Chapter 19
Then we left, got a cab, dropped Bob off, and we went to meet Richard Weisman and Catherine at Madison Square Garden where they were going to retire Rod Gilbert's number 7 (cab $7). Catherine has to go to the hospital to have the nerve in one of her hands retied because she still can't feel it. Her mother's coming to town and Catherine hopes she won't notice anything. Only her brothers Valentine and Jasper know what happened.
Monday, October 22, 1979 Priscilla Presley came to the office and we interviewed her. Her boyfriend was with her, Michael Edwards, the model. She admitted she'd never had caviar in all her years with Elvis because he hated fish and would have thrown her out of the house if he saw her eating any. G.o.d, what a beauty. I wonder if she had her nose fixed, though. It looked a little wider in the early pictures you see of her.
Monday, October 29, 1979 I have to do a portrait for the Whitney show, so we thought since it's portraits, I should do myself up in drag. It was Fred's idea. I've got to get Gigi in to do my makeup. And Ronnie's all nervous because he has an art show coming up downtown-he constructs cages as art now.
Tuesday, October 30, 1979 I ran into Juan Hamilton who was coming down to the office later. He and Georgia O'Keeffe are at the Mayfair (cab $3.50). As I got to the office Joseph Beuys, the German artist, was getting out of a car with his children and Heiner Bastion-about eight people. He kissed me on the mouth and I got nervous. I didn't know what to talk to him about. Heiner Friedrich and Philippa de Menil came by. And Robert Hayes had Sally Kellerman and Barry Diller and Barry McKinley there, and there was no room to sit down. And Heiner Bastion said I should photograph Beuys for a portrait. Then I was photographing Georgia and Juan in the back. It's too hard with famous people at the office all at the same time because n.o.body can understand why anybody else is there. I worked until 4:00 with Georgia. Finally they all left.
Later I went to the horse show at Madison Square Garden. I went over with a bunch of horse people to the Statler Hilton for scrambled eggs and bacon, I guess that's what horse people like to eat. It was good. I stole some silverware and then it was embarra.s.sing because it fell out and everybody saw it. It was Statler Hilton silverware from the forties.
At Studio 54 after that I ran into Steve Rubell who said that on Friday he was going to be sentenced to two months in jail, that he'd made a deal with the government-they'd dropped the drug charges and he'd pleaded guilty to income tax evasion. He asked if we'd come and visit him.
Wednesday, October 31, 1979 Bobby Zarem was having a lunch for the photo book-Bob and I ended up calling it Exposures Exposures- at 1:00 at Maxwell's Plum. So I stayed uptown in the morning and then met Elizinha Goncalves and Bob at the Mayfair House and we walked over to Maxwell's Plum and when we were half a block away Bobby Zarem ran toward us and screamed that we were late and how dare we and that people were going to leave. But it was actually good timing that we got there late, because people were waiting to see us. It was crowded, we had to work our way in. Karen Lerner was there filming for the segment she's doing on me for 20/20 20/20. She attached an invisible mike to me so I had to remember to watch what I said. It was a press party and it was basically everybody Bobby wanted to pay back for favors, I guess.
They had big AW initials in ice, three feet high, but it was melting. I didn't eat anything. Everybody got a free book, at least 100 were given out. The waiters stole lots of books and then asked me to autograph them in the kitchen, but I didn't mind because they were nice.
Catherine was asking Steve Rubell personal questions, like, "You mean you actually did did take all that money?" but he didn't seem to care. Now he's saying he made a deal with the IRS where he'll be going to jail for two days a week doing community service-teaching people how to make discotheques on army bases for the soldiers. What a brilliant idea. Next they'll teach them how to be fairies and take drugs, right? take all that money?" but he didn't seem to care. Now he's saying he made a deal with the IRS where he'll be going to jail for two days a week doing community service-teaching people how to make discotheques on army bases for the soldiers. What a brilliant idea. Next they'll teach them how to be fairies and take drugs, right?
Later we went over in a cab to Studio 54. Halloween was so big this year, people were really dressed up in the cars, outfits with lights blinking. At Studio 54 the place was done up just great. You walked in and there were ten doors on each side and you had to go through each one, and there were mice in plastic running under your feet. And another room had a hole and you looked in and there were eight midgets having dinner and you could talk to them. They were eating chicken bones. And then in the next room there were all these rubber gloves and some were real hands. It was better than an art opening, better than a gallery show. There were some other rooms I didn't go into. It was all great. Jammed, wall-to-wall people, beautiful, I don't know where they came from.
And Esme the top model was there with Allen Finkelstein, but I wouldn't have recognized them if Tommy Pashun the florist hadn't told me, because they were dressed as Hasidic Jews, and they said that they were so amazed, that everyone was being so mean to them. A makeup guy at one of the Broadway plays had made them up. Dropped Catherine at 3:00 (cab $3.50).
Thursday, November 1, 1979 Cabbed downtown to Ronnie's art opening ($3). I talked to Larry Rivers. His article on the fifties is on the cover of New York New York. All the sixties regulars were there, like Rene Ricard who doesn't say anything, he just runs around saying things. And Roger Trudeau who said he was an interior decorator now. Then Fred and I had to go to the German emba.s.sy dinner for Beuys.
At dinner I sat with a German girl who'd accosted me on the street earlier for an autograph, so that was funny. We got there a little late and we missed the speech. They said it'd been about excrement, and how Beuys uses it so well.
We were in the papers for the Bobby Zarem thing, a lot of little mentions in Jack Martin and Liz Smith and "Suzy."
