Chapter 26
Bob had gotten Barbara a joint because she asked him and she was more thrilled with that than anything else. So we left and started to walk home, this is around 79th Street, and then we heard all these cop cars and we saw a crowd and John ran right up and into it and it was a dead person on the street. So we asked people and finally a doorman told us that three guys had just walked by and he thought they looked strange, and then they had picked on an undercover cop and tried to rob him and the cop had shot and killed one of them. And John just wanted to be in the thick of it, and Barbara was upset. And it was just awful, seeing the Ali fight, and that was violent, and then this, and so we got a cab and the driver seemed crazy to me. Barbara said he was Greek but I think he was Puerto Rican and saying crazy things because he thought it was a Puerto Rican that'd got shot. So I dropped Barbara off and watched her go into her building and then just as we were driving past Lenox Hill Hospital the body was going in that we'd just seen lying on the street (cab $4)!
When I got home I didn't have Barbara's number to call her and tell her I got home safely, so I called Bob to get it, and he told me that Barbara had told him that everyone was after John Samuels-"especially Andy"-and I told him to call her up and tell her off-that if I'd wanted John Samuels I knew him before she she did, and I'd only invited him to this thing because I thought it would make did, and I'd only invited him to this thing because I thought it would make her her happier. And that actually Richard had wanted happier. And that actually Richard had wanted another another girl, not girl, not her. So there! her. So there!
Sunday, October 5, 1980 Church. Diana Vreeland called and thanked me for buying ten copies of her book Allure Allure. I walked the dog and thought I pa.s.sed a lady flasher-she had on a raincoat and nothing else, you could just tell. She pa.s.sed me and then came back down the block. She looked strange but maybe she'd just had a fight with somebody and left the house. If you read the Post Post, everybody starts to look strange.
Monday, October 6, 1980 Cornelia Guest came down. She was drinking and she's only fifteen but she's beautiful.
Vincent was putting together a one-hour show from six hours and it looks great, really professional. Don Munroe went off to a video conference in Nice. Worked till 5:30 (cab $7). Went home and glued myself and put on black tie. Went to C.Z. Guest's for drinks. A guy there told me, "We have someone in common." He said that his family owned all the brandy and sherry in Spain and that in the sixties Nico was the girl in all their advertis.e.m.e.nts in all the posters and subways and magazines, that she was famous all over Spain. He wanted to know where this beautiful girl was now and I said that it was a whole other person, that he'd never believe it, that she was fat and a heroin addict. He wanted to see her and I said that if she was still playing at the Squat Theater we could go see her.
C.Z. took the station wagon and drove us to the Met to the Cardin fas.h.i.+on show dinner. It was the longest fas.h.i.+on show in the world. I was so surprised, I think he's kept every dress he ever made, there were so many of them. I liked the show but the ladies were bored. I saw Bill Paley and Barbara Allen and Slim Keith. I wish I'd taken pictures, it was all the right people together.
I thought the diamonds in the eyes of Sao's foxes were real, but she said they weren't. She asked where she could get an inexpensive ruby bracelet and I told her I'd seen one for $42,000. She said it was for a man and I guessed Patrice Calmette, because that's who she's been seeing, she's broken up with Naguib, she said he made her too emotional.
Bob Denison was there with his new girlfriend China Machado, and I'm going to do a million faux pas faux pas with her because I just know I'll never recognize her. Catherine Oxenberg's mother, Princess Elisabeth of Yugoslavia, was there. She's beautiful, and I knew it was her from the moment she opened her mouth, they talk just alike, the voice. She was wearing one of Carolina Herrera's dresses. And I talked to Paloma's mother, Francoise Gilot. with her because I just know I'll never recognize her. Catherine Oxenberg's mother, Princess Elisabeth of Yugoslavia, was there. She's beautiful, and I knew it was her from the moment she opened her mouth, they talk just alike, the voice. She was wearing one of Carolina Herrera's dresses. And I talked to Paloma's mother, Francoise Gilot.
I talked orchids with C.Z. Her gardening column is syndicated in six newspapers now. I had a lot of fun. We were taking So home to the Carlyle, we were outside getting a cab when Andre Oliver insisted we take his limo. I saw Pierre Cardin at the end and told him his show was great-I did like it because he'd kept so many dresses, from 1950-1980.
Oh and the dinner was in the Temple of Dendur room and they gave everyone Temple of Dendur books and chocolate truffles and I squashed some truffles between the pages of a couple of the books and it looked like s.h.i.+t and So loved it. And a guy lost his book so I gave him mine and when he opens it it's going to look like s.h.i.+t. So had me autograph hers. We dropped So and then me and then Princess Polignac who does P.R. for Cardin, and then Bob. Home around 12:30.
