Chapter 2
Dinner at Nadja's house. There were sixty people. The best party the whole trip. She had eight or ten brothers and a mother and sisters and all the men dance together, looks like the twist. The food was really good. Then men began dancing with Fred. Someone gave him $40 for dancing so well. Had to stay until everybody left-2:30. James admired somebody's robe and they gave it to him. Jed admired someone's nose ring and he got it. I didn't know about the custom, so I didn't get anything.
Thursday, January 20, 1977-Kuwait-Rome Alitalia flight. Five and a half hours. Read the Rome Daily American Daily American. Carter inaugurated. Disgusting drunks on the plane. Airport empty, disorganized. While standing there ran into Marina Cicogna and Florinda Bolkan coming from St. Moritz (cab to the Grand Hotel $20). Hotel suite wasn't ready so we had to have lunch in the dining room. While we were there we ran into Helmut Newton and Patrick the makeup artist. And Suni Agnelli came in.
Had the suite Man Ray stayed in, he just died-he'd had a big opening in Rome right before. Fred said to forget what he'd said about me being a fading star in Germany, he sobered up, said that I didn't have to go.
Sunday, January 23, 1977-Paris Up at 10:00. Staying at Fred's apartment. Made a lunch date with Peter Beard. Went out shopping and ran into Mick Jagger.
Went to Schiaparelli's show (cab $3). They gave us a good seat and lots of attention. The show was awful, based on "The Three Graces" by Botticelli. One dress was worth $2 million or something and the best thing was the armed guards around it.
Monday, January 24, 1977-Paris People kept coming in and out of the apartment all day starting at 5:00. Mick arrived so drunk from an afternoon with Peter Beard and Francis Bacon that he fell asleep on my bed. At 11:00 we tried to wake him up but he was too asleep. Club Sept ($120) with Peter and Mona Christiansen and Jed (cab $2, back $2).
Sat.u.r.day, January 29, 1977-New York-Nashville Catherine off the plane first, given a bouquet, and then everyone was. About eight cheerleaders were there to greet us in blue outfits with "W" on them, pom-pom girls, doing Warhol-Wyeth cheers.
Staying with a guy named Martin and his wife Peggy who are the Jack Daniel's people.
Went backstage at the Grand Ole Opry, went into the dressing room. Marty Robbins was practicing.
Sunday, January 30, 1977-Nashville The museum opening of the portraits by Jamie and me was at 6:00. The tour organizer took Catherine and me around the Fine Arts Center at Cheekwood. We tried to grab hot dogs, we were so hungry, but he whisked us away. There was a staircase there brought from England. The popcorn machine was at the top of it and Catherine and I went to get some, we were eating and talking and we noticed that the stairs were lined with people and then we realized that they were lined up because they thought it was a receiving line to meet me, because they saw me at the top. We filled up some bags with popcorn and tried to get out, but then someone asked for some and I gave them a bag, and then I wound up giving autographs for an hour and a half. Then dinner was served.
A few of the locals came, and Don Johnson, that cute actor we know from Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart, he's a friend of Phil Walden's.
Suzie Frankfurt came down to Nashville to social-climb. She'd pre-written thank-you notes before she even got there and she made out well, she got on the front page with me instead of Catherine who didn't step forward fast enough.
Monday, January 31, 1977-Nashville-New York Vincent heard that Joe Dallesandro's [see Introduction] [see Introduction] foster mother died on Long Island last week. This is two weeks after his brother Bobby died, and Joe's still here in this country-he hasn't gone back to Europe yet. foster mother died on Long Island last week. This is two weeks after his brother Bobby died, and Joe's still here in this country-he hasn't gone back to Europe yet.
Worked until 7:30. Went to Regine's. Warren Beatty was there looking a little older and heavier. Jack Nicholson was there looking a little older and heavier. Anjelica Huston and Apollonia the model were there. I like Apollonia now, she's really sweet. And Catherine Deneuve was there, who the party was for. Warren was dating Iman, the black model.
