Chapter 42
Thursday, November 10, 1983
A Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal reporter called and said she was doing a story on "clubs" and wanted to go to Area and the Limelight and the Cat Club with me, but I think she's just got bongo drums in her pants and wants to run around to the clubs so she says she's doing articles on them. reporter called and said she was doing a story on "clubs" and wanted to go to Area and the Limelight and the Cat Club with me, but I think she's just got bongo drums in her pants and wants to run around to the clubs so she says she's doing articles on them.
Yes, I am happy about the $135,000 price for the c.o.ke Bottle. Everybody thought it was good. Thomas told me that the Elvis went for $146,000. And Thomas bought a Flower painting for $40,000. It's worth a lot more, though. Someday...
I went to La Cote Basque to meet Mrs. Fortabat, the Argentinian lady who bought Whitney Tower's grandmother's Turner for $6 million. She's having her face treated by Karen Burke, too. She said she's starting a concrete business in the United States, and I told her that meant she'd be joining the Mafia, and she laughed and told me I was "charming."
Sat.u.r.day, November 12, 1983 Ran into a neighbor from Montauk, the guy with the second house over from our place, and I told him that I was planning to do "a big earth work with parked trailers." And he didn't even laugh, he had no sense of humor, he didn't know I was kidding, he got upset. And he made a point of telling me that he just spent $20,000 stopping the condos, so now I'm expecting a bill from him. I told him Lauren Hutton was building a house, and he told me Paul Simon was, too.
Went to see Rear Window Rear Window and I was next to a black guy who wouldn't move, but when he saw it was me he said, "Us Leos do what we want to do, right?" He had b.o. He was intellectual, he laughed in the right places. I loved the movie, it was beautiful Technicolor like they don't make anymore. and I was next to a black guy who wouldn't move, but when he saw it was me he said, "Us Leos do what we want to do, right?" He had b.o. He was intellectual, he laughed in the right places. I loved the movie, it was beautiful Technicolor like they don't make anymore.
Sunday, November 13, 1983 I've been trying to get Keith Haring and Thomas Ammann together for a dinner because Thomas wants to have it, and so I called Keith and he was just getting up, he and Juan had been to the Paradise Garage until 8 A.M A.M. and they'd slept all day.
At 9:00 Thomas picked me up and he said Richard Gere and Silvinha would meet us at VanDam, so we went down there and it was empty on Sunday night. Had broiled fish but didn't eat it. Richard was wearing a little hat and a mustache, and that's his look from The Cotton Club The Cotton Club. And he was screaming about newspapers never getting things right, he was grand. He said he only came because he wanted to meet Keith Haring. He's buying art. He told me how he threw a Come painting of mine into the fireplace. What happened was I'd given Jean Michel a Come painting and he had it with him when he and Richard got drunk together, and Jean Michel didn't have anything to write his phone number on for Richard Gere except this painting of mine, so he wrote it on that and gave the painting to Richard. Then when Richard woke up the next morning he said he saw it and thought it was disgusting and threw it into the fire. I told him it was my my come but actually it was Victor's. And Richard said that if he had all the money he wanted, he'd buy all the paintings of Balthus, who does the little girls smiling like after s.e.x. They cost over a million now. come but actually it was Victor's. And Richard said that if he had all the money he wanted, he'd buy all the paintings of Balthus, who does the little girls smiling like after s.e.x. They cost over a million now.
Monday, November 14, 1983 Dolly Fox came by but she didn't bring her roommates or anything. She's a struggling girl trying to make it, only she lives on 61st and Park Avenue and she struggles from there.
Wednesday, November 16, 1983 Jay was upset because I said no to his idea of making the Madison Avenue side of the building a discotheque that he and Benjamin would run, so he was moody.
And Vincent was in a bad mood because he went to Madison Square Garden TV for a meeting and it looks like they're cancelling our show. They never got the point of our shows-they're a sports network and they said said they wanted to branch out, but... they wanted to branch out, but...