Tuesday, October 7, 1980 Hermann-the-German said he's 90 percent sure he has the pope for me to do. And the other night at a party Mario D'Urso said, "I've been working on getting the pope for you." Everybody thinks I want to do the pope so badly. Well I do, but I'm not desperate.
I turned down doing the Ronald Reagan cover for New York New York. The papers have me down as a One-Night Republican.
Worked on backgrounds. Rupert was back from being out looking for Mickey Mouse pictures for the New Myths series for Ron Feldman-Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, the Shadow. We'll have to do something different like throw diamond dust on them.
Glued myself together then picked up Carolina Herrera and we decided to walk to Halston's. She took her earrings off and gave them to me. We had drinks. Victor was in his samurai pants, really big. Then we got in two limos and went to the B. Altman dinner honoring American designers, it was a New York Public Library benefit. Mary Lasker was there, and Estee Lauder and Mary McFadden. I talked to "Suzy"-Aileen Mehle. She looked beautiful, she had her two t.i.ts pushed up so you could look down.
I was sitting with Halston. We decided I should only take pictures of the twenty waiters. Victor and I went to the bathroom and he took off his samurai pants and I wore them as a cape. We thought the bathroom was empty but as we were leaving everybody came out of the stalls. April Axton was there with Sam Wagstaff who looked older. I accused April of being Jewish and she said how could she be since I've seen her at my church, St. Vincent Ferrer. I brought up about how April once accused me of raping her dog in a bathroom. The dog had followed me in and then when I came out, he came out with me. She's awful but she is is funny. I told her again that those photographs she gave Sam that I took of her in the sixties were now worth $1,000,1 rubbed it in. funny. I told her again that those photographs she gave Sam that I took of her in the sixties were now worth $1,000,1 rubbed it in.
Then Carolina and I went to Carmen D'Alessio's dinner for her forty friends at Mr. Chow's. Lester Persky was giving millions of toasts, he was drunk. He toasted Henry Geldzahler who wasn't even there. Then he forced me me to give a toast, so my toast was, "Free drinks from Lester for everybody." to give a toast, so my toast was, "Free drinks from Lester for everybody."
Wednesday, October 8, 1980-New York-Port Jervis, New York-New York Picked Brigid up (cab $7). We were driving up to Charles Rydell's house in Port Jervis to interview him on his bit part in Union City Union City. Then went to pick up Doc c.o.x on 72nd Street, he was late. Doc c.o.x was driving us up there in his Rolls. He told Brigid she couldn't smoke in the car, that it would ruin the smell of the good leather, and she started to go crazy-when she wanted to have a cigarette she had to lean her head out, so she was in a bad mood.
We got there and the Doc mixed martinis and Brigid had one, her first of the day. I took pictures. Brigid ran out to pick "fresh tom-ah-toes," but by the end of the day she was drunk and they were just tom-ay-toes. I went out and picked plums and we were eating them-even though they did have so much bug spray on them, they were so good. I had about ten. Then I picked cherry tomatoes and real tomatoes. Brigid was drinking martinis out in the tomato patch and she lost her martini gla.s.s in the patch.
Brigid and Charles kept talking about "lunch at Flo-Jean, lunch at Flo-Jean," and saying, "You've never seen anything like it in your life." And the more they kept saying that, the more you just wanted to hate it. But we got there and, well, you've never seen anything like it in your life. It's the sickest restaurant I think I've ever been to. A big rambling restaurant run by Flo and Jean and filled with baby dolls, a million of them. All colors. Because the place is very colorful. Napkins that're pink and green and yellow-just really a lot of color. Either Flo or Jean said her husband died in 1929. The food was the worst, but there was a lot of it. I gained four pounds and all I had was mashed potatoes and sweet relish. We had a lot of drinks there, Brigid went on with her martinis. Charles paid for the lunch but I bought souvenirs. Everybody had a good time. This restaurant had rooms and rooms that just went on and on, and they have weddings and parties there. It took up like a fourth of the Delaware River.
Brigid was drunk, she kissed all the waitresses. Then she began telling me food stories she'd never told before, like how she once went to the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station and ordered a three-pound lobster and a nice waitress brought it to her but it didn't look like three pounds to Brigid. Brigid said, "I am a compulsive eater and I know my food and this this is not a three-pound lobster." This lobster was costing like $39. The waitress said, "Oh, I'm sure it is." So Brigid said, "Then let's go weigh it, and if this lobster is three pounds I'll give you $10." So they went into the kitchen and put it on a scale and it weighed less than one pound! So the waitress was really embarra.s.sed and said they wouldn't charge her. is not a three-pound lobster." This lobster was costing like $39. The waitress said, "Oh, I'm sure it is." So Brigid said, "Then let's go weigh it, and if this lobster is three pounds I'll give you $10." So they went into the kitchen and put it on a scale and it weighed less than one pound! So the waitress was really embarra.s.sed and said they wouldn't charge her.