Barbara Allen and her beau Philip Niarchos were there and James Brady and the Women's Wear Daily Women's Wear Daily guy, Coady. He was carrying on at Barbara and Philip's table and Philip was trying to be charming, and Coady was with a beautiful girl-I couldn't figure out how he would be-and they left early. Barbara Allen came over and told me that Coady had been saying, "I hate everything here. I hate Jack Nicholson, I hate Warren Beatty, I hate Andy Warhol, I hate Diana Vreeland, and most of all I hate James Brady." guy, Coady. He was carrying on at Barbara and Philip's table and Philip was trying to be charming, and Coady was with a beautiful girl-I couldn't figure out how he would be-and they left early. Barbara Allen came over and told me that Coady had been saying, "I hate everything here. I hate Jack Nicholson, I hate Warren Beatty, I hate Andy Warhol, I hate Diana Vreeland, and most of all I hate James Brady."
Oh and the food. He also hated the food.
Philip was drinking and getting cuter. Barbara really seems like she wants to get married, I think she wants to have children with him.
Ruth Kligman had called me that afternoon and I told her I was seeing Jack Nicholson and would talk to him about starring in the Jackson Pollock movie. She asked me if I could take her to meet Jack and I said no. (laughs) (laughs) I wouldn't take her I wouldn't take her anywhere anywhere after reading her book. She actually killed Pollock, she was driving him so nuts. after reading her book. She actually killed Pollock, she was driving him so nuts.
A fifteen-year-old girl Philip knew from St. Moritz was there with her father and she was talking to Philip and Barbara was nervous because when you saw them together you could really see that girls like Barbara and Apollonia had lived-they looked old-and this fifteen-year-old's charm was that she was so young and like a little girl, like she hadn't been used yet.
Jack stopped by the table and I said I was going to send Ruth Kligman's book and he said she'd already called him.
Tuesday, February 1, 1977 Joe Dallesandro came by 860 for lunch. I asked him how his brother Bobby had really died, and he finally changed it from the "accident" he said it was originally to what really happened. Bobby hung himself. Joe was quiet at lunch.
Finally got to bed early for a night. The cold wave is the big news. And the gas shortage they're playing up.
Wednesday, February 2, 1977 Ronnie and I had a fight. He was upset when I said I didn't want the Hammers & Sickles cut and stretched the way he'd done them while I was away, and he said that he'd done all the work for nothing. I asked him what he would have been doing if he hadn't been doing that, anyway, so what did it matter if it wasn't necessary. I said I never know what I want until I see what I don't want, and then he said well then that was okay if I "bounced off that," that it was worth the effort, that he just resented it if he'd done it for absolutely no reason.
Worked late, didn't leave until around 7:30. Talked to PH about Popism Popism, she told me about her interviews with Jonas Mekas and Kenny Jay Lane the day before. Jonas had been good, Kenny was lousy.
Dropped Catherine off (cab $3). Went home and did some work, then at 11:00 Catherine and I went over to Regine's to interview Michael Jackson of the Jackson 5. He's very tall now, but he has a really high voice. He had a big guy with him, maybe a bodyguard, and the girl from The Wiz The Wiz. The whole situation was funny because Catherine and I didn't know anything about Michael Jackson, really, and he didn't know anything about me-he thought I was a poet or something like that. So he was asking questions that n.o.body who knew me would ask-like if I was married, if I had any kids, if my mother was alive...(laughs) I told him, "She's in a home."[see I told him, "She's in a home."[see Introduction] Introduction]
We tried to get Michael to dance and at first he wouldn't but then he and the girl from The Wiz The Wiz got up and did one dance. got up and did one dance.
Thursday, February 3, 1977-New York-Denver At the airport in the morning I ran into Jean Smith, who was on the same flight. She was with her son, who was sort of big and heavy. She asked about Jamie Wyeth. In Denver there was a blonde girl driving a Rolls Royce, she had on a chauffeur's cap and gave a tour of the city. Dropped us at the Brown Palace Hotel, an old hotel with a new annex but I decided to stay in the old part. The lobby looked better than the room, service very fast, lots of extras like showercaps, a new TV, and soap. Room had a basket of fruit. I called my nephew Father Paul and said I'd meet him the next day at my opening. Picked up at 6:30 for the preview for the patrons. Fred got really drunk. He got mad at some tough ninety-year-old lady and told her that he was only there for the money, honey, and I tried to shut him up, but he just hated the whole thing so much, and he decided that next time I did personal appearances he would stipulate that they had to buy something. All the women too ugly for portraits.
