Chapter 39
Cabbed ($3) to Mr. Chow's and had drinks with Diane Von Furstenberg, Barry Diller, and Mrs. Chow, and next to my place was a place card that said "Joan" and I asked, "Joan who?" and I couldn't believe it when they said Joan Collins. And she arrived and was wearing a fake white Halston. She said she's known Halston for years. And she did not have a line or blemish on her face. She said she didn't give interviews or do Carson or anything, but that she would do one for Interview Interview. But then later Robert Hayes told me she's been on the cover of everything. (laughs) (laughs) I should start telling people who invite me to things that I I should start telling people who invite me to things that I never never go out but that I will go out for go out but that I will go out for them them.
Wednesday, May 4, 1983 Did the routines with Benjamin. It started out warm but then got colder (phone $.20). Had lunch at John's Pizzeria and at the end they did something great, they said, "This is on the house," and I couldn't believe it, that never happens in regular places (tip to waiter $5)! This is the place where Ara Gallant had us take Mary Tyler Moore to be interviewed.
Bought the New York Native New York Native because there's a review of my Endangered Species show in it ($1.25). Bought a copy of Steve Aronson's book, because there's a review of my Endangered Species show in it ($1.25). Bought a copy of Steve Aronson's book, Hype Hype (book $15.95, cab $4). Worked on art things. Then decided to (book $15.95, cab $4). Worked on art things. Then decided to go go to Steve Aronson's party at Kathy Johnson's house. She's the one who's so rich but it's not from Johnson & Johnson (cab $4). Everyone was there and it was jammed. Lily Auchincloss. And Tom Wolfe, and Farley Granger, Jean Vanderbilt, Terry Southern, the Hearsts, Dorothy Schiff. And just everybody. And lots of young beauties. Had Steve autograph the book I bought and I mean, why didn't they send me a free copy? Baird Jones was there and he said he'd read his father's copy two weeks ago, so that's when I got mad. And Steve looked sort of scared. And there are other parties for him coming up. to Steve Aronson's party at Kathy Johnson's house. She's the one who's so rich but it's not from Johnson & Johnson (cab $4). Everyone was there and it was jammed. Lily Auchincloss. And Tom Wolfe, and Farley Granger, Jean Vanderbilt, Terry Southern, the Hearsts, Dorothy Schiff. And just everybody. And lots of young beauties. Had Steve autograph the book I bought and I mean, why didn't they send me a free copy? Baird Jones was there and he said he'd read his father's copy two weeks ago, so that's when I got mad. And Steve looked sort of scared. And there are other parties for him coming up.
Sat.u.r.day, May 7, 1983 Benjamin picked me up and then picked up John Reinhold and we went to 78th and Madison to that expensive Italian place, Sant Ambroeus. And because they're so expensive they do everything slllowwwly. They wrap everything chicly ten times and you pay for their chic slowness.
And oh, my sister-in-law is in town and she calls and says she's going to come over some evening, but I keep saying I'm out of town. Her son James doesn't call anymore-he's been in New York for about two years. He got a place right across the 59th Street Bridge in Long Island City. So he's sticking it out. He does art freelance, he draws sort of Conan the Barbarian-looking things.
Sunday, May 8, 1983 Decided to work at home on boxes. When you flatten out product boxes they're so beautiful.
I've noticed that People People is putting people with problems on the cover. Like the David Soul wife-beating cover, and now Kristy McNichol with her breakdown. And I can see we're going to be having problems getting people for is putting people with problems on the cover. Like the David Soul wife-beating cover, and now Kristy McNichol with her breakdown. And I can see we're going to be having problems getting people for Interview Interview covers from now on, because I think covers from now on, because I think Rolling Stone Rolling Stone is putting the pressure on, telling people that if they want the is putting the pressure on, telling people that if they want the Rolling Stone Rolling Stone cover, they can't do cover, they can't do Interview Interview. But you know, our Interview Interview with Sting on the cover was the biggest seller yet, and all the music covers sell well, like Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. And the reason I'm thinking that with Sting on the cover was the biggest seller yet, and all the music covers sell well, like Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. And the reason I'm thinking that Rolling Stone Rolling Stone is starting to play tough is because we can't get Travolta and we couldn't get Sean Penn. So we need to think of people to put on the cover, young people, new kids. It's got to be at the exact right time, not too early or late. is starting to play tough is because we can't get Travolta and we couldn't get Sean Penn. So we need to think of people to put on the cover, young people, new kids. It's got to be at the exact right time, not too early or late.
Monday, May 9, 1983 Karen Burke called and I didn't want to take the call, she was that girl who used to come down with Hoveyda, and she likes older men or something. But then she told Brigid she was almost a doctor and that she was a collagen and hair-transplant expert so I took the call, and she said she wanted to become my personal doctor for all this stuff. She said she'll be getting her license to practice in three months. She came down with about 4,000 free samples. She said she worked with Orentreich. She's the one that Rupert got the human heart from when I was doing the Hearts. She took it from a cadaver, I guess. Those Hearts of mine weren't a hit because I didn't figure out how to do them right. I was beginning to use my abstract look. Worked all afternoon.