Monday, November 12, 1979 Halston had invited me to dinner but then Catherine called and said that Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager wanted to take us to Pearl's first. So I went there. Steve told me that Liza's pregnant and she's going to get married but that it was a big secret. We should have let Steve order because he gets cranky. We ordered while he was in the bathroom, and then n.o.body ate anything. Catherine had a slice of pork, she's got her thin beautiful body back again. I'm down to 132.
Then we left and we got into the car to Halston's. Halston had dinner ready. He took me aside and told me that Liza was pregnant but not to tell anyone, that it was a big secret. Catherine was trying to make out with Ian. And she was drunk, asking Steve again how much he really stole.
Tuesday, December 4, 1979 So tired after three weeks on the road with Bob and Fred to promote the Exposures Exposures book. The tour began so chicly in Was.h.i.+ngton when I sat in President Carter's box at Kennedy Center but it wound up in the gutter on Hollywood Boulevard in that B. Dalton's bookstore that used to be Pickwick Books. While I was signing there a woman with a knife wound in her stomach came in screaming, "This isn't Andy Warhol! I went to bed with Andy Warhol and he's book. The tour began so chicly in Was.h.i.+ngton when I sat in President Carter's box at Kennedy Center but it wound up in the gutter on Hollywood Boulevard in that B. Dalton's bookstore that used to be Pickwick Books. While I was signing there a woman with a knife wound in her stomach came in screaming, "This isn't Andy Warhol! I went to bed with Andy Warhol and he's 7'8 7'8, he can't fit through doors, and he wouldn't be standing here like this in a bookshop because he's too paranoid!" (laughs) (laughs) And that may actually be an accurate quote. And at Neiman-Marcus in Dallas where they had a great party for us in their boiler room, all the kids there said the book was "neat" and "cool." And the Texas people were all so gracious and considerate, they say things like, "It's so kind of you to come all this way to see us." I wish I could talk like that-I can't think of those beautiful lines. Oh, and a big nice man in Dallas even insisted on personally taking us to the discotheque afterwards because, he said, "I'll tell you what, you fellas will need some protection -it's a pret-ty gay atmosphere. Of course, I guess you might be used to it, coming from New York City and all." And we laughed and looked to make sure he was kidding and he wasn't. And that may actually be an accurate quote. And at Neiman-Marcus in Dallas where they had a great party for us in their boiler room, all the kids there said the book was "neat" and "cool." And the Texas people were all so gracious and considerate, they say things like, "It's so kind of you to come all this way to see us." I wish I could talk like that-I can't think of those beautiful lines. Oh, and a big nice man in Dallas even insisted on personally taking us to the discotheque afterwards because, he said, "I'll tell you what, you fellas will need some protection -it's a pret-ty gay atmosphere. Of course, I guess you might be used to it, coming from New York City and all." And we laughed and looked to make sure he was kidding and he wasn't.
Tuesday, December 18, 1979 Had a limo for the day. Picked up Paulette to go to Halston's show. She was stunning, all in a white fur coat. At Halston's I was next to Martha Graham who really looked old for the first time. I guess maybe it's just that she always wears makeup and didn't have any on. The Daily News Daily News took a lot of pictures of me with Liza. I told her that I didn't know what to say about her miscarriage but she said she was okay. took a lot of pictures of me with Liza. I told her that I didn't know what to say about her miscarriage but she said she was okay.
We had lunch at the office for a photographer friend of Alexander Guest's who was going to take pictures of Bob and me afterwards for Penthouse Penthouse. A girl made me and Bob up with black eyes and bleeding lips. It looked good, real. Then they took us down to Avenue C and 4th Street to a school. The whole area looks bombed out. And then the school let ten kids out (laughs) (laughs) to pose as kids who just mugged us. It was so cold. And a kid yelled at me, "Don't go to too many parties." They said they were allowed out of their typing cla.s.ses. I don't know exactly what kind of school it was-they had karate cla.s.ses there, too. The kids were cute. We posed against real graffiti. And I mean, I couldn't believe a school was letting kids out to pose with p.u.s.s.y in to pose as kids who just mugged us. It was so cold. And a kid yelled at me, "Don't go to too many parties." They said they were allowed out of their typing cla.s.ses. I don't know exactly what kind of school it was-they had karate cla.s.ses there, too. The kids were cute. We posed against real graffiti. And I mean, I couldn't believe a school was letting kids out to pose with p.u.s.s.y in Penthouse Penthouse, and then I found out that they weren't even getting paid! And I told the guy in charge he was horrible for not paying them and he got really funny about it but then they took down their names. Then we went back to the office.
Wednesday, December 19, 1979 The ABC 20/20 camera crew was coming to the office to film. I worked until 7:30. Then at home I glued myself together. Bob called and said he was exhausted but he really wanted to go to the Alice Mason dinner, so he picked me up and we walked to 72nd Street and Lexington. I was next to Norris Church Mailer. I told her we were still interested in doing something with her for Interview Interview but she said she'd put on weight and that she really liked eating better than staying thin for modeling. Then we got a cab to El Morocco, Norris and Norman and Bob and me (cab $5). It was a party for Margaux Hemingway's engagement. I ran into Jamie Blandford there and had a fight with him, I don't know why, I just always do, I hope I didn't but she said she'd put on weight and that she really liked eating better than staying thin for modeling. Then we got a cab to El Morocco, Norris and Norman and Bob and me (cab $5). It was a party for Margaux Hemingway's engagement. I ran into Jamie Blandford there and had a fight with him, I don't know why, I just always do, I hope I didn't (laughs) (laughs) offend him. And Mimi Trujillo was there. She was married to the son of that dictator and she's a fas.h.i.+on designer. Victor sees her stuff then tells Halston about it-I mean, she does stuff like Halston, but she does it sort of first. offend him. And Mimi Trujillo was there. She was married to the son of that dictator and she's a fas.h.i.+on designer. Victor sees her stuff then tells Halston about it-I mean, she does stuff like Halston, but she does it sort of first.