Friday, February 4, 1977- Denver Weather beautiful, fifty or fifty-five, blue skies. Tried to walk as much as possible. Walked to museum at 2:00, had to do some press interviews. They were boring.
The opening was at 7:00 but we decided to go at 8:00. We were getting the Rolls Royce again. At 7:30 Father Paul arrived and my niece Eva. Ordered double drinks and Father Paul got a little high and they wanted to ride with me so they got into the Rolls Royce, full of girls. Father Paul tried to convert them. Crowded at the museum. Dreadful dinner, sold Interview Interview s.h.i.+rts and s.h.i.+rts and Philosophy Philosophy books and posters. books and posters.
Got handed some mash poems.
At 10:00 they let the $10 people in, they were all the freaks of Denver, a lot of cute boys and nutty girls.
Sunday, February 6, 1977-Carbondale, Colorado-Denver Went with John and Kimiko Powers to the forty acres I bought out near Aspen. Ran into two girls on the property riding horses. They said it was the most wonderful country they'd ever spent time in.
Caught a flight to Denver. Took forty minutes. Checked into the Stouffer Hotel near the airport.
At 3:00 in the morning thought I heard the doork.n.o.b being turned-it was the little brats in the room next door listening to TV. Scary.
Monday, February 7, 1977-Denver-New York Woke up at the crack of dawn, went to the airport. There was a guy cleaning the windows of the plane as I was going on, and some people can just look up and say, "Hi, Andy" so casually, and he was great, he did that. Later he came to find us and asked for an autograph for his high school teacher.
Cab in from the airport ($20). Dropped off the bags and Fred (called Vincent from the airport $.10). Sent Ronnie for supplies ($10.80). Went to 860 (cab $4). Jamie Wyeth was there, talked to him (tea $10). Lester Persky called to invite me to dinner in honor of James Brady, who's the new editor of New York New York.
Geraldine Stutz was there. It turns out she's on the same council as Jamie, the American Council for the Arts, that gives money to artists. I think it's disgusting the artists they give the money to. They always pick the ones that are very "serious." Walter Cronkite was there.
Lester started getting drunk and was really funny, telling me how great it was that we were still friends, even though he'd never done anything for me and never would. And then he did his "I'm so rich now and I'm still unhappy" routine. Really, does he do it at every dinner every night? He must.
A famous male model came and sat down, from Zoli. He'd just had a baby in Alaska. I met the editor of the Daily News Daily News, Michael O'Neal. I'd never met him in all these years, and I was thrilled to meet him. When I found out the guy knew all about Interview Interview, I really loved him. He was big and Irish with lots of hair, grey. I introduced Catherine as the "editor" of Interview Interview just so they could talk, but she was being in a funny mood and didn't really answer his questions. Jamie Wyeth had gone off to Elaine's. Catherine said she wanted to take a cab home. She must have made a date with someone, maybe Jamie. just so they could talk, but she was being in a funny mood and didn't really answer his questions. Jamie Wyeth had gone off to Elaine's. Catherine said she wanted to take a cab home. She must have made a date with someone, maybe Jamie.
An English kid came over from the bar where he'd just been talking with Lester Persky and asked if Lester was really the the Lester Persky the big producer, and I Lester Persky the big producer, and I (laughs) (laughs) had to say yes. had to say yes.
Larry Freeberg from Metromedia who first proposed
Tuesday, February 8, 1977 Leo Lerman called in the afternoon and commissioned a portrait for Vogues Vogues one-time-use only of Queen Elizabeth. one-time-use only of Queen Elizabeth.
Friday, February 11, 1977 Cabbed up to Suzie Frankfurt's and there was a lot of traffic ($5). Suzie is designing clothes for women who're over the hill, and it's a funny idea, they're the wrong colors and they emphasize the wrong places, she's going to try to to get into that business on Seventh Avenue and she's also trying to go into antiques as a business. She's going to go with us to California on Wednesday- Norton Simon, remember, is her cousin. get into that business on Seventh Avenue and she's also trying to go into antiques as a business. She's going to go with us to California on Wednesday- Norton Simon, remember, is her cousin.