Watched cable TV looking for Andy Warhol's Andy Warhol's TV on MSG-TV but it wasn't on, so called Vincent and he was in bed already and didn't know why it hadn't been on. TV on MSG-TV but it wasn't on, so called Vincent and he was in bed already and didn't know why it hadn't been on.
Tuesday, May 10,1983 Karen the almost-doctor came by, and I think I will become her first patient when she gets her office in three months. I am thinking of a facelift but she said to wait and she'd give it to me. I never went back to Dr. Rees after that consultation, I still owe him $200.
Then Steve Aronson came in with a girl named Evgenia, she's a Guinness but she has a Polish last name and she's Robert Lowell's stepdaughter-a short dark-haired English girl, she's trying to be a model. And we all went to Worth Street, just near Ca.n.a.l, and I let the girl pay for the cab. Somehow I didn't want to, somehow I wanted her to. The three of us were being photographed together, I didn't know why, for the English magazine Ritz Ritz, which I hear David Bailey's sold, but it's still hanging on. Somebody was getting something, but I couldn't figure out what was going on. And you could tell the photographer was an amateur because he took too many pictures, too many rolls. Left there. Dropped Steve off ($5.50) and then I finally put it together what it was all about. The girl wanted pictures to use in her modeling portfolio and the Ritz Ritz wanted pictures of me, so she used Steve wanted pictures of me, so she used Steve to to get me down there by telling him they needed me to represent get me down there by telling him they needed me to represent (laughs) (laughs) "hype" because they're running an interview with Steve on his book "hype" because they're running an interview with Steve on his book Hype Hype. In the cab Steve said the picture they took of the three of us was going to be on the cover cover and so then I just and so then I just looked looked at him-I mean, if it's for the cover, they'll just crop him out anyway and they'll use a picture of me and say, "Mr. Hype." So that was a real waste of time for everybody but the girl. at him-I mean, if it's for the cover, they'll just crop him out anyway and they'll use a picture of me and say, "Mr. Hype." So that was a real waste of time for everybody but the girl.
Wednesday, May 11, 1983 You know, you begin to wonder if there isn't something to these Polish jokes. I mean, the Polish Inst.i.tute is next door and they have a sign on the door that says to use the next door, and they have an arrow pointing to the second door. Well they walk right by that second door and come to my house and ring my bell. It really makes you wonder.
My sister-in-law Ann just got me on the phone, and she keeps wanting to come over here and I keep telling her I'm going out of town. And they just had a forty-year reunion and I was the only one in the family not invited because they knew I wouldn't come. And she just told me her daughter now sells mortuary plots, and she said, "She's married to a 6'4" guy and he's Lutheran and he's very nice, what a nice guy, uh, he's not working at the moment moment, but..." I always hated this sister-in-law. She made her one son become a priest and I guess he really didn't want to. I always thought she should be a nun herself. And the daughter, Eva, when she was taking care of my mother when I was in Paris making L'Amour L'Amour, she made me rush right back to New York saying she just had to leave and get on with her life, and I told her, "What "What life?" She could have just lived in New York and kept taking care of my mother, but she wouldn't, she went to Denver. Well, she's still out there. And here's my sister-in-law telling me all things I don't want to hear, like, "Do you realize it's the anniversary of your father's death? Did you go to church for a.s.sumption?" life?" She could have just lived in New York and kept taking care of my mother, but she wouldn't, she went to Denver. Well, she's still out there. And here's my sister-in-law telling me all things I don't want to hear, like, "Do you realize it's the anniversary of your father's death? Did you go to church for a.s.sumption?" [Note: Andy's father died in May 1942 when Andy was thirteen.] [Note: Andy's father died in May 1942 when Andy was thirteen.]
Sat.u.r.day, May 14, 1983 It was sunny, warm. The tree in front of the house didn't make it through the winter and I asked people what I can do about it and they said you have to call the city and tell them about it and they probably won't do anything until the fall.
Met Benjamin and we went downtown to the Sandro Chia show at the Castelli Gallery (cab $5). And then went over to Tony Shafrazi's and saw the works of somebody named... I forget. It's Fred Flintstone graffiti, that's what he's known for-Kenny somebody. Scharf. And so I was thinking of buying a work of this artist and I figured it would be $4,000 or $5,000. So we left there and when I called later on after thinking about it they said it cost $16,000. I mean, these are kids right off the street getting these prices!
Went to the office and John O'Connor came to help. Did two big Rorschachs and they looked kind of good, I don't know. I get so confused looking at art, you don't know whether to change or stay the same. Oh (laughs) (laughs) I know, I won't change, I won't change. I know, I won't change, I won't change.
Sunday, May 15, 1983 Called PH and she'd just interviewed the guy who directed War Games War Games, and he told her that when he directed Sat.u.r.day Night Fever Sat.u.r.day Night Fever, John Travolta didn't want to wear the famous white disco suit because he didn't think white was cool-he wanted to wear a black black one. But then the guy pointed out to Travolta that if he wore black he'd fade into the background and you'd only be able to see the girl he was dancing with, so he changed his mind fast. That'll be a good scoop for one. But then the guy pointed out to Travolta that if he wore black he'd fade into the background and you'd only be able to see the girl he was dancing with, so he changed his mind fast. That'll be a good scoop for Interview Interview.