Friday, November 18, 1983 I went to Karen Burke the collagen girl and with everything she said she put her foot in her mouth. She was saying that she wanted to do a study of the skin of h.o.m.os.e.xual men because of the sperm they would have swallowed, and she mentioned me as an example and I just looked at her and I told her, "Listen. I haven't swallowed any sperm." And she knew she'd made a mistake. And then I asked her if she was going to have collagen and she said oh no, that she was allergic. It was like, "Me take collagen? Are you crazy?" So she put her foot in it again. And then she said, "Oh, and I'll give you credit on the line of natural-foods cosmetics that I'll be developing." And I mean, this was the idea that I told her her the week before! To have b.u.t.ter creams and all refrigerator cosmetics that you have to replace all the time. And so I just told her, "Well I'll be in business the week before! To have b.u.t.ter creams and all refrigerator cosmetics that you have to replace all the time. And so I just told her, "Well I'll be in business with with you, so..." you, so..."
Sunday, November 20, 1983 Cornelia called a couple of times, she was cancelling as my date for the "Marilyn" play opening. The show opened at 6:00 and it should have closed right then. It was silly. The girl playing Marilyn was very good, though, she has star quality and she could sing, but I guess it's the book that's so bad. When it was over, we lied and said how great it was. Ran into Lester Persky and Truman Capote who looked pickled. And Truman kissed my hand. What does that mean? And I asked him if he was going to the party afterwards and he said, "No. I can drink at home."
Got home and saw a little of the Kennedy Years Kennedy Years thing on TV and Republicans must have done the script because it had Jackie worrying about the curtains when they were having the Cuban crisis. Fell asleep watching. thing on TV and Republicans must have done the script because it had Jackie worrying about the curtains when they were having the Cuban crisis. Fell asleep watching.
Wednesday, November 23, 1983 Had an appointment to go go see Doc see Doc c.o.x c.o.x, but when I got there, there really wasn't anything to do. Bubbles is just crazy. She said that the test that they took about ten gallons of blood out of me for the last time hadn't worked. But they couldn't do it again this time because they can only do blood tests in the beginning of the week. She said they charged me for it last time but that this second time would be free. And really, I think they just brought me up there in person because they didn't want to call and tell me to pay my bill, so they did it this way. Because there was really nothing that I was there for. The whole place has gotten sort of crazy. But then while I was there someone named "Saul Steinberg" called on the phone, so maybe it's the really rich one and so Doc c.o.x does c.o.x does have rich important clients. Then they told me that I hadn't had any X-rays since 1978 but I said the nurse had done them and then they did find them and I blamed Bubbles for losing them, but Doc have rich important clients. Then they told me that I hadn't had any X-rays since 1978 but I said the nurse had done them and then they did find them and I blamed Bubbles for losing them, but Doc c.o.x c.o.x said that Bubbles never even went near that drawer. said that Bubbles never even went near that drawer.
Monday, November 28, 1983 I'm looking out my window... there's a lady with her dog running away from the p.o.o.p he just did... she's leaving it... she's gone, and she left it right in front of my housel my housel And here comes a truck from the Happiness Cleaners and Laundry.... And here comes a truck from the Happiness Cleaners and Laundry....
Fred hired a kid to replace Robyn and didn't even ask me. And I don't think this kid can be any good because he just sat there for five hours waiting for Fred to arrive instead of seeing what little things he could do, like sweep up. He's Italian with an English accent.
Tuesday, November 29, 1983 The New York Times had a big story on AIDS. The tourist business in Haiti is down to nothing. Probably the tourists were only there secretly for the big c.o.c.ks. Because Jean Michel is half Haitian and he really does have the biggest one. had a big story on AIDS. The tourist business in Haiti is down to nothing. Probably the tourists were only there secretly for the big c.o.c.ks. Because Jean Michel is half Haitian and he really does have the biggest one.
Went to the Trump Tower and laid out a stack of Interviews Interviews and watched people take them for free. A lady was shaking when she asked me for an autograph, and she said, "G.o.d bless you" and I hope she's right. and watched people take them for free. A lady was shaking when she asked me for an autograph, and she said, "G.o.d bless you" and I hope she's right.
I heard that Peter Brant just bought Antiques Antiques magazine, I guess for Sandy to run. It's a good idea, it's a good magazine. magazine, I guess for Sandy to run. It's a good idea, it's a good magazine.
Wednesday, November 30, 1983 Went to go to the thing at Tavern on the Green that was to announce Don King taking over the management of the Jacksons.