Brigid was by now wacko, drunk, really drunk. I watched TV on Charles's Betamax. Charles has p.o.r.no movies but they're all straight p.o.r.no movies like the Debbie Dallas one. He only likes straight p.o.r.no because he (laughs) (laughs) only likes straight guys. So I watched those. only likes straight guys. So I watched those.
We'd finished lunch at 5:30 but Charles was taking us to dinner at 6:00.
Oh, and it turned out Brigid made out with the farmhand down the road once when she visited Charles. Charles said to her, "Did you f.u.c.k the farmboy down the road? He's been acting different with me ever since you were here." And she confessed that she had. It was one afternoon when she was alone and only 125 pounds. She decided she wanted some creme fraiche creme fraiche and that she'd go right to the cows. So she walked and walked and she came upon a farmhand. And now this farmhand acts funny with Charles because he thinks it was Charles's wife or girlfriend that he f.u.c.ked. and that she'd go right to the cows. So she walked and walked and she came upon a farmhand. And now this farmhand acts funny with Charles because he thinks it was Charles's wife or girlfriend that he f.u.c.ked.
And a hustler came by who only charges $30 because it's just a small town. It's really a gay Peyton Place.
Doc c.o.x drove us back and dropped us off.
Friday, October 10, 1980 Bob called and said that Jamie Kabler had cancelled going out to Brooklyn College that night to see Ron Reagan dance, so we didn't know how we were going to get there. But then Bob called back and said a limo would pick us up at 6:30. We sat through three ballets waiting for Ron. The creative c.r.a.ppy stuff. Then Ron did his things, he was okay. After telling Bob that he didn't do jazz he was doing a jazz number and he was good at that. He could actually be a good song-and-dance man, probably, like that blond guy who was popular during the war, you know, Van Johnson.
It was raining out. A girl from the Reagan committee came over to Bob and said she'd been calling him all day, that his interview with Patti Davis, the Reagan daughter, could happen tomorrow, so Bob was thrilled. Patti's the one who lived with the Eagles. Then she came over herself and she was tall and sort of pretty, I thought, but she was wearing funny clothes, a sweater and something. Vincent videotaped her. I said to her that when we did the actual interview, maybe she could wear some fancy clothes, and she said, "These "These are my fancy clothes." I said. "Well then maybe you could wear something with a good label in them." And she said, "No I'll probably come even more casual to be interviewed." So I gave up and said, "Oh forget it." So she looked sort of pretty to me, but then looking at her later on the video, how could these kids have missed their parents' good looks? I mean, Dad was so gorgeous. are my fancy clothes." I said. "Well then maybe you could wear something with a good label in them." And she said, "No I'll probably come even more casual to be interviewed." So I gave up and said, "Oh forget it." So she looked sort of pretty to me, but then looking at her later on the video, how could these kids have missed their parents' good looks? I mean, Dad was so gorgeous.
Monday, October 13, 1980 I left the office and walked toward the big Columbus Day parade. Walked to 42nd and Sixth Avenue (cab $5.50).
The day was really depressing because I had to talk to the accountants about taxes all morning. I ate crackers and coffee.
Bob picked me up in a limo and we picked up So to go to the Jackie O. party for Diana Vreeland's book Allure Allure at the International Center for Photography at 94th and Fifth. It was a small party, only seventy people were allowed. So said that a robbery was just foiled at the Carlyle. Three gunmen at 4 at the International Center for Photography at 94th and Fifth. It was a small party, only seventy people were allowed. So said that a robbery was just foiled at the Carlyle. Three gunmen at 4 A A.M. I scared
Jackie O. arrived. I was afraid to take pictures so I gave one of the newspaper photographers my camera to take a picture with. Chris Hemphill who worked on the book was in heaven, he made it so that I had to sit next to him. He's just always rubbed me the wrong way. And on the jacket it said he was (laughs) (laughs) "a.s.sociated with Andy Warhol." His date was Deborah Turbeville. A trembling kid behind a stairway asked if he could take my picture. He said, "I'm an artist." "a.s.sociated with Andy Warhol." His date was Deborah Turbeville. A trembling kid behind a stairway asked if he could take my picture. He said, "I'm an artist."
Jackie was there with the Morgan Library guy, Charles Ryskamp. She had Gloria Vanderbilt at her table. And the de la Rentas. Oh I hate them. Francoise doesn't kiss me anymore. Good. They wanted to go home early.
Got home and the music in my house was blasting from top to toe-Aurora was entertaining a gentleman friend and I was so embarra.s.sed that I'd come home before she expected. They were playing my new Bee Gees record.