Millie and Bill Kaiserman were there. I introduced Norris to them, but I think I did it in a strange way, I guess I said, "This is Norris Church, she wants free clothes." But they should should have good-looking people walking around in their clothes for free. There were lots of funny young people, El Morocco's back on its way again. have good-looking people walking around in their clothes for free. There were lots of funny young people, El Morocco's back on its way again.
Thursday, December 20, 1979 Cabbed to 47th Street ($3). I walked around to the office for the office Christmas party. Then went home and got together. Went to Tom Armstrong's at 72nd and Park, and Leo Castelli was there, and Iris Love and Robert Rosenblum who said he didn't understand why everybody gave my show at the Whitney a bad review. Bobo Le Gendre was there, and I was mean to her because she's so phoney baloney. She's a friend of de Antonio's. She's a carpet heiress. They had shepherd's pie but I'd eaten already.
Then I took John to Richard Weisman's at U.N. Plaza. Ron Duguay was there, and Rod Gilbert came without Judy, and Fred was there, and Whitney Tower, and Averil who was going back to miniskirts, wearing one of her mother's, and she got a hole in it. Peter Beard was there, and Cheryl Tiegs, and I think Duguay finally got hot for Catherine after he was looking at her topless picture in the Exposures Exposures book. Vitas and the cute boy we photographed with him in Paris were there, and John McEnroe. And just when the party was getting good, John Reinhold dragged me into the closet and got so serious. He was just wacko, saying I was his favorite friend and that when I don't call he goes crazy. I don't know what he meant, he was just wacko. book. Vitas and the cute boy we photographed with him in Paris were there, and John McEnroe. And just when the party was getting good, John Reinhold dragged me into the closet and got so serious. He was just wacko, saying I was his favorite friend and that when I don't call he goes crazy. I don't know what he meant, he was just wacko.
Catherine Oxenberg was there, and lots of stewardess-looking girls and when girls get drunk they get obnoxious. I had a limo waiting, so Catherine and I and a couple of the stewardesses got in it and we dropped Catherine, and then me, and I tipped the driver ($40) and he took everyone else home. And I missed Fred Mueller's party and Eleanor Ward's party and Keller Donovan's party and the Rolling Stone Rolling Stone party. party.
Friday, December 21, 1979-New York-Vail, Colorado We got to Denver at 5:30. Catherine and I got drunk on the plane and had fun with a lady who collects big jewelry who used to live in the Ritz Towers. She lost a silver ring on the plane but she didn't care about it because it was just silver. She was on her way to Taos.
There was a kind of van waiting to take us to Vail. A beautiful Redcap girl carried our heavy bags (tip $10).
Got to Jed's house at 7:40. The alt.i.tude really got to me, I got terrible chest pains. I think it's because of when I was shot. It wasn't bad in Denver because Denver's lower, and when I was in Mexico City once I felt it but not this bad. The whole house looks like a big sauna. This is the house Jed bought with Peter and Sandy Brant. It's by Venturi. It's all wood and simple and clean. The second floor is bedrooms. The kitchen is on the third floor, the living room on the fourth. The furniture is all Stickley.
We walked into town to the Left Bank restaurant (drinks $30, dinner $200). Fran and Ray Stark were there, and Bob knows they're Republican so he told Kennedy jokes and he invited them over for c.o.c.ktails Monday. Ray's high on Paul Morrissey, Paul's writing a script for him. I signed the restaurant guest book, and Betty and Gerald Ford were in it and Bob Hope, and then we walked up the hill and it was just horrible, the walk, I felt so light-headed and really really horrible.
Monday, December 24, 1979-Vail Aurora cooked
Tuesday, December 25, 1979-Vail The Fords shake hands with absolutely everybody. Betty Ford doesn't look as good as she did in the photos after her facelift, she just looks sort of the same. But now she's a blonde. Before she had brown hair, didn't she? It's a sort of honey-blonde now. At first I thought it was Mrs. Nixon. Bob wanted to meet them so badly, but he would shove me out first and I would shrink back, so it never happened.
Pa.s.sed out Interviews Interviews, there really were great places to do it. Three people asked for my autograph. Everybody stares at me because I'm wearing my wolf parka by Halston.
We went to a bar that shows ski movies, you drink beer and watch skiers. n.o.body came over and asked for our drink orders, so we didn't drink anything and just watched the movie and then left. We were having dinner with Nan Kempner. I began reading Dress Gray Dress Gray and it had the right names that sounded real. Like the main guy is called Ry. and it had the right names that sounded real. Like the main guy is called Ry.
Wednesday, December 26, 1979-Vail-New York Got home just in time to catch Vincent still at the office, at 6:00. Rupert had gone away for Christmas so he didn't get much done. Talked to John Reinhold and he suggested Trader Vic's to discuss jewelry ideas. Got a cab, thought it would be easier, but then the driver didn't move, he said he was stunned to have me, and he missed the light and I said, "Do you know where you're going?" and he said yes, to the Plaza on 59th and Fifth, but then he missed 59th Street and at 57th Street I gave him $3 and got out quick.
