afternoon and laughing at it (cab $2).
Sunday, October 16, 1978 I was invited to dinner at Le Premier by the daughter of the Bruno Pagliai man who was married to Merle Oberon, Marie-Jose Pagliai (cab uptown, dropped Rupert and Todd $4.50). The invitation said 8:30 so I thought there would be drinks first and I took my time and got there at 9:00, and I was so embarra.s.sed, everyone was sitting down already. Marie-Jose was scared that I wasn't going to show up at all. Andrew Young and his wife were there.
The thing that was most interesting-it was all I could think about once she told me-was Marie-Jose's dogs. She was talking about her black and white scotties and she confessed that the black one was a scottie but that the white one was just a dog done up to look like a matching scottie! She had the hair done that way, she said it was something she'd always wanted.
The dinner party was for Marie's father, Bruno, who never showed up because it was raining.
Tuesday, October 17, 1978 Well, I spent the evening with Dolly Parton. She's a Halston girl now, she's on the arm of Halston.
The Thurn und Taxis guy and Pierre de Malleray picked us up to go downtown to dinner at Ballato's. The Taxis guy got drunk and he told a lot of stories. He's the richest guy in Germany, he's got a great body but his face is a little puffy, he's old. He said some Negroes came up to him by his hotel and started to follow him with a baseball bat, they were calling him a f.a.ggot, and he turned around and said, "Listen here, you black n.i.g.g.e.rs," something like that, he told them off and they were so stunned that they went away. He said you have to fight back or you don't survive.