Went over to the Criterion to see Breathless Breathless (tickets $10). It's strange to see Richard Gere doing this. If it'd been somebody like Matt Dillon it would have been like a James Dean movie. It's that Sartre way, the nothingness thing. You would think existentialism would be still modern, but it isn't. He does bad things and you see his a.s.s all the time, he just drops his pants every chance he gets. But it's strange to see someone that age doing that, but maybe that'll bring back that kind of person. It was written by our old friend, Kit Carson. The movie had an old-fas.h.i.+oned feeling to it. (tickets $10). It's strange to see Richard Gere doing this. If it'd been somebody like Matt Dillon it would have been like a James Dean movie. It's that Sartre way, the nothingness thing. You would think existentialism would be still modern, but it isn't. He does bad things and you see his a.s.s all the time, he just drops his pants every chance he gets. But it's strange to see someone that age doing that, but maybe that'll bring back that kind of person. It was written by our old friend, Kit Carson. The movie had an old-fas.h.i.+oned feeling to it.
Monday, May 16, 1983 Brigid just told me that Mickey Ruskin O.D.'d at 3:00 in the morning. Mickey had been calling her for months, wanting her to give an interview on Max's Kansas City and the sixties for a book he was doing on Max's.
Called Julian Schnabel ($.50) and then went over there. He has four floors in the building that Les Levine bought years ago and then co-op'd. Schnabel used to be his a.s.sistant. Julian's following my philosophy of doing a painting a day, he's trying to be the new Andy Warhol, so that made me nervous so I left and worked very hard at the office until 8:00.
Wednesday, May 18,1983 Benjamin had invited Keith Haring and Kenny Scharf for lunch. I tried to get Keith on the Interview Interview cover, I was thinking it would be good to have an artist on the cover, art is so big now, but they wouldn't let me. It looks like we're going to use Miguel Bose. cover, I was thinking it would be good to have an artist on the cover, art is so big now, but they wouldn't let me. It looks like we're going to use Miguel Bose.
Richard Gere hasn't returned Interview Interview phone calls about being on the cover, so I guess he's not a friend. phone calls about being on the cover, so I guess he's not a friend.
Oh, and Paige is upset-Jean Michel Basquiat is really on heroin-and she was crying, telling me to do something, but what can you do? He got a hole in his nose and he couldn't do c.o.ke anymore, and he wanted to still be on something, I guess. I guess he wants to be the youngest artist to go. Paige gave him a big art show uptown last month and she's the reason he's been around the office-they're "involved."
Thursday, May 19, 1983 The papers were full of Lord Jermyn getting busted for "trafficking in heroin."
Friday, May 20, 1983 A day for more newspaper shockers, Monique Van Vooren was charged with cas.h.i.+ng her dead mother's Social Security checks for years, ever since she died.
Decided to go to the Fiorucci party at Studio 54 and it was so embarra.s.sing to at this point get into a cab and say (laughs) (laughs), "Studio 54, please."
And Peter Beard was there, he's back from Africa, but he said not to tell Cheryl.
Monday, May 23, 1983 I decided to take Chris to Europe again because I get nervous being alone there while Fred's off doing business.
Then Chris was having John s.e.x at his place with his boa constrictor-he uses it in his act- so I went over there to take pictures, took about three rolls, but I was scared of the snake. And the snake sleeps with him. And John has the most unusual hair, the most extreme style-a very big big exaggerated pompadour, dyed blond and hair-sprayed, and he said that when he got into a cab one day his hair was just this big mess and standing out all over the place and the cab driver said to him, "What's that? An Andy Warhol wig?"
Monday, May
And Julian Schnabel's painting just went for $96,000 at auction. Clemente is another one of those new Italian painters, like Chia and Cucci. And somehow Julian is in this category, too-he really is determined to be a big star.
Later, I was getting calls from Victor and he was crying and hysterical and saying he had no friends and that when Halston came home "something" was going to happen at 6:00. And I said, "Oh, Victor, I mean, I just don't want to be involved because the last time I was involved you told me to mind my own business. Just don't do anything crazy." And he said that he would drag Halston's name through the papers and ruin his image, and I said that he he would be the one who got hurt. And I think this is all because Victor's new boyfriend just jilted him and people transfer these things. would be the one who got hurt. And I think this is all because Victor's new boyfriend just jilted him and people transfer these things.
Tuesday, May 31,1983 Fred told me that as he was going by 63rd Street and Park, he saw these two guys hugging and kissing in the middle of the street and it turned out to be Victor and his boyfriend, so I guess I don't have to worry about Victor for a while again.
Wednesday, June 1, 1983 Bruno came to lunch, and Jean Michel Basquiat. And after Paige'd been crying away that he was destroying himself on drugs and was going to die, here he showed up as healthy as a horse, he's put on twenty pounds, and he was just in Jamaica, and he looked actually handsome. He gets his hair cut at this shop on Astor Place that's gotten so chic, it used to be $2.50 for a haircut and now it's $4 something.