John was already there and then Curley arrived, above the weather, and he wanted to go to Studio 54 around midnight, sort of early (cab $4). Then I got nervous, he said there was a picture of me and Steve Rubell on a couch in New York New York. At Studio 54 Bianca arrived with John Samuels who was home from Harvard for the holidays. He seemed so in love-he's taking her to the sun for a few days.
Thursday, December 27, 1979 Oh, I'm trying to lose weight, and we've got a lot of cheese everywhere. Gael Malkenson's boyfriend imports it so she gets it for us half-price.
Ronnie and Gigi had had a big fight and she packed and left so he was in a bad mood. They fought because he was buying her presents and she didn't have the money to buy him some and she got mad. She's like a bad forties movie.
We got sent a copy of Steven Gaines's book, The Club The Club, the "novel" about Studio 54. And it has a chic Seventh Avenue designer named (laughs) (laughs) "Ellison" who works in the Olympic Tower and who has a Peruvian boyfriend named "Raoul." The names are so bad. "Ellison" who works in the Olympic Tower and who has a Peruvian boyfriend named "Raoul." The names are so bad.
Friday, December 28, 1979 I walked around pa.s.sing out Interviews Interviews and then I cabbed ($3) to 245 Park Avenue for my meeting with Bob Denison to talk about investments. I walked into the building and got the elevator to the twenty-seventh floor, the door opened and I smelled something burning. I walked into Bob's office and he was running around trying to find out if what was burning was one of his machines. Then the secretary came running in and said the building was on fire, that we should leave. and then I cabbed ($3) to 245 Park Avenue for my meeting with Bob Denison to talk about investments. I walked into the building and got the elevator to the twenty-seventh floor, the door opened and I smelled something burning. I walked into Bob's office and he was running around trying to find out if what was burning was one of his machines. Then the secretary came running in and said the building was on fire, that we should leave.
Bob wanted to take the elevator, but I said no, to take the stairs. The exit door was locked. Just like in Towering Inferno Towering Inferno. But we found another exit that wasn't locked and went into the staircase. People said the fire was on the thirty-fifth floor. At the twenty-sixth floor more people got on the stairway and on the twenty-fifth more got on and the twenty-fourth and every floor was the same story. So it was getting slower and slower because there were so many people being added. But n.o.body panicked because we knew the fire was above above us. A couple of people almost fainted, though. When we reached the bottom there were hundreds of people on the street. Bob Denison and I went over to have our meeting at the Trattoria. And I just couldn't believe the way I'd walked into the building and the elevator people just let me go up there when they already knew there was a fire! They us. A couple of people almost fainted, though. When we reached the bottom there were hundreds of people on the street. Bob Denison and I went over to have our meeting at the Trattoria. And I just couldn't believe the way I'd walked into the building and the elevator people just let me go up there when they already knew there was a fire! They must must have known by then! And I could have walked onto the blazing floor. Those elevator people just stand around like morons. have known by then! And I could have walked onto the blazing floor. Those elevator people just stand around like morons.
The man at the Trattoria came over and said that I always used to come there a lot, and what happened to me. I was too nervous to really eat. I just had coffee.
Sat.u.r.day, December 29, 1979 Bianca called and Suzie Frankfurt called, but I couldn't remember their numbers so I didn't call them back. I should really keep an address book. And then I had a gla.s.s of wine or so, and I watched a little TV, and I was tired so I fell asleep.
Monday, December 31, 1979 I decided to make it easy and just go to Halston's for New Year's Eve. I wrapped gifts for Jade. Went over at 10:00. It was small there, black tie. Bob Denison and Jane Holzer were there, so I guess they've made up. Nancy North and Bill Dugan. Victor called from California and said he was having a good time out there. When the New Year came in we did kisses and ate. Dr. Giller was there. It was just so nice. Jade loved all the presents I brought her. Steve Rubell was there. Then at 3:00 Bianca wanted to go to Woody Allen's party at Harkness House on 75th. John Samuels had a car and double-parked.
Woody's was the best party, wall-to-wall famous people, we should have gone earlier. Mia Farrow is so charming and such a beauty. Bobby De Niro was there and he's so fat. Really really fat. I know know he gained weight for the boxing movie, but wouldn't it be funny if he could never lose it? He looks so ugly. He must be crazy, because he's he gained weight for the boxing movie, but wouldn't it be funny if he could never lose it? He looks so ugly. He must be crazy, because he's really really fat. fat.
Mick came in with Jerry, and Bianca ran over and was charming. I don't know how she did it but she got it over with, she broke the ice, they talked for about half an hour. She wanted to get Jerry nervous, which she did. Mick shaved off his beard so he looks really good.
We went over to Studio 54 and the look was "ice." Ice wall-to-wall and dripping down the walls. Then Steve said, "Let's go down to the bas.e.m.e.nt," so we did. He just about said, "Anybody have any cocaine?" He wanted it to be like the good old days. It was so filthy down there, with the garbage and everything. Winnie was there, without Tom Sullivan-she said he's in Hawaii.
Then upstairs Duguay and the other hockey guy came in and I was trying to introduce them to Marina Schiano, but they said their real girlfriends were there, from Minnesota or Indianapolis or something, so they couldn't do anything. Then it was 6 A.M A.M. and Marina and I left, and there was a riot outside, people still wanting to get in. Jack Hofsiss who directed Elephant Man Elephant Man went by in a limo and gave us a ride, there were about twenty boys in it. And I got out at Marina's, because I knew if I stayed in it they'd invite me to go with them, and I wanted to get up and go to work. went by in a limo and gave us a ride, there were about twenty boys in it. And I got out at Marina's, because I knew if I stayed in it they'd invite me to go with them, and I wanted to get up and go to work.