Tuesday, October 14, 1980 It was a Paloma Pica.s.so day. Went to breakfast at Tiffany's for her. The jewelry was pretty but I have the same stuff from the forties. It's copies of the forties. And Paloma did her little heart-shaped Elsa thing. It was expensive stuff-$27,000 for a bracelet.
After work I glued myself and went to Mr. Chow's for dinner for Paloma (cab $4). Saw Fran Lebowitz and told her she should go find a guy to have a hot love affair with because then if she ever has to write about one, she won't be blank-a-roo. Perry Ellis looked really s.e.xy with long hair. Everybody was somebody. Thomas Ammann was in town from Argentina, he said it's so expensive there, he doesn't know how anyone lives. He had a limo and I got home at 1:00.
Wednesday, October 15, 1980 Paloma was on the Today Show Today Show and she shouldn't do it-talking about all the jewelry she has-she's going to get kidnapped. and she shouldn't do it-talking about all the jewelry she has-she's going to get kidnapped.
Had a meeting with some South American lady to pick out her painting. She brought a couple of beautiful Venezuelan ladies with her. And the infamous Ronnie Levin came down. Somebody had warned me he was in town so it wasn't a shock. n.o.body paid attention to him at the office and he walked around like he owned the place and then he left.
Thursday, October 16, 1980 Vincent was setting up to videotape the interview that John Richardson was going to do with Paloma. She came with her husband Raphael and the friend, Xavier. The Tiffany's guy arrived with the jewelry.
And David White came by with a letter from Rauschenberg-David works for him now-saying that the tables I have were done by him, because he did them when Jane Holzer was trying to go into the art furniture business in the late sixties or early seventies, and then the business fell through, and I got them. So it's great, that Rauschenberg wrote the letter saying they were by him because now maybe someday he'll sign them.
Then Juan Hamilton called and said that he and Georgia O'Keeffe were at the Mayfair and they were coming down at 4:30, and I said to come right away because Paloma was there, so they did. Everyone was thrilled with everyone.
People thought Juan was going to marry Georgia, but he just got married to someone else and now his wife is expecting a baby. Georgia was wearing a black thing around her head. This time she seemed really old. You have to catch her every minute as if she'll sit in a chair that isn't there. But on the video Vincent made she looked young and alert. She does know everything that's going on, it's just that she moves older now.
Then they all left. Rupert came up and then I got some work done. Worked till 8:30 and Jay Shriver agreed to stay late, too. Then because they worked overtime I invited Rupert and Jay to 65 Irving and I had John Reinhold meet us there. Jay's from Milwaukee. He said his mother is all Czechoslovakian. Not from there, but a hundred percent.
Oh, and Mary Tyler Moore's son committed suicide and now Ordinary People Ordinary People is really going to do business and everybody's going to really hate her because they'll be thinking that that's really the way she is. is really going to do business and everybody's going to really hate her because they'll be thinking that that's really the way she is.
Tuesday, October 21, 1980 I ran into John Curry in the street but I didn't recognize him when he said hi to me-not till three blocks later. So I decided to call and get tickets to go see him in Brigadoon Brigadoon.
Oh, I ran into a boy whose job is to go shopping for John and Yoko, to buy them clothes and things. I asked him if they'd ever made him bring anything back and he said just once. I asked him if they ever wore wore any of the clothes they bought since they don't go out, and he said, "They're going to make a comeback. They've been wearing them to the studio." Oh, and the best thing he said was that when he started to work for them he had to sign a paper that said, "I will not write a book about John Lennon and/or Yoko Ono." Isn't that great? He said he loves his job. I should find somebody to help me shop-show me where all the good new things are. any of the clothes they bought since they don't go out, and he said, "They're going to make a comeback. They've been wearing them to the studio." Oh, and the best thing he said was that when he started to work for them he had to sign a paper that said, "I will not write a book about John Lennon and/or Yoko Ono." Isn't that great? He said he loves his job. I should find somebody to help me shop-show me where all the good new things are.
Oh, and I had a fight with the real estate guy. The building I wanted so badly on 22nd Street that I told him to keep me informed on, he said went into contract on Friday. I was so mad. And then he told me that we had an appointment to look at the Con Ed building on 12th Street. And that's a great building but it's just too far downtown, I can't face it. It's $1.5 plus it'd be another million to fix up.
We missed the opening of Brigadoon Brigadoon. John Curry wasn't great, he was just adequate, but he's a good actor. I just loved the show. The guy in front of us was from George Lois with a good Irish name, maybe Callaghan, he's the one I worked with when I did that Braniff commercial with Sonny Liston. And he told me the best sick joke. What are Bing Crosby and John Wayne getting for Christmas? Steve McQueen.