And Don King started an hour-long speech, and he was outrageous, he was telling everybody that Dustin Hoffman was there, and Muhammad Ali, and everybody was booing because everybody knew they weren't really there (laughs) (laughs). And then he started talking about "a young man with a camera," and then Benjamin was..h.i.tting me and saying, "It's you! It's you!" And all the Jacksons had on dark gla.s.ses and wouldn't take them off and wouldn't say anything. And Mrs. Jackson is beautiful.
Sunday, December 4, 1983 Steve Rubell called and said he was picking me up at 6:30 with Bianca and Ian Schrager to go to the Helmsley Palace for the Philip Johnson retrospective exhibition with Jackie O. at the Munic.i.p.al Art Society benefit in the Villard House. Got into black tie.
Went over there and talked to David Whitney. The photographers wanted a picture of me and Bianca, but she was being difficult. She was in a Calvin.
Then we went in Steve Rubell's car to the Four Seasons. Shook hands with Jackie O., she never invited me to her Christmas party again, so she's a creep. And now I wouldn't go go if she did. I'd tell her to go mind her own business. I mean, I'm the same age, so I can tell her off. Although I do feel like she's older than me. But then, I feel like everybody's older than me. if she did. I'd tell her to go mind her own business. I mean, I'm the same age, so I can tell her off. Although I do feel like she's older than me. But then, I feel like everybody's older than me.
Philip was sort of cute. He said that it wasn't his exhibition, it was his execution. David Whitney was having martinis and he said that as soon as Philip popped off he and I could get together. I laughed it off, but later he said I had to kiss him on the lips. I really didn't know he actually felt this way about me! I always thought he was kidding. And Philip gave a speech and David laughed and clapped. He's smart, David.
Bob Rauschenberg had me kiss him on the lips, too. And then later a pretty girl groupie kissed me on the lips. So if I catch anything the Diary will know where it's from. I left Bianca there without saying goodbye (cab $7).
Wednesday, December 7, 1983 I'm talking like Bianca: "h.e.l.lllloooo." You call her and you get this whole low voice and Euromumble. She's at the Westbury.
And Fred's new a.s.sistant's name is Sandro Guggenheim. The one Fred hired without asking me. Well, his name's not really Guggenheim, but he's Peggy Guggenheim's grandson. Peggy didn't leave him any money, though.
Thursday, December 8, 1983 Went up to Fiorucci to sign Interviews Interviews because because Interview Interview had arranged it. And when I got there (cab $6) it was so nutty because it was "Andy Warhol Look-alikes Day" and there were five guys at the store dressed in white wigs and clear pink-framed gla.s.ses and it really looked funny. So I signed about 250 had arranged it. And when I got there (cab $6) it was so nutty because it was "Andy Warhol Look-alikes Day" and there were five guys at the store dressed in white wigs and clear pink-framed gla.s.ses and it really looked funny. So I signed about 250 Interviews Interviews and sold them. and sold them.
Sunday, December 11, 1983 It was a grey day. Went to go look at the trees out at Averil's in Katonah, where her husband is an emergency-room doctor and she just had twins. They've lent Fred a little shack on their property, so we were going out there to see Fred's newest architectural adventure.
Peter Wise rented a car and we picked up Fred and went out there (tolls and gas $10). And Averil's husband's so handsome. They live in a big comfortable house with a live-in maid and it's rich but sort of the shabby way. And it's this perfect family with Christmas trees and a dog and her husband who loves her, and it's so amazing to think how wild she was just a few years ago.
Tuesday, December 13, 1983 It was raining hard yesterday. Benjamin and I walked down Madison Avenue and saw all the stuff I want but it's the same old problem-you don't know whether to get a lot of the cheaper little things or one big expensive thing. And this year I notice that people are back to new things. Last year it was retro. If you had a thirties watch on last year it was chic. But now it's back to Corums and things. Pocket watches are out. Wrist.w.a.tches are in, but they're sort of finis.h.i.+ng. That's the second collecting trend that I started, the wrist.w.a.tch one. The first was Deco. This year you can get pocket watches that were $12,000 last year for $4,000. And ones that were $85,000 you can get now for $35,000.