Marina invited me up for pizza and I went. I always hear that she gets the best food from all over the city, that she has the people who work for her bring salami from Brooklyn and pizza from Queens and things like that, so I wanted to try it out. It was sort of good, a really cheap kind of pizza, all dough and a little ketchup and a little cheese. Like the cheese doesn't come away when you eat it, there's not much. And when I was there I noticed that she had a pile of food on the stove, and she said it was for good luck, you're supposed to have it piled on the stove on New Year's. So I was there and we talked, and she was asking me about my house, and I told her how much it cost to run it, and she felt that I was being "real" and that she'd really gotten something out of me and that this meant we were friends or something, I don't know. I was waiting for it to get light out, and it never did. I mean, it was 6:30 and it was still dark, and I thought the sun came up at 6:00, but I guess that last year when I left and it was light out it was 7:00, not 6:00.
Tuesday, January 1, 1980 Got up late, at 11:00, but I hadn't drunk so it wasn't so bad. I glued myself and got Rupert on the phone. He said he'd come in to work at 12:00.
I brought Interviews Interviews with me but I had a hard time pa.s.sing them out because n.o.body was around. Got to the office and worked for three or four hours, and then went down to Heiner Friedrich's gallery where they were doing a repeat of Walter de Maria's Dirt show (cab $3). Robert Rosenblum was there with his new baby and he had it with a cloth around it. It was the same show, but with new black dirt filling the gallery up. with me but I had a hard time pa.s.sing them out because n.o.body was around. Got to the office and worked for three or four hours, and then went down to Heiner Friedrich's gallery where they were doing a repeat of Walter de Maria's Dirt show (cab $3). Robert Rosenblum was there with his new baby and he had it with a cloth around it. It was the same show, but with new black dirt filling the gallery up.
Later, sat around at home and worked. Marina called and said to come over and have the food that was piled on her stove the night before, gallons and gallons. So I did, and it was just the kind of food I wanted-parsnips and leeks and things like that. Walked over there. John Bowes-Lyons was there, I brought a present for him because the other night he'd said that he was bringing one for me, but he must have just done that so I'd bring him something, because he just had an old tie for me, he's so terrible.
Wednesday, January 2, 1980 Gigi came by 860 and she did a really good job with the makeup on me, but the wig she got wasn't good. This is for the Whitney poster. Ronnie was out sick. Gigi told me that she's pregnant and that if Ronnie wants the baby she'll stay in New York and they'll have it, but if he doesn't she'll get a divorce and leave.
Whitney Tower called and said that Kenneth Anger threw paint at Fred's door up on 89th and Lex again. He must think I still live there-he's been saying I'm the Devil or something, I don't know what his problem is.
Thursday, January 3, 1980 I wandered around, pa.s.sing out Interviews Interviews (cab $3.50, art supplies $54.88). Cabbed to Union Square and then walked to office. Lunch was for Lewis Allen the producer and somebody who works with him, and I'd invited Princess Pignatelli and her husband when we'd run into them at Mr. Chow's. And Bianca called and said she was coming down with John Samuels to meet Lewis Allen. (cab $3.50, art supplies $54.88). Cabbed to Union Square and then walked to office. Lunch was for Lewis Allen the producer and somebody who works with him, and I'd invited Princess Pignatelli and her husband when we'd run into them at Mr. Chow's. And Bianca called and said she was coming down with John Samuels to meet Lewis Allen.
Lewis Allen was seeing me because he wants to produce a Broadway "evening" with me, like an "evening" with the Beatles, you know? One where I sit and read from the Philosophy Philosophy book. In the sixties Lewis Allen tried to buy the rights to book. In the sixties Lewis Allen tried to buy the rights to Clockwork Orange Clockwork Orange for us to make into a movie. He produced for us to make into a movie. He produced Annie Annie and things, and his wife is Jay Presson Allen, she writes screenplays like and things, and his wife is Jay Presson Allen, she writes screenplays like Funny Lady Funny Lady.
Friday, January 4, 1980 Stayed uptown because I was taking Bianca to meet my agent Joan Hyler, who's also John Samuels's agent-the four of us for lunch at the Russian Tea Room. I picked up Bianca and we cabbed over ($3). The Weissberger guy was there with Anita Loos, Maureen Stapleton, and Imogene Coca, and that was thrilling, seeing queens of comedy. Frank Perry was there, a little fatter. Oh, and John doesn't use the name Samuels. He's "John Stockwell" now-Stockwell's his middle name and that's what he's decided to use for his acting career. It was funny to hear him being introduced to people that way. And I didn't recognize that it was John in the new Armani ad. They saw him in Interview Interview and asked him to be in their ad. and asked him to be in their ad.
And Joan told me she had a part for me in The Fan The Fan-a walk-on in the party scene. She's a camp. She said she's a good agent because she knows what she wants and makes quick decisions. I guess people really act like what they are-agents act like agents and actors act like actors... Oh but I guess artists act like artists.
I went to Union Square (cab $3). I worked all afternoon with Rupert. Worked till 8:00. It was snowing and it was startling to see snow, and it was pretty, it was nice, sticking.