Wednesday, February 16, 1977-New York-Los Angeles Arrived in sunny California. Dropped Suzie Frankfurt off at the Simons' on Sunset Boulevard in glamorous Beverly Hills. Called the Beverly Hills Hotel but they were out of rooms so we had to stay at the Beverly Wils.h.i.+re. Catherine called her half-uncle Erskine who was in town, he's just a little bit younger than she is. He's been traveling around the world all year with his cousin Miranda Guinness, the twin sister of Sabrina. Went to Allan Carr's. He has a great house. As soon as we got there he wanted us to leave because he was having a dinner and his guests were arriving and when we turned the corner Jed and Catherine almost fainted because they saw the Fonz sitting there. Allan gave us a tour of the house, he said Ingrid Bergman built it and Kim Novak lived there after her. Took us to every bathroom and closet, showed us how the bed went up and down like a barber chair. Meanwhile Suzie was talking to the Fonz. She asked him what he did, he said he was "An Olympic swimmer," and Suzie was so excited because she'd "never met one before"-she kept asking him what year and if he knew Mark Spitz and everything. By this time the Fonz sort of got annoyed and couldn't believe anybody didn't know who he was. She still didn't know who he was after I said, "He's the Fonz." The Fonz talked very serious, he tries to be very heavy. He told me how much he liked me because of "famous for fifteen minutes," and something about closets from the Philosophy Philosophy book-empty s.p.a.ces and things like that. I was so excited meeting him that I couldn't think of anything to say. book-empty s.p.a.ces and things like that. I was so excited meeting him that I couldn't think of anything to say.
The David Begelmans arrived. We had to leave because the dinner was about to start. There were white orchids on the girls' plates. Allan took us in and showed us the table and the food before he kicked us out. That was funny.
Thursday, February 17, 1977-Los Angeles I went to tour the Gemini Gallery with Sidney Felsen and his partner. At Gemini I got an idea. They can now print 10' X 10' and I'm going to think about it. Done an hour earlier than supposed to, decided to walk around, the shops just so exciting.
A person ran after me and it turned out to be Jackson Browne. He invited me to come to the recording studio across the street to hear his new record. He was adorable.
The cab strike was on so Catherine and I found a limo outside, had to meet Tyrone Power's daughter Taryn at 5:00 at the Imperial Gardens restaurant on Sunset (limo $10). Back for Fred, had to give him money ($5). He went off to Paul Jasmin's c.o.c.ktail party for Divine where he met Tab Hunter.
At the Imperial Gardens with Taryn taped for about two hours. Had some sake and food ($20 with tip). She took us next door to her boyfriend Norman Sieff's house. He was so ugly and she was so beautiful-I was disappointed. He said he'd met me in Max's years ago. He has Taryn under his influence. We wanted to get her away from him so we asked her to go to the dinner that Doug Christmas, the art dealer, was giving for me at Mr. Chow's. She had wheels and drove us back to the hotel.
Got dressed and driven over to Mr. Chow's. Lots of people there. Bianca Jagger, Russell Means, Polanski, Tony Bill, Allan Carr, Pat Ast. Russell Means had an Indian girlfriend. George Hamilton, Marcia Weisman, Nelson Lyon, who was telling me about some producer who drank the p.i.s.s someone gave him and he didn't know.
Jed had invited Tab. Jed felt guilty because we didn't cast Tab as Carroll Baker's husband in Bad Bad-he'd really wanted the role. Peter Lester from Interview Interview arrived with Maria Smith and he kept apologizing for being late but n.o.body cared. Geraldine Smith arrived with Maria Smith and he kept apologizing for being late but n.o.body cared. Geraldine Smith [see Introduction] [see Introduction] was with Johnny Wyoming. Perry King, Susan Tyrrell, Allan Carr sitting talking with George Hamilton. Sat next to Tony Bill and Bianca. Polanski across the way from me. We'd run into him in the lobby of the hotel and he was going to see was with Johnny Wyoming. Perry King, Susan Tyrrell, Allan Carr sitting talking with George Hamilton. Sat next to Tony Bill and Bianca. Polanski across the way from me. We'd run into him in the lobby of the hotel and he was going to see Rocky Rocky then and so he was just back from seeing it, said he loved it. then and so he was just back from seeing it, said he loved it.