We went
Decided to go to Peter Beard's party at Heartbreak. Peter was at the door showing slides. The usual. Africa. Cheryl on a turkey. Barbara Allen on a turkey. Bloodstains. (laughs) (laughs) You know. You know.
Wednesday, December 14, 1983 Bruno came and drove us crazy. He didn't bring Jean Michel's rent payment, so later I called Jean Michel about his rent being due and then I had a fight with Jay because he gave Jean Michel my home phone number. He said, "Oh, I didn't know you didn't want..." I yelled at him, "Are your brains still with you?" I mean, he knew I wouldn't have Jean Michel coming up to my house-I mean he's a drug addict so he's not dependable. You can't have-I mean, so then why would I want him to have my home phone? Jay should have known better.
And Richard Weisman sent us tickets to the hockey game because Wayne Gretzky invited us.
And since I'd called Jean Michel about the rent I felt bad so I invited him to the hockey game and I sent Jay home early so he could drop off the ticket to him.
And Robyn Geddes came by about getting his old job back, but Fred had to tell him he couldn't have it. And Fred called to remind me not to wear bluejeans to the hockey game because we were going to "21" afterwards.
So then I met the s.h.i.+atsu guy who Richard Weisman recommended and he worked on me for an hour and a half and he was really good, a thorough professional. He told me that when I cross my legs I should cross them left to right or right to left-I forget which-because one side is weaker than the other, but I told him I never never cross my legs cross my legs (laughs) (laughs). But I'm looking now and here I sit talking with them crossed... anyway, so I made a standing appointment for every Wednesday at 7:30. His name is Eizo, and his philosophy is: "You are young you are young you are young, therefore you are young."
I lied about my age, I told him I was forty-four. And he said, "Oh that's my my age, too!" I guess he knew I was lying. But I felt wonderful afterwards. age, too!" I guess he knew I was lying. But I felt wonderful afterwards.
Thursday, December 15, 1983 Worked out with Lidija and I strained myself. Or maybe I have cancer of the groin, I don't know. I decided to start drinking water instead of coffee. The office was busy. Vincent paid bills.
Thomas Ammann showed a few paintings here at the house-Balthus, Pica.s.so from 1923, and Utrecht. And what should I do with these Christmas trees that Tommy Pashun sent? Five little ones. Last year all my trees died after I spent loving care on them, spraying them with water and everything.
Friday, December 16, 1983 Stopped at different places where I'd been the week before where I'd asked them to hold some things, and none of the places had held them. So I saved a lot of money. But on the other hand, I got really mad and hated them for not holding something for a regular customer. So-f.u.c.k 'em.
And Lorna Luft's so mean, she's having a baby because she knows Liza can't. And I'm working on a picture present for the Geros. Maybe one from the picture of Liza and Judy that ran in the Post Post last week. last week.
Went out walking with Jon and we ran into Jann Wenner in the neighborhood-he saw me from a block away and came over and then invited us in for a drink. I said, "Gee, Jann, you put down all your best friends in your article on "Overrated People." And he said, "Oh yeah, I made them take Gilda Radner off that list." He didn't say a thing about me! And he's got a big pot belly and his hair is long again.
Sat.u.r.day, December 17, 1983 There was lunch with Bo Polk at "21." I asked Jon if he wanted to go. Picked him up and we went to 52nd and Fifth. Got out of the cab ($5) and happened to turn my head and saw this car running down about fifty people. People were being thrown up in the air. It was like a movie scene. And when the car stopped there were people lying all over the sidewalk and other people screaming and running. It made me really sick. Jon ran over to try to help. Some people who weren't hit were trying to to help the others, but there were other people trying to get Cartier packages away from people who'd been hit. Jon found this boy on the ground who didn't have anybody with him, he was from Yale, and he asked Jon to slip his Cartier package in his inside pocket so no one would steal it. Ambulances got there in just a second, though. Lots of Empire ambulances. Where do they come from so fast, I wonder. It was chaos. And I was standing next to George Plimpton and I asked him if he was going down to the lunch, but he didn't answer me, he was being grand. When Jon was done I thought he'd have blood all over him, but he didn't. help the others, but there were other people trying to get Cartier packages away from people who'd been hit. Jon found this boy on the ground who didn't have anybody with him, he was from Yale, and he asked Jon to slip his Cartier package in his inside pocket so no one would steal it. Ambulances got there in just a second, though. Lots of Empire ambulances. Where do they come from so fast, I wonder. It was chaos. And I was standing next to George Plimpton and I asked him if he was going down to the lunch, but he didn't answer me, he was being grand. When Jon was done I thought he'd have blood all over him, but he didn't.