Sat.u.r.day, January 5, 1980 Worked all afternoon until 6:00 on the German ladies and some backgrounds and the Jewish Geniuses. John Samuels invited us to the ballet with his father who's chairman of the board at City Center. Got to the theater and we had good seats in the grand tier or the dress circle. Peter Martins danced and he was good. Bought drinks at intermission ($20). Mr. Samuels took us backstage and the girl who didn't marry Balanchine was there. What's her name? Sh.e.l.ly? s.h.i.+rley? Suzy? It was fun.
Went to the Russian Tea Room for dinner ($210).
Monday, January 7, 1980 Walked over to Doc c.o.x's for my yearly checkup. Took some Interviews Interviews with me for the reception room. Talked to Rosemary. She and Doc c.o.x were fighting while she took my blood, she was complaining that she wanted a career change but that she was too old to train to be a brain specialist. I told her she should go into fas.h.i.+on, do makeup. I was there till 2:00, and then I wandered around with some with me for the reception room. Talked to Rosemary. She and Doc c.o.x were fighting while she took my blood, she was complaining that she wanted a career change but that she was too old to train to be a brain specialist. I told her she should go into fas.h.i.+on, do makeup. I was there till 2:00, and then I wandered around with some Interviews Interviews for a while. Cabbed to Union Square ($5) and walked to office. for a while. Cabbed to Union Square ($5) and walked to office.
Got the newspapers. The Russians are invading Afghanistan.
Tuesday, January 8, 1980 Suzie Frankfurt came down with Gianni Versace, and Jane Forth was there to do the makeup on him. I photographed him for an hour. A German from Stern Stern called and I gave him a phone interview. Bianca just dropped John Samuels and he's crushed. called and I gave him a phone interview. Bianca just dropped John Samuels and he's crushed.
Wednesday, January 9, 1980 I was dropping Catherine off after dinner and we saw two limousines out in front of Halston's, so we decided to crash. Inside it was just Steve Rubell with a cold, Halston with a cold, and Bianca with a cold. They were going to Studio 54 and they made us come with them.
Studio 54 was empty, but fun. Sly Stallone was there, looking around the place for how to shoot a movie there. Susan Anton wasn't with him, he was after Bianca and it seemed like they were going to go f.u.c.k in the bas.e.m.e.nt. Anyway, they disappeared, we couldn't find them. Stallone looks good, he's lost weight and he looks really handsome.
Friday, January 11, 1980 Thomas Ammann had invited us to La Grenouille for a 10:00 dinner. Bianca was supposed to meet us there, but she never came, and Mary Richardson had called and I guess was hinting that she wanted me to invite John Samuels, but I didn't get the hint, she should have just said something. It was confusing, everyone was playing different games.
Then Catherine arrived with our art dealer Heiner Bastion. She'd taken him to the tennis matches for me, and when they came in I just accidentally said something like she hadn't had the good seats for him, and she was upset and actually cried a little, saying, "I took your friend your friend to the matches and now you're ruining his whole evening saying I didn't have good seats." But I think she was just upset because McEnroe lost. to the matches and now you're ruining his whole evening saying I didn't have good seats." But I think she was just upset because McEnroe lost.
Sat.u.r.day, January 12, 1980 Ran into Peter Beard and Cheryl Tiegs on the way to Le Club and they gave me a ride. Cheryl was in a cast, she'd fallen down in Montauk, and I bet Peter pushed her. I had a fight with Peter in the car-it was his car-we were talking and he said that "everything is coming down." And I said that Cheryl should look more glamorous and beautiful when she goes out if she's going to be the number-one top beauty in the world. She looked good, but plain. She wears the worst, funny clothes.
Sunday, January 13, 1980 Got up early, dead tired. Catherine called and wanted to go to the matches but I was tired and they make me too nervous. Went to church.
I took a gallbladder pill with wine, you're supposed to take it with water, and I wasn't supposed to eat anything for twenty hours before going to the doctor, which I was doing at 9:00 on Monday morning.
Monday, January 14, 1980 Up at 8:00 to glue myself for my appointment with Doc c.o.x. Went over there. He and Rosemary were fighting again. The waiting room was rich ladies like Dorothy Hammerstein. The fat girl gave me my X-ray but she couldn't find the gallstones. So I took the white stuff and sat around and waited. I took a new breathing test where you blow in a container that goes around in a circle. I was finished by 11:00 (cab $4). Went to the office to meet with David and Sam Aaron who own Sherry-Lehmann, the liquor store. They want a portrait of a bottle of wine.
Then two guys from the IRS came in, and they were really horrible, screaming and carrying on and saying they wanted to see me, and I hid in Fred's office area. There was a tall one who was really horrible and a short one who said he liked my paintings, telling me how good they were. But the tall one was terrible and rude. We called Bob Montgomery our lawyer, who was coming down for a 5:00 meeting. He said not to talk to them.
By this time they said that what they were after was Rupert Smith. Fred said I still shouldn't talk to them. The little one was trying to get me to say something. Finally they gave me a summons and left. They just want records, cancelled checks or something. They were rude and awful, though. And Bob Montgomery cancelled and rescheduled.
Tuesday, January 15, 1980 Lewis Allen came by to talk about the musical-he wants to have puppets on stage with a recording of my voice saying things from one of the books-the Philosophy Philosophy book or book or Popism Popism.
Interviewed Ron Duguay for three hours and then we brought him to Halston's for a dinner for Martha Graham. Victor is back living at the house now, I think he sold his loft. Steve Rubell was there, and they were supposed to sentence him, but they postponed it, he said, because they want him to testify in court that Hamilton Jordan was at Studio 54 taking c.o.ke and he said he wouldn't, and Halston said, "But you already said it on TV," and Steve said, "Yeah, but that's not the same as saying it on a Bible," and I mean, I agree-it's not.