Backstage I told John the show was so exciting and he said how I didn't recognize him on the street and I explained that it was the hairdo, that I recognized him three blocks later. I asked him to dinner but he said he was having dinner with friends.
Wednesday, October 22, 1980 Vincent was trying to get the Copleys down to the office because Bill Copley had suggested getting a portrait done of his new wife, Marjorie the madam. He suggested it. Bill's very happy, but she's gotten him to fire all the servants who were with him before she married him, and it's all too strange. I hope nothing happens to him.
The good-looking Glorious Food waiter who's getting his master's in psychiatry at Columbia had invited me to dinner. But then I got cold feet and told him I had to do an interview with Bob, which I didn't. He was going to show me around Columbia. But I just can't go out with people I don't know. But then, it's hard to take girls places because you have to pick them up. It's easier to to go out with boys who'll pick go out with boys who'll pick you you up. I'm getting like Mrs. Vreeland. up. I'm getting like Mrs. Vreeland.
On channel 2 they had a hidden camera on some 1980 census workers drinking and taking cocaine on the job and then sitting down and making up names to fill out forms because they got $4 a name.
Sat.u.r.day, October 25, 1980 It was gusting winds, stood on the corner for twenty-five minutes before I got a cab. Sean McKeon the Wilhelmina model called from j.a.pan. It was Sunday there. Bob was working on the Ten Straight Men For So dinner that he'd promised her, still trying to find some straight guys. Every straight man cancelled. I guess they won't come out with us without Richard Weisman and the athletes. Dropped Rupert (cab $6.50).
Bob was ringing the doorbell, he had a limo with So. We went to Helene Rochas and Kim D'Estainville's at the Olympic Tower for a drink. It was windy. So had just had her hair done and she said that she would never live there because when you walk in the door the draft is so strong that your hairstyle always goes. She said she knew a couple of women who've moved out because of that. So before she went in, we had to go in and have the guy close the inner door and that got rid of the wind and then she came in.
Then we went to dinner at 65 Irving. We picked up Franco Rossellini on the corner in our limo. We yelled, "Mary!" and he didn't hear us, and then, "p.o.r.no Queen!" and he still didn't hear us and he was wearing a cape and finally he saw us. He'd told Bob earlier in the day that he was retiring from the movie business because he'd made so much money on Caligula Caligula.
Sunday, October 26, 1980 Iran was supposed to be letting the hostages go. But then it seems like the Republicans are the ones that keep saying they're getting out, so that when they don't it'll look even worse for Carter. Like the Post Post has it front page and they're for Reagan. And on the news they're saying that Israel is giving parts to Iran for their military equipment. The cable TV guy in a small town said it was true but the government denies it. has it front page and they're for Reagan. And on the news they're saying that Israel is giving parts to Iran for their military equipment. The cable TV guy in a small town said it was true but the government denies it.
I watched Sabrina Sabrina on TV and William Holden and Audrey Hepburn looked so old. It seemed so old-fas.h.i.+oned talking about Long Island and the North Sh.o.r.e. I walked the dogs. I watched on TV and William Holden and Audrey Hepburn looked so old. It seemed so old-fas.h.i.+oned talking about Long Island and the North Sh.o.r.e. I walked the dogs. I watched Hooper Hooper and my G.o.d, it was great, just Burt Reynolds and his usual lines. He played a stunt man. and my G.o.d, it was great, just Burt Reynolds and his usual lines. He played a stunt man.
Monday, October 27, 1980 Bob and I were talking about how hard it was to find Ten Straight Men, and somebody said that that should be my next portfolio-ten men who've never had a h.o.m.os.e.xual experience.
I had to meet Marjorie Copley, who was having her picture taken for a portrait. Rupert was the makeup person. She's light, her hair was in pigtails and she took them out and it went down to her a.s.s, she'd just washed it and it smelled good. We had lunch. She's going to school. She was a science major but she wasn't smart enough and now she wants to do social sciences and I told her oh no. Bill looks great. The only thing we're still worried about is that she did fire all the people who worked for him. She didn't seem pushy or tough like I expected, though. She just did whatever I asked her to. She was nice.
Jed bought the apartment right across the hall from Stuart Pivar's in the building on West 67th Street next to the Cafe des Artistes. He's going to use it as an office for his decorating business so his clients and all the workmen won't be tramping in and out of the house all day anymore, so that'll be a relief.
I called Jane Holzer. I said I'd pick her up for the Diane Von Furstenberg party for Diana Vreeland. Worked till 8:00, then cabbed ($5.50) to pick Jane up at the Volney on 74th and Madison where she's got the penthouse with Rusty now. Jane's apartment is small but nice. Rusty answered the door and he's put on weight because I guess he spent the summer with his father, Lenny, but he's so charming. It's like listening to Cary Grant. He says, "Love to you, Mommy." Jane's now in investing and real estate and movies.