The big people, Sue Mengers and Ryan O'Neal, didn't arrive, they told Bianca that they couldn't "be seen at tacky places like Mr. Chow's." Bianca took us to On the Rox, owned by Lou Adler. When we got there it was Ringo Starr and Alice Cooper. I'm not saying they were the only celebrities celebrities there-they were the only there-they were the only people people there, and there, and they they were in the john. Whoever were in the john. Whoever is is there is in the john taking c.o.ke. Bianca introduced me to Ringo. Alice came over to say h.e.l.lo. there is in the john taking c.o.ke. Bianca introduced me to Ringo. Alice came over to say h.e.l.lo.
Bianca left because she was staying out in Malibu and Mick was coming in and then leaving town the next day so she wanted to get home early to see him.
Friday, February 18, 1977-Los Angeles Rode out to the Ace Gallery in Venice to do a press conference. Called the office in New York in the morning and Ronnie told me it was Andy Warhol Day on The Gong Show The Gong Show. Back at the hotel I had lots of messages. Dinner at Marcia Weisman's (cab there $4). Ryan O'Neal was there and Sue Mengers. Ryan was leaning against the Morris Louis and put a big dent in it. He was sour. I had all the Guinness kids with me-Catherine, Erskine, and Miranda-and it turned out Miranda's twin sister Sabrina had been Tatum's nanny and Ryan's secretary when Ryan was filming Barry Lyndon Barry Lyndon in England, and Ryan hated her, so he was taking it out on Miranda, and she went to the bathroom to cry. Sabrina is actually a groupie, even though she's a Guinness. in England, and Ryan hated her, so he was taking it out on Miranda, and she went to the bathroom to cry. Sabrina is actually a groupie, even though she's a Guinness.
Sue looked terrible and so did Ryan. They left early because, I think, they thought "n.o.body" was there. Hollywood people are rotten. They all play these games with their A, B, and C groups and it's just too stupid. That's why when they come down, they really really come down. One thing about Bianca, she really has cla.s.s because she'll go come down. One thing about Bianca, she really has cla.s.s because she'll go anywhere anywhere.
Sat.u.r.day, February 19, 1977- Los Angeles Suzie Frankfurt arrived with Marcia Weisman. They had a Rolls Royce so we Rollsed over to the hospital, Cedars-Sinai. Lots of people waiting, I sold $1,500 worth of stuff for a benefit. Marcia was very pushy. If anyone took a picture they had to pay $10. If I signed a can they paid $5. She told them that my prices would go up up in the afternoon to $100 a poster, when actually they were going to go in the afternoon to $100 a poster, when actually they were going to go down down to $6. to $6.
Dropped back at the hotel. Picked up by Doug at 1:30 and a camera crew filmed us in the limo on the way out to Venice for my opening. Before the opening we went to see Tony Bill's apartment, he bought a building across from the Ace Gallery with the money he's making from either Taxi Driver, The Sting Taxi Driver, The Sting, or Shampoo Shampoo.
The Ace Gallery was very crowded, people around the block waiting to get in. Russell and I signed the Russell Means posters. Viva and Paul Morrissey were there. There were a couple of other people from the old days-c.o.c.kettes.
I got so tired of signing posters all afternoon that I skipped out at 5:00 to the limo. Suzie invited us along to have a drink in Bel Air at her model friend Cheryl Tiegs's and her husband Stan Dragoti, who works for Wells Rich Greene. Fred was bitten by a big dog when he opened the wrong door when he was looking for the bathroom, but he didn't say anything about it until there was lots of blood coming down his leg. He just put some alcohol on and then we left at 7:30.
In the lobby ran into Annie Leibovitz and Jann Wenner. Susan Blond left a message saying she was with Michael Jackson at Top of the Rox. Jann and Annie had just gotten back from there, the Grammys had just finished up, so everyone was drunk. A couple of boys in the lobby tried to pick me up.
Sunday, February 20, 1977-Los Angeles Doug Christmas's P.R. woman, Esther, arrived from church with an autograph from Jane Wyman, she'd asked for it while Jane Wyman was kneeling.
First supposed to have lunch with Bianca Jagger, but Wendy Stark said we could all have lunch at Coco Brown's and I didn't want to but Fred thought it was a good idea. The first car left, we were in the second, and we had a house number 36912 in Malibu. When we got there we couldn't find it, but then the first car came along with Richard Weisman in it and he went to knock at 36910 because there was was no 12, and the person who opened the door was "Mary Hartman," with her funny braids on. no 12, and the person who opened the door was "Mary Hartman," with her funny braids on.