Thursday, June 2, 1983 Liz Smith did a whole column on Calvin, saying that she sat next to him the other night and he absolutely denied the rumor that he had AIDS and that he looked healthy and happy and that he was now off in Morocco.
And I forgot to say that yesterday on the Today Show Today Show Steve Aronson was on to promote Steve Aronson was on to promote Hype Hype, and they quoted my "In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes" line. The girl who interviewed him was the blonde who's replacing Jane Pauley for the week. She attacked Steve but he deserved it-he went too far in the book, he was too mean. How is it that someone so smart and so funny can't figure out that being mean always backfires?
And Chris said that he visited Tony Perkins and Berry. I guess Psycho II Psycho II will make a lot of money this summer. He said that when Berry went into the other room Tony started pointing to Chris's crotch and saying, "I'd like to see you," and all Chris could say was, "All right, Norman." I never really liked Tony because he treated me badly once when he was with Tab Hunter. will make a lot of money this summer. He said that when Berry went into the other room Tony started pointing to Chris's crotch and saying, "I'd like to see you," and all Chris could say was, "All right, Norman." I never really liked Tony because he treated me badly once when he was with Tab Hunter.
At 1:30 Curley called and said he was just sitting there with his dog thinking about me.
Friday, June 3, 1983 The city is just teeming with beautiful kids who all look like models. They must come from everywhere. And the Post Post today had the headline: "Fas.h.i.+on Designer Dies of AIDS." But it wasn't Calvin, it was a South American. And I heard that last night at the Santo Domingo wedding party which I didn't go to, someone was saying to Zara who works for Calvin, "Okay, enough is enough, you've got to tell me, what's the story with Calvin?" And just at that moment he walked in looking so healthy and he said, "I just got back from Marrakesh." today had the headline: "Fas.h.i.+on Designer Dies of AIDS." But it wasn't Calvin, it was a South American. And I heard that last night at the Santo Domingo wedding party which I didn't go to, someone was saying to Zara who works for Calvin, "Okay, enough is enough, you've got to tell me, what's the story with Calvin?" And just at that moment he walked in looking so healthy and he said, "I just got back from Marrakesh."
Sat.u.r.day, June 4, 1983 It's now around the time of the fifteenth anniversary of the day Robert Kennedy was killed and I was shot. They found a letter at the new building saying "Welcome to the neighborhood," and it was from Crazy Matty. He's living at the Hotel Seville, just a few blocks away. Went to bed early and that was that.
Sunday, June 5, 1983 Cabbed to the Water Basin on 32nd Street and the East River near where the helicopters take off ($6) to go to Brooke s.h.i.+elds's eighteenth birthday party. Brooke was sweet, her mother thanked me for coming. The usual people were there, Cornelia with her beau. Couri Hay and Scavullo and Sean Byrnes. And Ted Kennedy, Jr. came and said h.e.l.lo. Brooke ate with us, and it's just so funny to see her with her little girlfriends, because here's this 6' G.o.ddess and then these short little ducklings who're smart-I mean they're smarter than Brooke, but it's just like two such different things. She looks twenty-five. If she could only get her voice down to sounding less feminine she could really make it in the movies.
And Brooke thanked me for the present of putting her on the cover oi Interview oi Interview, but I'd already given her a painting, so she was just being nice saying that.
And she gave out pictures of herself in a little silver frame, which was a cute idea. The food looked good, everybody looked pretty. Slipped out at 12:00 and went home to walk the dogs.
Monday, June 6, 1983 The morning was great. Chris called and said that Coleco was going up ten points by the minute. He and I both have some.
And I love seeing the new People People magazine with Tony Perkins on the cover, and it talked about him being gay, as if it were all in the past. Isn't that funny? And it talked about Brigitte Bardot and Ingrid Bergman and Jane Fonda trying to make him. Left out Tab Hunter and Chris Makos, but it didn't say that he used to hire hustlers to come in through the window and pretend to be robbers. I wonder if Chris had to do that. I guess maybe he did. Chris did get wild. magazine with Tony Perkins on the cover, and it talked about him being gay, as if it were all in the past. Isn't that funny? And it talked about Brigitte Bardot and Ingrid Bergman and Jane Fonda trying to make him. Left out Tab Hunter and Chris Makos, but it didn't say that he used to hire hustlers to come in through the window and pretend to be robbers. I wonder if Chris had to do that. I guess maybe he did. Chris did get wild.
Tuesday, June 7, 1983 It was really busy at the office. Jay came in the back to where I was working and told me that Sidney Poitier's son was there. And everybody at the office, they all believed it. It was like believing in the Du Pont twins or something. Jay really really fell for it. Finally we got him out when he said that his mother Diahann Carroll was coming to meet him there, so I said, "Oh, you might miss her if you don't wait for her downstairs." Oh, and Diana fell for it. Finally we got him out when he said that his mother Diahann Carroll was coming to meet him there, so I said, "Oh, you might miss her if you don't wait for her downstairs." Oh, and Diana Ross Ross was going to be coming was going to be coming with with her. I forgot. Diana Ross, too. And her. I forgot. Diana Ross, too. And still still they all believed it. they all believed it.