So then cabbed to DVF's ($3). As soon as we got to the building Warren Beatty walked in behind us, but when he saw us he went outside again, he didn't want to go into the same elevator. I told Jane he'd come in and then gone out again and she said that if he'd seen her her he wouldn't have done that. Right after we got upstairs Warren came in and he kissed Jane and I told him, "Oh Warren, you're so mean, you wouldn't ride up with us," and he said he was looking for someone he was supposed to meet downstairs. But he didn't come in with anyone, so... He looked s.e.xy but a little older and a little puffier-his hair's that Hollywood way, you know, that looks like a hat? Richard Gere was there and I introduced him to Jane and he said, "Oh Baby Jane, you're a legend. I read about you in he wouldn't have done that. Right after we got upstairs Warren came in and he kissed Jane and I told him, "Oh Warren, you're so mean, you wouldn't ride up with us," and he said he was looking for someone he was supposed to meet downstairs. But he didn't come in with anyone, so... He looked s.e.xy but a little older and a little puffier-his hair's that Hollywood way, you know, that looks like a hat? Richard Gere was there and I introduced him to Jane and he said, "Oh Baby Jane, you're a legend. I read about you in Popism." Popism." Apollonia was there and 'man and a beautiful young girl named Diane Lane-I don't know if she was with Lou Adler or not. Apollonia was there and 'man and a beautiful young girl named Diane Lane-I don't know if she was with Lou Adler or not.
Thursday, October 30, 1980 At the office John Cale came over, he wanted me to do an alb.u.m cover for him. He's looking good. He had a girl with him. I signed all his old record covers.
Lewis Allen came down with the dummy-makers who're making a robot of me for his play. We had to sit around with them for an hour so the dummy-makers could study my face to see if I'd be a good dummy. And they were funny-looking, the people from Walt Disney or someplace like that. And if a dummy moves and it makes, say, three mouth movements and two eye movements, that takes 100 motors and every time you add another movement you have to add like 20 more motors inside the figure. We still haven't signed with Lewis Allen because we sent the contract up to Paul Weiss and they said it was a ridiculous piece of paper because it's so involved.
Friday, October 31, 1980 Halston had a bash in his showroom at the Olympic Tower for the birthday of Hiro. Then Victor said we should go downtown to the big new place called the Saint that's in the Old Fillmore East theater. The old Village Theater.
We went down and Victor got on his knees and begged for us to be let in. I found out that it's owned by our old friend Bruce Mailman who used to run the St. Mark's Baths and was always around with projects and things. He was probably at the Saint when we were, but I probably didn't recognize him. It's better than Studio 54. They have a room in the back and everybody looks alike-bluejeans and no s.h.i.+rts and mustaches, and no girls allowed, except they let Pat Cleveland in, and they let ten lesbians have members.h.i.+ps. There's a waiting list for two years and they said you can only get in if somebody drops out. The light show was great, like the Hayden Planetarium. Then Halston was leaving at 3:00 and I left, too.
Wednesday, November 5, 1980- Dusseldorf-Baden Baden-Stuttgart I woke up at 3:00 in the morning and I heard the sad news of Carter losing so desperately to Reagan. It was the first time a president conceded so early. He had tears in his eyes.
I couldn't sleep and I took a Valium.
Thursday, November 6, 1980-Frankfurt-Dusseldorf Met Dr. Siegfried Unseld, he's the publisher of Hermann Hesse and Goethe, really good-looking. I thought he was going to be easy to photograph because he was so good-looking, but he was really hard. His good looks didn't come through for the camera.
I'd brought Chris Makos on the trip to help me, but he wouldn't carry my bag or do anything-all he cared about was taking photographs for himself.
The next location was like an hour and a half away, in Darmstadt. Went to photograph a lady who's sort of a German Diane Von Furstenberg, she's a top clothes manufacturer-her company's called Tink or Fink. The house was beautiful. She was dressed really like a businesswoman, though, in a velvet suit with hankies coming out of everywhere. She was really sweet and all the pictures came out well.
After a long drive to Dusseldorf, Chris and I had a fight because the walls at the Breitenbacher Hof Hotel are very thin and through the wall I could hear Christopher in his room making phone calls and I got nervous because I'm hearing him dial eighteen digits and I know he's calling long distance to Peter Wise in New York and it's expensive.
Friday, November 7,1980-Dusseldorf There was some crazy artist at the Rodney Ripps opening at Hans Mayer's gallery and I had to go into the bathroom with him, so I made Christopher go into the bathroom with me and the crazy artist made me sit in the shower with my hands on the floor and he Polaroided, and then he made me take off my shoes and Polaroided my feet and I looked like a dog on all fours and it was so stupid. They say he's the new Beuys and he's a bald-headed weirdo with plaid pants and very tall and he looked like he had a big d.i.c.k. And I don't know, does that sound like he was a fairy? No, he was too serious to be a fairy.