She said she'd she'd have a party for us if we couldn't find the party we were going to. But just then Coco Brown came by in another car with Wendy Stark and they said it was just down the block, that Wendy'd got the number wrong. have a party for us if we couldn't find the party we were going to. But just then Coco Brown came by in another car with Wendy Stark and they said it was just down the block, that Wendy'd got the number wrong.
We got to the house and Bianca was there. She'd had a fight with Mick and he'd left that morning for New York-she'd accused him of an affair with Linda Ronstadt.
Walked down the beach with Bianca past the house of Larry Hagman, and he was standing on the beach in a funny uniform like a foreign-legion outfit, doing funny hand things, and I guess he's gone off his rocker. While we were going by the sea came up and wet my shoes.
Spent three hours trying to make dinner plans. Bob Ellis, Diana Ross's ex, and Alana Hamilton seemed too drunk, Bianca didn't want to be with Miranda because she was the sister of Sabrina, Jed said he was hungry and he'd eat anywhere, and Wendy wanted us to go to Max Palevsky's because she thought it would be good for us-he was going to have us over to see his art collection.
And so finally when we got together we went to a restaurant called Orsini's, Italian food. Fred screamed at Catherine and told her how rude she was to him in front of everybody.
Monday, February 21, 1977-Los Angeles-San Francisco Got up, packed (cab to airport $20, tip to baggage guy $4, magazines $8).
United flight 433 arrived 1:05. Met at the airport with champagne and limo by Mark from the gallery where my show was, had royal treatment. He dropped us off at the Mark Hopkins, had lunch at the Top of the Mark.
Then we walked to the gallery three blocks away down a steep, steep hill. The s.p.a.ce was very large, and it was just around where we used to stay with the Velvets [see Introduction] [see Introduction]. The hanging was just wild. Rotten, badly hung. Unbelievable. Bad taste. Mark's mother just horrible.
Press conference, TV show with a guy who was a beauty but he didn't know anything and didn't really like me and so I was being awful, too. I took him over to a piece of sculpture and told him that I'd done it, which I didn't-didn't get found out until afterwards. Mark took us to the back where there were magic mushrooms. He took us for a ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. Under the bridge there were surfers. Very strange. All the boys wearing black suits, wetsuits, scary and nutty. Touring in Sausalito really fun. When we arrived back at the hotel Jed and his family were there, he has a new fat stepfather. And Mrs. Johnson thanked me for being so nice to her son and made me blush.
I had to stay around the gallery until 9:30. Mark's mother really made me work. Trader Vic's was just up the block. Walked there.
Oh, and Carol Doda, the stripper, came to the opening, and I was so bored that I talked about her a lot and so Mark said we'd go to the strip joint. Brought the limo back, went to the strip joint, Carol is now just as wide as high, saw three naked girls rubbing their a.s.ses and c.u.n.ts against the floor, and Carol Doda came down on the piano and went up to the ceiling on it. She was so old that they only had blinking lights for her. Catherine and I were falling asleep (drinks $35). Fred had disappeared, he was out cruising.
Tuesday, February 22, 1977-San Francisco-Miami Took five hours to get to Miami. Paid for Catherine's ticket ($72.53). It was night in a minute, a long flight. Charlie Cowles met us in a great car, warm and wonderful, but it was 11:00. Time changes. Past the Fontainebleau, things like that. Took us to his mother's place on Indian Creek Island on the grounds of a private club, had a lot of waterfront property. Met the mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Gardner Cowles. Had sandwiches. Fred and I were in the guest house, Catherine was in the main house. Read Artforum Artforum which Charlie Cowles owns and went to bed. which Charlie Cowles owns and went to bed.
Wednesday, February 23, 1977-Miami Overslept and got up around 10:30 and breakfast wasn't served by then, but there was coffee. Started taking pictures of Gardner-they call him "Mike"-he adopted Charlie, owns TV stations, sold some of his magazines to The New York Times The New York Times, used to own Look Look.
At lunch Mrs. Cowles said she was losing her two Argentinian housekeepers-rich people usually talk about servants at dinners and lunches. Then Charlie took us on the tour.
Fred told Catherine why he had yelled at her-because when he went to wake her up she had screamed, "Don't touch me, don't touch me!" and she said she was sorry she did it.