So cabbed up to the Museum of Natural History ($8) in traffic. Saw Halston's show then went to his place. And when I got there Halston said, "A very strange thing happened. My doorbell rang and there was this boy who claimed he was the son of Sidney Poitier and Diahann Carroll and he said he was meeting you you here for dinner, and I told him, 'Listen, darling, you're not invited.' " I guess when this kid was at the office in the afternoon he must have overheard that I was going to Halston's for dinner. here for dinner, and I told him, 'Listen, darling, you're not invited.' " I guess when this kid was at the office in the afternoon he must have overheard that I was going to Halston's for dinner.
Wednesday, June 8, 1983 The fake Poitier kid called the office and said (laughs) (laughs) he was coming for lunch. He's beautiful, like a mulatto girl. Lispy. I screamed at Jay and said that if he let him set one foot in the door I'd kick them he was coming for lunch. He's beautiful, like a mulatto girl. Lispy. I screamed at Jay and said that if he let him set one foot in the door I'd kick them both both out. Jay still isn't convinced the kid isn't real! But then he never did come. out. Jay still isn't convinced the kid isn't real! But then he never did come.
Thursday, June 9, 1983 Got up early because I had a 10:00 appointment at the office that Fred had made with Wayne Gretzky of the Oilers (cab $6). When I got there they said that Gretzky had just called and said he was coming right down. Meanwhile Fred who had made this early, early meeting wasn't there yet. By 12:30 I was still the only one there, and I was mad. I found out from Brigid that the reason Fred was late was because he'd brought home a black girl and she'd Mickey Finn'd him and taken all his watches, so I didn't yell at him. And finally Gretzky arrived and he was adorable, blond and twenty-two and cute. He doesn't wear shoulder pads when he plays. I told him he should go into the movies and he said that he was going to be in a Fall Guy Fall Guy and a Tom Selleck. He dates a Canadian singer. and a Tom Selleck. He dates a Canadian singer.
Brigid went up to Jennifer's graduation from Spence, and I couldn't go, I disappointed Jennifer, because I had the Gretzky thing and then lolas to tape. But I called her and told her to bring her father down afterwards for lunch. Sent Brigid out for desserts ($20) and had champagne with Jennifer and her father. And then after they left, that's when Benjamin told me that her father had been Edie's psychiatrist! Jennifer didn't tell her father until a few days ago that she was working here. Jennifer stayed on and worked.
Sunday, June 12, 1983 Up early, it was a beautiful day. Went to church. Then Jon and I cabbed up to the Bronx Zoo where I'd never been in my life ($20, admission $5). And it was really great. Took a lot of pictures, it was fun. Decided to go on the Safari Trail ride, and ran into Ron Galella who was there with his wife who'd also never been. Then Ron gave us a ride to the Grand Concourse and we got- a subway ($1.50). The subway made a lot of stops at first, but then it was express. Got off at Columbus Circle and walked home.
The day had been mostly black. Originally, the city was having Puerto Rican Day, so that was one of the main reasons to get away. But P.R. Day was 98.9 percent black. The subway was 85 percent black. The zoo was 80 percent black, the park was 99.5 percent black. Whites are really a minority.
Monday, June 13, 1983 Eddie Murphy's person called and said he turned us down for the cover. I wonder if this is all on purpose. Is Rolling Stone Rolling Stone putting the word out? Well, I'll remember. An old dog never forgets. putting the word out? Well, I'll remember. An old dog never forgets.
Tuesday, June 14, 1983 Got up early. Benjamin went to Boston without even telling me. He went up to perform with fifteen girls and him as a drag queen. He still goes in drag. On request. He lip-synchs to records.
At 10:00 I had an appointment to do a modeling job for the Jordan Marsh catalogue at Scavullo's. I used my own makeup after reading the AIDS piece in New York New York. I forgot my lip gloss, though. And for the first time in a long time I haven't had one pimple. Karen Burke's treatments are working. She gave me this stuff called Ten Percent, and it's benzoyl peroxide. Which is what Clearasil is. But then Clearasil has the coloring, so I can use it like makeup.
Wednesday, June 15, 1983 Chris called me up and was mad because Jon told him that I'd never take him and Peter to dinner again because they just order everything and have it wrapped to take it home. And I told him it was true. But later when I got home Peter had sent an orchid plant, so I felt bad.
Our old office architect Peter Marino was featured in The New York Times The New York Times this week for doing Marella Agnelli's apartment. So I guess he's rolling in bucks now. this week for doing Marella Agnelli's apartment. So I guess he's rolling in bucks now.
And Richard Gere is finally calling back, he says now he may do our cover. He must feel he has a flop movie coming out.
Thursday, June 16, 1983 Timothy Hutton came to be interviewed by Maura and me. Maura, I could tell, wasn't really hot for him, the sparks weren't flying. But (laughs) (laughs) I was hot for him. He was so adorable. He looked scruffy. He's just finished I was hot for him. He was so adorable. He looked scruffy. He's just finished Daniel Daniel.