Then later on after seeing on the news about all these other disasters, the bomb at Harrod's and the fire in Madrid, it was great that not one person in this Fifth Avenue thing was badly injured. And what happened, it turned out, was that a traffic cop told this guy in the pa.s.senger seat of some car in front of Doubleday to move, and the guy couldn't drive but I guess his foot just went onto the accelerator accidentally because they didn't charge him with anything.
So it was all really odd and I can still see it in my eyes. It could have been us, or anything.
At "21" the hat-check girl said, "I know who you are." And I thought she was making a reference to my dirty coat which the other day they hadn't even wanted to check, they just threw it on the floor. But later on she asked me for my autograph, so I guess that was why she said it.
After lunch walked up Madison still feeling peculiar because of the accident.
Sunday, December 18, 1983 Talked to Chris and Peter. They were decorating their tree and then they were going off to judge an underwear contest at the Pyramid Club on Avenue A. Cabbed to Chris's ($9). And Chris is so skinny that his eyeb.a.l.l.s are sticking out. He's doing it for the same reason I was when I was down to 115-he thinks it makes him look young. But he doesn't look good thin. So when we get to Aspen I'll have to get him on an ice cream binge.
Monday, December 19, 1983 Cabbed to meet Lidija ($5). And while I was exercising two big sharp pains went through me, as if somebody stuck a sword through me angled down. I thought it was the end. Especially after seeing that accident on Sat.u.r.day and how it could just all be over in a second. But it went away. It must have been some odd muscle spasm. Lidija was concerned. She does adjust things. Like we don't do stomach exercises anymore because it was making the bullethole in my stomach bigger. And we're going to make the weights less. I did used to lift weights when I was young. At Al Roon's. Before it became the Continental Baths and hosted Bette Midler. When it was just a regular gym. But I wasn't lifting them right. I was just lifting.
Tuesday, December 20, 1983 Jean Michel came up to the office but he was out of it. Clemente brought up some of the paintings that the three of us are working on together, and Jean Michel was so out of it he began painting away. Jean Michel and Clemente paint each other out. There's about fifteen paintings that we're working on together.
It was so freezing outside that I decided to stay home. Talked on the phone to John Reinhold for two hours. Fell asleep and then woke up. Then went and broke into Jon's cinnamon nuts and had them. Drank some cognac. I was sleeping with that kind of sleep where you're sleeping but you think you're awake. Then finally from 7:30 to 8:15 I did get some good sleep.
Was too lazy to put on the humidifier so I woke up with dry mouth and fingers.
Wednesday, December 21, 1983 Went to Fiorucci and it's so much fun there. It's everything I've always wanted, all plastic. And when they run out of something I don't think they get it again. It's the cutest kids, too.
Worked till 7:30 then glued myself and went over to Mick's party on West 81st, and it was fun. They had a couple of security guys at the door. And it was the first time I saw his new house and I was disappointed because I thought it would be on Riverside Drive, and when I think of all the great houses they were looking at I don't know why they bought this one. Jed restored it, but the house is just a regular house.
And just the usual people were there. Ahmet, and Camilla and Earl McGrath, and Jann Wenner and Peter Wolf and Tom Cas.h.i.+n. I decided to sort of booze it up. They had good food. Maybe it was store-bought, but the best store-bought. And Jerry is huge. It's so funny to see these girls pregnant who were so slim. You can't believe it's the same person. It's like a truck. She had a tiara and a white wedding-type dress on.
Thursday, December 22, 1983 Benjamin picked me up and it was raining hard but it had turned warm. I was in a terrible awful Christmas mood. n.o.body was in town.
Paige called and she'd sent me a chocolate TV set she'd had custom-made by one of the advertisers to celebrate our MSG-TV shows. She didn't know that earlier in the day we had just gotten the letter saying in black and white that the show was being cancelled.