Sat.u.r.day, November 8, 1980-Dusseldorf-Paris It took me till 11 A A.M. to pack all the souvenir dishes into one suitcase and all the postcards and stuff. Had to get to the airport fast. Flew to Paris.
Cabbed to Fred's apartment ($30). Thomas Ammann arrived in town just for the day with a decathlon discus thrower. We went around to all the wonderful shops and there was so much Deco around you just couldn't believe it.
Later Jerry Hall called and said she wanted us to come to see her and Mick's new apartment on that island in the middle of the Seine. Mick was in the recording studio. She asked me to bring two bottles of champagne so I bought some ($200) and we went over there.
I talked to Thomas and I really made him tell what he knew about the Jed situation and he finally did. Thomas Ammann is the person who brought Alan Wanzenberg into the picture, Thomas knew him first.
Then Fred wanted to go dancing and I just wanted to go home so Thomas dropped me. And I came home and waited around for the phone to ring and it didn't and I was depressed and I put my earphones in with La Boheme La Boheme.
Sunday, November 9, 1980-Paris Thomas called from New York, he'd taken the Concorde early in the morning. The stuff he told me the night before had made me really upset. He said not to repeat anything because he doesn't like to get involved with talking about people's relations.h.i.+ps. But he actually didn't tell me anything that I didn't already know, it was just that it was upsetting to hear it.
Monday, November 10, 1980-Paris Philippe Morillon called and said he was bringing over some Interview Interview material at material at 7:00 7:00.
Mick was coming over at 4:00 and I wanted to avoid him because, I don't know, what can you say to Mick Jagger? He wanted to be alone with Fred Hughes anyway-Fred's the one he talks to, I don't know what about.
Christopher and I walked to Cerutti's and Bambi Bambi was playing right next door and since it was a holiday the mothers were standing out there with their kids and it was the longest line of tiny little kids waiting to get into a movie. It seemed so sad that these little kids had to wait, they should've opened the doors and let them right in. was playing right next door and since it was a holiday the mothers were standing out there with their kids and it was the longest line of tiny little kids waiting to get into a movie. It seemed so sad that these little kids had to wait, they should've opened the doors and let them right in.
Went to to the Cafe Flore looking for s.h.i.+rley Goldfarb's ghost (cab $8). And s.h.i.+rley's ghost was not around. We sat inside and didn't see anyone we knew. the Cafe Flore looking for s.h.i.+rley Goldfarb's ghost (cab $8). And s.h.i.+rley's ghost was not around. We sat inside and didn't see anyone we knew.
Went to a bookshop and I finally came across the next idea I really want to work on-mothers with babies sucking on their t.i.ts. It's just so erotic, I think that it's a good subject. Actually Eunice Shriver gave me the idea, and the other night we saw a madonna in an apartment, a little baby on top of a s.e.xy lady, a cherub sucking on a t.i.t, and there's something about that that looks good. So Christopher's going to find me some mothers with babies just born.
Then Chris's hotel was right next to the Flore so he took me up to show me his room, which we're paying for and I thought it was such a dump, but he had gotten a TV and he was really thrilled.
In the Herald Tribune Herald Tribune they describe the horrible death of Steve McQueen. They really went into detail. they describe the horrible death of Steve McQueen. They really went into detail.
Rocksavage invited us over to see his place. There was a big piano and I asked him to play and he just played the most beautiful music. I haven't heard good music played on the piano in so long. I didn't know-these different periods you go into, I never even get to a concert anymore.
Later Fred poured me a big gla.s.s of Mirabelle and I guess I told him I had personal problems and then we talked about art things to do. Fred thought we should do a series of Disney/Warhol, that we should do Snow White and a couple of the dwarfs, and Bambi and anything-Donald Duck. And so I was really thrilled after we decided to do that, and I hope Ron Feldman will think it's a good idea.
I was reading Interview Interview and Bob really wants to drop Tinkerbelle but her interview with George Burns-who I think's had it-she somehow made very interesting. It's a good piece of writing and I think we should keep her. She gets Bob really upset, but she's one of our good writers. and Bob really wants to drop Tinkerbelle but her interview with George Burns-who I think's had it-she somehow made very interesting. It's a good piece of writing and I think we should keep her. She gets Bob really upset, but she's one of our good writers.
Sat.u.r.day, November 15, 1980-Cologne-Paris We were going to a monastery and we had to be there at 12:00 because if we got there one minute after 12:00 we wouldn't be allowed in. Herman drove really fast in this pouring rain. After we got there we weren't allowed to say one word to each other. We went into the lunchroom and then the monk read something for twenty minutes while we ate our lunch-sour apple cider and lentil soup which tasted like canned to me but when I said so everyone just looked at me like I'm crazy, but-I think I know my soup.