Thursday, January 17, 1980 Interview gave a screening gave a screening of American Gigolo of American Gigolo at the Gulf + Western building (cab $4.50). Richard Gere was really good and Lauren Hutton was great. She's a senator's wife who gives the hustler his murder alibi. Richard Gere has a s.e.x scene where you see him completely nude. Nando did the art direction and at the end of the movie there's a scene where a pimp is being thrown off a balcony by Richard Gere and you see my three posters in the background, the Torsos. The scene is played against them. at the Gulf + Western building (cab $4.50). Richard Gere was really good and Lauren Hutton was great. She's a senator's wife who gives the hustler his murder alibi. Richard Gere has a s.e.x scene where you see him completely nude. Nando did the art direction and at the end of the movie there's a scene where a pimp is being thrown off a balcony by Richard Gere and you see my three posters in the background, the Torsos. The scene is played against them.
After the movie I dropped Catherine, but right when I did, Halston's limo pulled up and he and Bianca said they were going to Studio 54 for Steve Rubell's farewell party before his sentencing, so my cab followed their limo ($3.50). When we got there we stood around, and they were taking pictures. Halston was smart, he disappeared, but I didn't realize what was going on. It was really crowded and it was early. I dropped Catherine off at 2:00. Somebody said that they'd put locks on Steve's safety-deposit boxes.
Friday, January 18, 1980 Steve and Ian got three and a half years each.
Monday, January 21, 1980 I tried to find new s.p.a.ces in the back of 860 for Interview Interview so they can expand their office s.p.a.ce. Bob says they need more because it's hard to lie to advertisers when other people are listening. But I don't think that's what's hard to do with other people listening. I think what it's hard to do with other people listening is make personal phone calls. so they can expand their office s.p.a.ce. Bob says they need more because it's hard to lie to advertisers when other people are listening. But I don't think that's what's hard to do with other people listening. I think what it's hard to do with other people listening is make personal phone calls.
Rupert came by and he'd made the Shadows two inches smaller than I'd said to-he just decided he would-and he had no right to do that and I screamed at him and now the stretchers have to be smaller.
Tuesday, January 22, 1980 Worked in the back on the Beuys portrait. Ronnie was going around saying that he hated himself and that he was going to go with Brigid to the A.A. meeting on Park Avenue that she was going to. And Gigi called and said she wants a divorce. She told him that she'd had an abortion. That's what she told him, but you can't tell with these girls. Who knows if she was ever really pregnant.
Thursday, January 24, 1980 Victor Bockris came over with William Burroughs. I introduced Bianca to William Burroughs. Bianca's hair is really short now, like a crewcut, it looks terrible. Jade was painting in the back with me and she sat on her first painting. I gave her some diamond dust to throw on the canvas.
Friday, January 25, 1980 Marina Schiano called about the dinner Mica Ertegun was giving that night. It got complicated because Bianca wanted to come but at first she didn't want to come if Mick was going to be there and then she did did want to come if Mick was going to be there-it was complicated. want to come if Mick was going to be there-it was complicated.
Glued myself together. Catherine said we could go to Halston's and go from there. He had a limo. Bianca got a call in the middle of getting ready from some friend of hers who said that on cable channel C they were doing my astrology chart, so we turned it on and it was a like a maharajah doing my chart and saying funny things from newspaper clippings, and it was so weird. He looked like Jerry Colonna. Or like Gene Shalit, but Indian. I didn't want to watch it, it was too weird. There he was doing my chart with two girls discussing it, it was really nutty.
Then we went to the Erteguns' and it was great. Mick was there. Jerry's out of town. And it was like he and Bianca were courting. They were together flirting. Bianca was touching him, it was exciting. Bianca had called Bob and made him get John Samuels invited for after dinner, to get Mick jealous, I guess, but Mick was being so nice to her that when John Samuels called there, she told him he couldn't come because Mick was there and it would get "complicated."
Then we went back to Halston's house and Bob threw up in Halston's sink, he'd had too much to drink. Then Bianca said she'd take him home, and after an hour she still wasn't back. So we went out to see where the car was, and we couldn't believe our eyes-the driver was getting out of the back of the limousine, and about half a minute later, Bianca got out. And she looked dazed. I mean, she could could have been asleep. But was she giving him a b.l.o.w..j.o.b? Was he going down on her? Was he trying to rob her? We didn't know. Barbara had said that Bianca probably went to see Mick who'd left before her. But it was too weird. We were stunned. And the driver wasn't good-looking or anything, so we just couldn't figure it out. have been asleep. But was she giving him a b.l.o.w..j.o.b? Was he going down on her? Was he trying to rob her? We didn't know. Barbara had said that Bianca probably went to see Mick who'd left before her. But it was too weird. We were stunned. And the driver wasn't good-looking or anything, so we just couldn't figure it out.
Sat.u.r.day, January 26, 1980 John Samuels is going to California, he was upset because Bianca told him not to come and pick her up the night before. Bianca said she might go back to London.
I dropped Rupert (cab $3.50). I glued myself together and called "Suzy," the columnist-Aileen Mehle-and asked if she wanted to walk to the Metropolitan Club, and she said, "Walk? What do you mean, 'walk'?" And I didn't have a car, so I went out and hunted for a cab and it was hard to get one. Then when I got to her building I had my contacts in, so I couldn't see which bell to ring (cab $5). We were going to what used to be called the Diamond Ball until one of the ladies coming home from it got robbed of her diamonds, so now it's called the Winter Party. It's for some kind of international education for kids, I think-a benefit. It was so many old fogies, "Suzy" said she hadn't been to it in five years and that now she knew why.