Friday, December 23, 1983 Cabbed to Interview Interview to the office party to try to feel Christmasy. Robyn Geddes was there and I could see he was feeling funny. And it seemed like there wasn't anybody big at the party. Robert Hayes was there and Cisco, his boyfriend, who's dying of AIDS, and I guess I got really freaked out and I couldn't deal with it. The kids had all gone to his house-he made Christmas dinner for Jay and Paige and they ate it. He's made dinner for them before. We used to to the office party to try to feel Christmasy. Robyn Geddes was there and I could see he was feeling funny. And it seemed like there wasn't anybody big at the party. Robert Hayes was there and Cisco, his boyfriend, who's dying of AIDS, and I guess I got really freaked out and I couldn't deal with it. The kids had all gone to his house-he made Christmas dinner for Jay and Paige and they ate it. He's made dinner for them before. We used to go go to his restaurant all the time. to his restaurant all the time.
Sat.u.r.day, December 24, 1983 Halston's place was really Christmasy. Victor was behaving himself. Bianca was there with Jade, and Peter Beard and Cheryl Tiegs, and Jennifer and Jay from the office, and Halston's niece. No Steve Rubell. Dinner was delicious, cranberries and turkey, and I porked. Halston gave me an old dress, it weighed like 4,000 pounds. And the presents weren't really that great-it wasn't like the other Christmas Eves there. Bianca made a faux pas faux pas, she asked me if I was going to Diane Von Furstenberg's and I hadn't been invited. So I guess I'm off her list. She must have chosen Bob over me. Well, then she missed a Christmas present. I don't know, it was never that much fun there anyway. Benjamin was trying to get me to leave so he could go go off and have fun, so he got me out of there by 12:00, and walked me home. I just lallied around feeling blue. Took a Valium and forgot about the world. off and have fun, so he got me out of there by 12:00, and walked me home. I just lallied around feeling blue. Took a Valium and forgot about the world.
Sunday, December 25, 1983 Got up and it was Sunday. Tried to dye my eyebrows and my hair. I wasn't in the mood. Went to church. Got not too many phone calls. Actually none, I guess. Tried to wrap presents. I was going to have Peter and Chris over to plan our trip to Aspen the next day. I guess I took all day wrapping presents and I think by the time they came I'd watched a lot of terrible TV. Went through a lot of fuzzy paper.
Got a picture of Georgia O'Keeffe from Chris and a little painting from Peter and time really flew by. n.o.body ate anything.
Monday, January 2, 1984-Aspen, Colorado-New York Got back to New York and got a Scull limo ($20 to the driver). The driver said he'd picked up Jean Michel and drove him to the airport to go to Hawaii for two months. And I hope he paid his rent in advance. Got home and was really tired. Watched TV, took a Valium.
Never took a bath the whole time in Aspen, never changed clothes. Just lived like a pig. That's a good story, isn't it? But my perfume worked and my breathing was good but I was depressed because Jon is so aloof. He says he needs to be his own person, and I always feel like he's just about to leave, so I never can feel relaxed.
Wednesday, January 4, 1984 Vincent was upset because it was in the newspapers that I'm giving a party at Club A for Christopher on January 10, and now everybody is calling the office to get invited and driving him crazy. It's not my my party-I told the person giving it that my name could only be used in a party-I told the person giving it that my name could only be used in a minor minor way, but the invitations arrived and they say, "Andy Warhol invites you to..." way, but the invitations arrived and they say, "Andy Warhol invites you to..."
Peter called and said it was Chris's birthday and was I going to take them out to celebrate. I couldn't face it so I started a fight about that to get out of having to do it.
Then I took Benjamin as my date to a party at Louise Melhado's. Jennifer had come to work for five minutes but it was just long enough to give us the wrong address. But we eventually found it. We were both dirty and in our bluejeans and it was hard explaining why Benjamin was there. But it was an old crowd so the old boys wanted to meet him. Decorators.
Dropped Benjamin (cab $20). I went home and watched Dynasty Dynasty. Helmut Berger was good. Then went to bed early. But then I remembered the caviar in the kitchen that Calvin had sent so I started down the stairs-I was in my socks-and it was like a comedy, I slipped and fell three times. Just flopped down the stairs. And I got bruised. Macy's and Zabar's were having a caviar war this Christmas but Calvin got his at William Poll so he probably paid a lot for it.