Frank Zappa came to be interviewed for our TV show and I think that after the interview I hated Zappa even more than when it started. I remember when he was so mean to us when the Mothers of Invention played with the Velvet Underground-I think both at the Trip, in L.A., and at the Fillmore in San Francisco. I hated him then and I still don't like him. And he was awfully strange about Moon. I said how great she was, and he said, "Listen, I created her. I invented her." Like, "She's nothing, it's all me." And I mean, if it were my my daughter I would be saying, "Gee, she's so smart," but he's taking all the credit. It was peculiar. daughter I would be saying, "Gee, she's so smart," but he's taking all the credit. It was peculiar.
Then Stellan from Sweden was waiting and we went over to Sandro Chia's on West 23rd and 10th Avenue. And he has almost the whole building now. He has a lithographic press that he wants other artists to use. I guess he's making it like a foundation, a tax thing. And he's supposed to be giving me a picture, and that's why I wanted to go over there, but he gave me one I didn't like. I wanted a Floating Man one. And Benjamin said he looked in Chia's eyes and that they were "wild eyes." And afterwards I said to Benjamin, "Well what do you mean?" I said, "Look into my my eyes and what do you see?" And Benjamin said, "Troubled eyes." I said, "Oh who do you think you are?" eyes and what do you see?" And Benjamin said, "Troubled eyes." I said, "Oh who do you think you are?"
Sunday, June 19, 1983 Victor called and I'm just afraid that drugs have taken over Victor's brain, because you know, you're emotional, and then you take all the drugs, and do all the fighting, and then suddenly it happens-you're over the brink. I'm afraid he's having a nervous breakdown. He said he was in a hospital and had all these st.i.tches and bruises, and it was too crazy. And he said that the night before, the air conditioner had broken at Halston's, but I wasn't sure if it had really broken or if Halston had just wanted to drive him out. I guess it really must have been broken, though, because Halston wouldn't have wanted the orchids to die and they were dying.
And I've been thinking about these people who sell things on the street, because I watched on TV and this newscaster was just beaming beaming doing this story about how the city confiscated $485,000 in street vendors' merchandise. But I mean, there were these black people out there working, trying to actually sell, and now they'll just start stealing! I mean, vendors are messy and dirty and they slop up the streets, but they're trying to do doing this story about how the city confiscated $485,000 in street vendors' merchandise. But I mean, there were these black people out there working, trying to actually sell, and now they'll just start stealing! I mean, vendors are messy and dirty and they slop up the streets, but they're trying to do workl workl And here they're beaming on TV that they put them out of business. And they have the store owners on saying they pay big rents and it isn't fair, but I mean, do the stores sell the same stuff as the people on the streets? Not really. And here they're beaming on TV that they put them out of business. And they have the store owners on saying they pay big rents and it isn't fair, but I mean, do the stores sell the same stuff as the people on the streets? Not really.
Monday, June 20, 1983 Timothy Hutton stood up the photographer and stylist for his Interview Interview cover. He just left them waiting which I was surprised about, so that upset us. He called later and said he'd had an earache, and that they could do the cover in L.A. I guess when you get that successful at twenty-one... cover. He just left them waiting which I was surprised about, so that upset us. He called later and said he'd had an earache, and that they could do the cover in L.A. I guess when you get that successful at twenty-one...
Friday, June 24, 1983-New York-Montauk We got on the plane to Montauk and I've never had anything like this happen before-this two-engine plane wouldn't start, and so they backed up another plane to it and tried to jump-cut the wires. I couldn't believe it. And Halston's saying, "Listen, darling, these pilots don't want to die, they know what they're doing." And I said, "I've flown in a lot of planes and I've never seen anything like this." And finally it got too ridiculous. They couldn't jump-start it and so we got off. And they (laughs) (laughs) offered us pretzels and peanuts. They were embarra.s.sed. So then we got another plane (food $5). Then we flew out and the ride was fast and beautiful-the moon was coming up full and we flew over all the big houses. offered us pretzels and peanuts. They were embarra.s.sed. So then we got another plane (food $5). Then we flew out and the ride was fast and beautiful-the moon was coming up full and we flew over all the big houses.
Halston's brother who's the attache in Brussels was there with his wife and kids and stepkids. The kids were wearing Halston's new line from J.C. Penney. I think it's a hit.
Sat.u.r.day, June 25, 1983-Montauk Paul Morrissey said that someone called and offered to rent Montauk for $80,000. And Halston only pays $40,000. But it's so much better with Halston, he keeps everything up and doesn't have a lot of people out, and part of the reason he's paying $40,000 is because he put furniture in. And Liza doesn't come out anymore-she and Halston are still not on good terms. Because she didn't wear a Halston to the Oscars. And I keep asking people, "Why would she have done that?" But I think it's the Geros. They wanted to break her up with Halston so they'd have more control. I mean, when your husband tells you you don't look good in these clothes... I guess Mark knew that Liza was using Halston's to have a.s.signations, too. But Liz Taylor will be coming out to visit Halston in Montauk soon-she's getting Sat.u.r.days and Sundays off from Private Lives Private Lives.