Charlie wanted to know if we wanted to go go to Fort Lauderdale where the boys are. Went to the gay places there and Charlie took us down the boardwalk. The first place, forget the name, the bartenders were in dresses with mustaches and beards. The first one said, "I'm a friend of Brigid Berlin's." to Fort Lauderdale where the boys are. Went to the gay places there and Charlie took us down the boardwalk. The first place, forget the name, the bartenders were in dresses with mustaches and beards. The first one said, "I'm a friend of Brigid Berlin's."
I really had to pee. Fred came back from the bathroom and I asked him if there was anybody in there and he said no, that it was empty. I went in and was peeing and suddenly there was someone next to me saying, "Oh my G.o.d, I can't believe I'm standing next to you, let me shake your hand," and then he realized and said, "No, I'll wash my hands and then we can shake." I lost my concentration and had to stop peeing. And then more and more people started coming in and saying, "Is it really you?" I got out.
The waiters said that there were only waitresses some nights, the place alternated. It sounded like Paul Morrissey's idea for the Western he was going to do, where the town is half men and half men-in-drag because there were no women ($5).
Went to a place down a ways with pinball machines and played them for a while ($10).
Sat.u.r.day, February 26, 1977-New York Jamie Wyeth had invited me to lunch for Ted Kennedy's birthday party, but in the morning he called and said that Rose Kennedy was only having a small one and he didn't realize that, so I couldn't go after all, but I think it was just maybe Jamie changing his mind. Went home at 8:30. Saw on Metromedia that they took the idea from our proposal that they turned down and then went and did it themselves-they had Dinner with Bella Abzug Dinner with Bella Abzug on TV. But on TV. But they they did it boring and corny and it made me so mad. did it boring and corny and it made me so mad.
Monday, March 7, 1977 Woke up very cranky, left the house early, around 9:30, cabbed to Chembank ($3.30). Got a letter at the office from the White House from Jimmy Carter. I wish I'd talked more last month when I met him, but I was so nervous. He's really nice, though, a really nice man.
Jamie Wyeth still was painting Arnold Schwarzenegger who was still posing. Lunch for Jamie and Arnold ($16). Alex Heinrici came by to touch up something. Worked all afternoon.
Picked up Bob Colacello and cabbed to 45 Sutton Place South. A book party for Anita Loos given by Arnold Weissberger. I had forgotten my tape and camera and there were lots of celebs. Arnold Weissberger and Milton Goldman have the longest-running gay marriage in New York. Arnold is seventy-something, the biggest old-time show-biz lawyer and amateur photographer. He takes pictures of everyone who comes to his house. He had a book out last year called Famous Faces Famous Faces. He had the book on the dining table at the party and he was making the famous faces sign it next to their pictures. Milton Goldman is sixty-something and a big agent at IFA. Bob noticed that he was the only person under thirty there-barely-and I said that Arnold must be afraid to have young kids because he might lose Milton. All the butlers and bartenders were over sixty. They brought one drink at a time and the tray shaked.
Paulette G.o.ddard was there, she told me that she didn't sell one rug at Parke Bernet because the dealers, she felt, had ganged up on her. And they probably did, because those rugs are are great. Talked to Rosemary Harris, Martha Graham, Cyril Ritchard, Rex Harrison, Sylvia Porter. Milton introduced everyone three times. great. Talked to Rosemary Harris, Martha Graham, Cyril Ritchard, Rex Harrison, Sylvia Porter. Milton introduced everyone three times.
Cabbed to Elaine's ($3.25) to meet Jamie and Arnold and Rudolf Nureyev. Jamie was having a meeting of their minds. On the way in the friend of Lester Persky's who always feels me up grabbed me and introduced me to Neile McQueen, and she was actually pretty. He whispered, "Ex-wife, Steve McQueen" in my ear.
Arnold walked in with three little girls, one of them was a sportswriter on The New York Times The New York Times, and she's in love with him.
Then the most fascinating thing happened. A guy who Elaine introduced me to to did his card tricks, and it was where he flashed the deck and then said think of a card and then he guessed the card did his card tricks, and it was where he flashed the deck and then said think of a card and then he guessed the card eight times! eight times! I couldn't get it out of my mind, I thought about it all night. I've just I couldn't get it out of my mind, I thought about it all night. I've just got got to know how he did it, because if you can do that, you can do anything. Dropped off Catherine and Uncle Erskine and Miranda ($3). to know how he did it, because if you can do that, you can do anything. Dropped off Catherine and Uncle Erskine and Miranda ($3).