Frolic Weymouth from the Brandywine Museum was there with a lady who looked just like all those D.A.R. ladies. "Suzy" said she really needed a drink. The old fogies were coming over and saying who'd just died. That day. We were at a table with the Zilkhas and an amba.s.sador from Turkey. Then "Suzy" wanted to leave. She agreed to walk home. She said that I had to come and have Chinese vodka with her. Someday.
Monday, January 28, 1980 Got up, it was a nice cold New York day. I did my work at home, made calls on the phone (cab $4). Walked over to the office. It looks like the construction on the "Underground" discotheque is almost finished. (laughs) (laughs) The Underground, I'm not kidding, that's what they're calling it. They're making it look like a fortress. They're putting in the big air-conditioning machines. I hear it's the same people who had Infinity which burned to the ground. The Underground, I'm not kidding, that's what they're calling it. They're making it look like a fortress. They're putting in the big air-conditioning machines. I hear it's the same people who had Infinity which burned to the ground.
I sent "Suzy" some flowers for being my date the other night.
Wednesday, January 30, 1980 Went to Joanne Wins.h.i.+p's for dinner (cab $2). Went to 417 Park Avenue, a building I didn't even know was there. It's the only building below 57th Street on Park where people still live now, it's on the corner of 55 th.
Patrice Munsel was singing at the piano with a vice-president from Benton & Bowles. She wore an outrageous hat and I've never seen anything like it-like two big Mickey Mouse ears. Mary McFadden was there with a boyfriend, a German boy who was just so good-looking. The big star of the evening was Polly Bergen, she lives in New York again, and we did the running routine about Barry Landau of "How's your friend?" "I thought he was your your friend." "He's not friend." "He's not my my friend, I thought he was friend, I thought he was your your friend." Barry's been calling the office but they tell him automatically that I'm out. friend." Barry's been calling the office but they tell him automatically that I'm out.
And Joanne Wins.h.i.+p has that tough society voice that just drives you up the wall! She talks nonstop and it makes you crazy. And Mr. Wins.h.i.+p works for a.s.sociated Press. And he looks like Mr. Milquetoast, he has that shape and he's so calm. I went to this dinner because I just really wanted to because Joanne's so nutty that I knew I would love it.
Thursday, January 31, 1980 Picked up Ina Ginsburg to go with her and her son Mark to see A Lady from Dubuque A Lady from Dubuque, the new Edward Albee play opening with Irene Worth. The play is three couples, arguing a lot. Irene was really good, but somehow she just can't get a big hit. One of the best lines in the play was when somebody says, "How can you have that Jasper Johns on the wall?" and the big black guy says, "It's better than having a c.r.a.ppy Andy Warhol," and everybody turned around to look at me.
Friday, February 1, 1980 I was going to Diane Von Furstenberg's birthday party for Barry Diller. I'd invited Catherine, and we were picking up Truman, too. He's like a different person now, he's very distant, not friendly. He said he'd have something for Interview's Interview's April issue. I tried to tape him, but he didn't have anything to say. It's strange, he's like one of those people from outer s.p.a.ce-the body s.n.a.t.c.hers-because it's the same person, but it's not the same person. And he's looking older, he either gained weight or lost it or something, but he isn't thinking about the way he looks. I can't figure it out. April issue. I tried to tape him, but he didn't have anything to say. It's strange, he's like one of those people from outer s.p.a.ce-the body s.n.a.t.c.hers-because it's the same person, but it's not the same person. And he's looking older, he either gained weight or lost it or something, but he isn't thinking about the way he looks. I can't figure it out.
We got to Diane Von Furstenberg's. Diana Ross was there, she looked great. Diana Vreeland was there, too, and Diana-she's getting too tough to talk to.
Richard Gere was there, and everyone was talking about the Vincent Canby putdown of American Gigolo of American Gigolo in the in the Times Times. But he said he was cheered up because there were lines around the block, so maybe it'll be a hit.
Paul Schrader was there, and Catherine got a thing for him and stayed after I left, but then it turned out she only stayed just a little bit, so nothing happened with that. Berry and Tony Perkins were there. Mr. and Mrs. Helen Gurley Brown were there and she got Truman into a corner. He left the party early, he said he was (laughs) (laughs) tired of people telling him their personal lives. tired of people telling him their personal lives.
Monday, February 4, 1980 I had to rush down to the office at 11:30. Jean Kennedy Smith was going to be there with Kerry Kennedy to pick out Ted Kennedy campaign posters (cab $4). Had to be photographed, they had the whole press there.
Sunday, February 10, 1980-Zurich At the Dolder Grand Hotel Bruno Bischofberger woke us up at 11:30. He was waiting to take Fred and me to my first portrait job. We went to this small little house-it was like going into some Lower East Side house-and there was a mother and three children and Fred said one of them was really cute, but I didn't notice. They had corduroy pants on and torn s.h.i.+rts. Fred asked for orange juice and they gave him canned orange juice. The mother was just a little mother. The furniture was old and worn. There was not one thing in the place that looked rich. It looked so poor I just wanted to give them the portrait free. They were very nice but I just couldn't believe they could afford this. We were all stunned, but Bruno was saying you can't tell about the Swiss, the Swiss hide all their money.