Went into the town. And Halston was saying to me, "Oh darling, wouldn't it be grand if your paintings cost a dollar and you could just cover houses all over the world with them, and a big one for over the fireplace would cost $50-but think of all the homes in America that you could just fill up." The J.C. Penney concept.
Sunday June 26, 1983-Montauk-New York We went over to Gurney's Inn and I'd never been there. It's next to Edward Albee's. Gurney's has the rustic look. It's modern with a cave in the wall. It has balconies that are 4' X 6', and when we were on one balcony looking down on another, we could see these two men counting out hundred-dollar bills on green felt. I guess a boat had just smuggled in some drugs.
Monday, June 27, 1983 This morning a big bridge from Greenwich, Connecticut to New York broke and four cars drove off it.
You know, I'm just not sure that people want to read interviews. Because when you read an article about somebody you find out all these things about their lives. Like the article this week in People People on Jon's friend Katy Dobbs, who's the editor of on Jon's friend Katy Dobbs, who's the editor of Muppet Muppet magazine, and her boyfriend, Fred Newman. But then, since the sixties, after years of more and more and more "people" in the news, you still don't know anything more about people. Maybe you know magazine, and her boyfriend, Fred Newman. But then, since the sixties, after years of more and more and more "people" in the news, you still don't know anything more about people. Maybe you know more more, but you don't know better better. Like you can live with someone and not have any idea, either. So what good does all this information do you?
Wednesday, June 29, 1983 Richard Simmons has sort of disappeared. After being the biggest thing in America last year he's just on real early in the morning.
I was picked up by Ian Schrager and went out to Roy Cohn's annual party in Greenwich and traffic was bad because of the bridge that had collapsed, and now they say that it was a seven-inch pin that caused the whole thing to go. It's so abstract. People just kept driving onto it even when it wasn't there-until a big tractor-trailer blocked it off.
I talked to Bob Colacello. He's going to Europe to do an article for Parade Parade. Sat in a corner by the pond. Ate a fast dinner. Saw Calvin and told him that Juan Hamilton was very upset that Calvin hadn't taken his call. I guess Juan and Georgia O'Keeffe feel that they treated Calvin so well when he was out there in New Mexico with them that he should be very friendly and do favors, but then I guess Calvin feels that he spent so much money buying Georgia's paintings that he doesn't have to do anything more.
Thursday, June 30, 1983 Let's see, I started off with I Love Lucy Love Lucy which was a good one-Lucy doing everything to Desi's scalp because he thinks he's going bald. which was a good one-Lucy doing everything to Desi's scalp because he thinks he's going bald.
Stopped at the new building and Robert Hayes really dresses up in a suit now, a really good look, the Bob Colacello look, it looks nice. But I mean, there he is with his dog at the office, and dogs can carry diseases... And I think, Oh what am I doing with my dogs, letting them get so close to me after they've been out on the streets. Halston never lets Linda go to the street. She p.o.o.ps in the kitchen. The one time Halston let her go to the park she came back with those fleas that Archie got on the same day in the park (phone $.50, supplies $17.32).
And when people on the street turn me down when I offer them a free Interview Interview, it just gets me right in the gut.
Our TV show got a mention in Time Time in an article about in an article about Entertainment Tonight Entertainment Tonight.
Paige Powell had a big lunch for the Black Star & Frost jewelry guy, to try to get ads. And Victor called and asked me if I stole his book on St. Sebastian. And I had to say yes. But how can a person who's so drugged-out know that I stole his book?
Dropped Benjamin ($6). Then got another cab to the Olympic Tower to meet Halston, to go out to see Liza perform in New Jersey ($3). Nancy and Bill Dugan were coming, and Bill now wears his coat over his shoulders just like Halston.
So we got there and it was a place with a top but no sides and it was freezing. Liza's show was just great, two acts, better than The Act The Act. She's fabulous. She wore her YSL for the opening but with an Elsa Peretti belt, and then after that the outfits were Halston. A hairdresser punked up her hair, she's decided to be punk. I was starved, hadn't eaten, and there were no hot dogs or food being sold.
And then Liza came in the car with us going back. And she said she didn't like a dark limousine, she had to have a light, and so she turned on a light and it was on me and I couldn't stand it and so then I turned the light so it was on her, and she liked that. She was in this spotlight all the way back.
Friday, July 1,1983 Worked at the office all day. Fred was planning his trip to Europe. He's going on Tuesday-one of the Lambton girls is getting married. And then Catherine's getting married on July 16, she called me to ask if I was going and I'm not.
Got myself together and picked up Peter Wise. Cabbed to Keith Haring's ($8.50). And he had such beautiful painted kids there, all like Li'l Abner and Daisy Mae. Wearing earrings and punk fun clothes. And black 6' pickaninnies.
And this was a party because Keith just broke through into another apartment. He's just got a tent in it where he and his black boyfriend sleep. We're going to photograph it for Interview Interview. Keith was such a good hostess. This is at like Bowery and Broome.
John s.e.x was there who has the beautiful hairdo. I took about fifty pictures. I shot without my contacts and I took one of a girl in the bathroom and she almost beat me up, and then when I left I found out I didn't have any film in the camera.