Tuesday, March 8, 1977 It was a pretty day, walked around uptown, then went to the office. Jamie and Arnold were there. I thanked them for a good time the night before (art supplies $5.85). Jamie said that Nureyev had fallen in love with Erskine, and that Erskine had almost given in, but didn't, and that Nureyev's last words (laughs) (laughs) were, "We can just watch TV." He gave autographs to Erskine and Catherine. were, "We can just watch TV." He gave autographs to Erskine and Catherine.
Was picked up by Bob at 8 P.M P.M., cabbed to the Iranian emba.s.sy. Bob made me go in black tie, but we were the only formal ones and then his excuse was that we were invited to so many parties he didn't remember. We're starting to feel used by the Iranians. It started in Was.h.i.+ngton a couple of weeks ago when we realized that Amba.s.sador Zahedi isn't "in" now with Carter-he was so Nixon- and Ford-affiliated, but now he wants to be in with the Democrats and needs help and that's us. It was a heavy dinner for the Swedish amba.s.sador.
Our excuse for leaving early was that we had to go to Francois de Menil's party for Princess Marina of Greece who had an opening at the Iolas Gallery (cab to Francois's on 69th Street $2.25). It was jumping-Arman and Corice, Larry Rivers-great party.
Gigi was there and she just broke up with Ronnie and went off with Spyro Niarchos, and so Ronnie was depressed. Earlier she'd been telling me that it was on the rocks for her and Ronnie -she said they haven't talked to each other for three months now. He's getting jealous of her making more money and traveling around, but he's not ambitious and she is, but she says she loves him but that they have to break up because it can't go on. That's the gist of it. Gigi had told me she was going to. Barbara Allen was there with Philip Niarchos, they're back in town.
Dennis Hopper was supposed to be there, but I missed him. He's living with/staying with Caterine Milinaire-they're (laughs) (laughs) "together." Ronnie's friend Tony Shafrazi was there, just back from Iran. He's the one who defaced Pica.s.so's painting at the Modern. The "Guernica." "together." Ronnie's friend Tony Shafrazi was there, just back from Iran. He's the one who defaced Pica.s.so's painting at the Modern. The "Guernica."
Hoveyda told us that Sidney Lumet is coming to Paulette's dinner at the emba.s.sy next week and we said, "That's nice." I hear that Sidney Lumet goes around town calling me a racist just because Mandingo Mandingo was my favorite movie of the year. was my favorite movie of the year.
Wednesday, March 9, 1977 Read an item in the newspaper that Liz Taylor was selling her diamonds on Madison Avenue secretly to help her husband's campaign with money, so I kept an eye out. Walked over to office. Ronnie wasn't at work for two reasons-first because Gigi had run off with Spyro Niarchos the night before at the party, and second because Wim Wenders was shooting a movie down at his loft-Dennis Hopper is the star of it.
Lee Radziwill and her son Antony came down for lunch. Antony has gotten even bigger. Thicker. She said that since she didn't go down to the Was.h.i.+ngton dinner Zahedi gave me the other week he reacted by sending her champagne and caviar, and when she sent a thank-you note, he sent more champagne and caviar, and when she sent another, etc. etc. So he's really going after her.
Walter Stait from Philadelphia had called to ask if I wanted to have dinner with him and Ted Carey and I said yes. Ted Carey was having health problems and he went to Dr. c.o.x, and Doc c.o.x was a good doctor because he recognized the symptoms Ted had and said it was syphilis of the throat. The Doc must have other patients with that problem, probably. So he sent him for treatment, and the only problem left is that Ted keeps getting worms, they keep recurring. At dinner, Ted was very good to talk to for Popism Popism, we reminisced about when we posed together for our Fairfield Porter portrait.
Thursday, March 10, 1977 Barbara Allen was bringing Princess Firyal of Jordan, who's dating Stavros Niarchos, down to the Factory.
The big drama was the Ronnie-Gigi-Spyro triangle. Ronnie called the Waldorf Towers late last night looking for Gigi and the desk wouldn't put the call through to the Niarchos apartment so first he left a message saying that "Gigi's husband called" and later he left a message saying that "Gigi's brother died."