There was one really good-looking priest and he was behind me. Then we left and went to Paris.
Sunday, November 16, 1980-Paris-New York Got to New York and dropped Fred off (limo $S0). I had an appointment to meet Bruno Bischofberger at the office at 11:00. He invited us to Julian Schnabel's loft on 20th Street. He's a friend of Ronnie's, an artist who's with Castelli now. We got to the place and there were three limos out front-Bruno sure knows how to spoil artists fast. Julian lives in the same building as Les Levine, and I was so jealous, Julian bought it so cheap four years ago. He's just married, he introduced me to a sort of beautiful wife. And does sort of bad paintings. He's very pushy. There's this whole group of kids doing this bad art, I think they're all influenced by Neil Jenney. Then Bruno comes along and says, "I'll buy everything," and these kids get used to big money, and I don't know what they'll do when it's all over-oh but by then it'll be something different, I guess.
I went to church, gave my thanks for the trip and getting back alive. Did phone calls, and somehow got mesmerized. I got so nervous thinking about all these new kids painting away and me just going to parties, I figured I'd better get cracking. Thomas Ammann called inviting me to dinner with Richard Gere, but I was too tired. I watched Sat.u.r.day Night Fever Sat.u.r.day Night Fever on TV and it was great. on TV and it was great.
Tuesday, November 18, 1980 I was invited to lunch at the Met so I stayed uptown. All the people there were so cla.s.sy and elegant and smart and when I tried to say little comments they wouldn't listen to me. They were rich and young and glamorous and English.
Had a martini with a little vodka. I needed it for courage because the people were so highfalutin'. Prince and Princess Michael of Kent arrived and they were really cla.s.sy. She had on a little hat and a big dress, and she explained that she was pregnant-she was friendly to me. She showed me a picture of her eighteen-month-old baby. The prince had on a well-cut suit-the English know how to give you a new body with a suit, putting the stuff in all the right places. Left there and went down to work. was friendly to me. She showed me a picture of her eighteen-month-old baby. The prince had on a well-cut suit-the English know how to give you a new body with a suit, putting the stuff in all the right places. Left there and went down to work.
I'd asked John Reinhold to be my dinner date so he picked me up (cab $5). Downstairs at the Italian Pavilion. Joe MacDonald was trying to slip out because he said he had "a f.u.c.k date." We finished dinner at 12:00 (cab $4.50). After I got home John called and said his wife wasn't home, that this was the first time that'd ever happened. I didn't know what to say, I'd already taken a Valium and didn't know what to do.
Wednesday, November 19, 1980 Walked up Madison, decided to visit Jane Wyeth at Sotheby's. We have two big ads from Christie's and we're still trying to get Sotheby's. The auction business is so booming. I couldn't even carry all the catalogues I walked out with. These auction places are so fake, though. They just put things out again if they don't sell them and then eventually a sucker who's born every minute comes along. I wish I'd thought of that line-"There's a sucker born every minute" (cabs downtown $3.50, $3).
Ran into Edmund Gaultney, his opening of my show was at night. It was a show of something you wouldn't think I'd do at a place you wouldn't think I'd be, but he didn't tell me the one great thing about it until after it was over-that it was only for one day! one day! Isn't that great? But he didn't tell anybody. Isn't that great? But he didn't tell anybody.
I did an interview for Henry Post for a New York New York magazine article he's doing on elegance, things money can buy. I suppose he'll probably promote Jed's fancy decorating business in the article. They're friends. Fred and I had a business talk. Bob got some Was.h.i.+ngton ads because of the Reagan kids' interviews in the issues. magazine article he's doing on elegance, things money can buy. I suppose he'll probably promote Jed's fancy decorating business in the article. They're friends. Fred and I had a business talk. Bob got some Was.h.i.+ngton ads because of the Reagan kids' interviews in the issues.
Went to the gallery, it's at 24 East 82nd, and it was really cute. Tom Cas.h.i.+n was there, he said he tried out for Oklahoma! Oklahoma! and I told him he should try out for and I told him he should try out for Brigadoon Brigadoon, he'd be better than John Curry. I was standing next to Paloma's husband, Mr. Pica.s.so, but I just can't remember anybody's name, so I couldn't introduce him to anybody, and I think he was mad. Chris Makos was there with Peter Wise and a gay vice-president of Paramount, Jon Gould.
We went to the Gibbon for dinner. It's half French food and half j.a.panese. I like the j.a.panese half better. The headwaiter finally showed his true colors and was a big fairy. Dinner must have cost Edmund a fortune. Home at 12:00.