Sat.u.r.day, July 2, 1983 Went over to Mr. Chow's for a birthday party for Jerry Hall who looks so stunning, so beautiful. White flowers and white roses were the decorations downstairs. Her sister who was in Urban Cowboy Urban Cowboy who married the Robin Lehman guy was there, and she had sort of a different att.i.tude toward me, sort of cool. And I'd just seen who married the Robin Lehman guy was there, and she had sort of a different att.i.tude toward me, sort of cool. And I'd just seen Urban Cowboy Urban Cowboy on TV a couple of times and she was so slim in it and now she has those wide Texas hips. on TV a couple of times and she was so slim in it and now she has those wide Texas hips.
Clarisse Rivers was there, really fun. And Earl McGrath was funny. Mick happened to sit near me. Jed was there and I think he was with Alan Wanzenberg, and actually I think it was Alan who was sitting next to me but I wasn't absolutely sure. The seating was a free-for-all. There was a big white cake with all the candles. The party went on and on. It was great. Left at 1:30, and was miserable.
Sunday, July 3, 1983 It was hot out. I went to church. Called Jay Shriver, cabbed down to meet him ($6). Opened up, worked all afternoon. Called Earl McGrath and asked if I could bring Jay to dinner. Cabbed to West 57th Street ($8).
It was very air-conditioned at Earl's. Camilla makes great food, a good Italian cook. Annie Leibovitz was there, and she said Jann Wenner's mad at her because she accepted a year's contract with Vanity Fair Vanity Fair and he said she couldn't work for and he said she couldn't work for Rolling Stone Rolling Stone and and Vanity Fair Vanity Fair, too.
Then everybody had to read poetry and that was the funniest thing. I didn't, but everybody else did. They took them off the bookshelves. Really, it was so sick. Earl's such a camp. I was laughing, everybody was. But reading straight. Like Jerry Hall reading straight like, "I am so-and-so, king of kings/Look at me and despair."
Tuesday, July 5, 1983 There was a party at the Statue of Liberty, but I'd already read publicity of me going to it so I felt it was done already.
Wednesday, July 6, 1983 I had an appointment with Karen Burke because she's leaving for Europe and she wants to test me to see if she can give me collagen and I'm going to do it because she worked out well for my pimples. I read that the collagen only lasts three to six months, but so what, then you just have it done again.
Christopher came back from California, and we talked an hour on the phone. Worked till 7:30 then decided to take the kids out on the town. We went to One Fifth because they've started to advertise again (drinks $59.47).
Christopher was depressed because he'd fallen in love in L.A. and saw the kid as a young version of himself. He said that the kid could have been the most successful hustler on Sunset Strip but instead he decided to become a busboy. And Chris said to me that he'd learned his lesson about bad manners when somebody invites you out to dinner because this boy ordered six desserts and then took them home, and Chris said he would never ever do anything like that to me again. And it wasn't until afterwards that Benjamin said to me, "But did you see that Chris had his steak wrapped up to go?" And I hadn't. But he was depressed, so I would have had to let him get away with it anyway. He was so melancholy he had tears in his eyes. He put on his sungla.s.ses. He was carrying his bags under his eyes. I told him look, that he was so in love with Mark from Denver at one point that it was wrecking his life, and now he doesn't care a thing about him, so that he'd get over this, too.
Thursday, July 7, 1983 Well the news of the day was that Alfred Bloomingdale's Vicki Morgan was found beaten to death. So all I could think of was the CIA. Unless she was in an S&M thing.
Catherine called again to try to get me to come to her wedding. I just don't know what to do. I don't want to go. And Halston says he'll only go if I go go. Richard Weisman is going on Wednesday and he's bringing her Halston wedding dress. Victor wants to go. Catherine says she's saving room in her car for me.
Sunday, July 10, 1983 Chris is driving everyone crazy being in love with Byron, the kid he met in California, saying, "He's so like me. It's like seeing myself. His mother died when he was nineteen...."I said, "Uh, Chris, your mother's still alive."
And he said that when they were doing around-the-world the kid said, "Whatever happened to Chris and Byron?" Like whatever happened to those sweet kids. So there they were engaged in this salacious scene saying what happened to their innocence. Oh I guess "Byron" would be too much. (laughs) (laughs) It's actually It's actually Brian Brian. But it feels like Byron. Talked to John Reinhold. Stayed home and moped because I'm sick in the head. Too afraid to even walk the dogs because I don't want to bend over on the streets and pick up the p.o.o.p. So now I send them just out to the backyard. Jed didn't take them this weekend.
Monday, July 11, 1983 Steve Wynn came by, the Golden Nugget guy from Atlantic City. He came with his wife, who's intelligent, but she's old enough that she could be traded in soon. They were in town because they were taking Frank and Barbara Sinatra to dinner at La Grenouille. And Steve Wynn had with him two checks that totalled a billion dollars, from some bank downtown-he showed them to us. He's really s.e.xy, he wears those kind of continental pants. When Benjamin went down to the car with him, it was a beat-up old limousine. Benjamin was expecting something flashy.