Woke up in the middle of the night thinking of the expose of my life that I hear Women's Wear Daily Women's Wear Daily is doing. is doing.
Oh, and David Whitney called and said yesterday that Leo Lerman had been fired from Vanity Fair Vanity Fair and the girl in England who does the and the girl in England who does the Tatler Tatler was going to be editor. I don't know, I think they should just make was going to be editor. I don't know, I think they should just make Vanity Fair Vanity Fair like what like what Vogue Vogue used to be and downgrade used to be and downgrade Vogue Vogue to the to the Mademoiselle Mademoiselle level and go on down the line downgrading. level and go on down the line downgrading.
Sat.u.r.day, January 7, 1984 Had to go to see the Keith Haring closing (cab $8). Went all the way down there to see what people are doing and I got jealous. Bought Keith memorabilia and posters from the show ($95). This is at the Disco annex of the Tony Shafrazi Gallery. Ran into people and it was weird. This Keith thing reminded me of the old days when I was up-there.
And then we went to see Lichtenstein's show, and he did a mural! I just don't understand that. Right on the wall. Like picking up the graffiti thing from the kids, but I think it's so silly, why would he want to do that. But somebody told me they'll put sheetrock over it and it'll be underneath and then someday they'll peel it away. So then we went to a duck exhibit, a new kind of old art, primitives like duck decoys.
And then we went to Peter Bonnier's gallery and it was Steve Jaffee's paintings, and there's a portrait of Jean Michel in it and Jean Michel told me that this guy just does it the way I do- tracing.
Sunday, January 8, 1984 Calvin called and wanted to know if it was worth going to Chris's party at Club A on Tuesday. And I had a fight with Chris because he's saying that I can't bring whoever I want. I mean, my name's on the invitation as the host and I can't invite anybody I want? And then when I ask Chris who's coming he tells me the names and it's every boy he's ever had.
Monday, January 9, 1984 Fred walked in and the first thing he said was that I stole his Christmas scarf, which I did. Brigid must have told him. She told him and she got him all agitated. She has nothing better to do so she just went and told him I stole the scarf that was delivered for him while he was away. I think she's sick in the head.
Tuesday, January 10, 1984 This was the day of Christopher's grand party at Club A and so everyone was calling us to get in and Chris was being so grand and saying no no no, that it was so exclusive. Calvin and Steve Rubell called a few times and Calvin was asking (laughs) (laughs) what he should wear. what he should wear.
I was waiting for Jerry Hall to come down to take her picture for a portrait, but she was a no-show, and she didn't call or anything, which was strange. She's usually reliable, Jerry. I don't know when the baby is due. Wouldn't it be awful for Mick if it was another girl? If she has a boy, they'll get married in a minute, I'm sure.
Talked to Rupert and he gave me an idea-a Statue of Liberty portfolio.
Then had to leave and it was snowing by then. Finally got a cab ($4) and then when I got there, there was really n.o.body there. This party was supposed to be "Uptown Meets Downtown," but it was just dumb meets stupid.
Wednesday, January 11, 1984 Jerry Hall called and said, "Is this the day I'm supposed to come down?" and I just said yes.
Jean Michel called from Hawaii. He said it wasn't so primitive out there, that the first guy he saw said, "Aren't you Jean Michel Basquiat, the New York City graffiti artist?" And he said he met these hippies out there and mentioned my name and they said, "Oh you mean that death-warmed-over person on drugs?" And I mean, it's him him they should be talking about. they should be talking about.
Jerry came and she had Mick's daughter by Marsha Hunt with her, but the girl didn't talk, she just read a newspaper while Jerry and I worked.
Jean Michel called again from Hawaii. I told him to cut off his ear. He probably will. Went home and met the s.h.i.+atsu guy for my weekly ma.s.sage.
Sunday, January 15, 1984 I was a judge at the cheerleading tryouts for the New Jersey Generals, the team that Donald Trump bought. They were having them in the bas.e.m.e.nt part of Trump Tower. It was the final tryout, and I was supposed to be there at 12:00 but I took my time and went to church and finally moseyed over there around 2:00. This is because I still hate the Trumps because they never bought the paintings I did of the Trump Tower. So I got there and they were already up to the fiftieth girl and there were only twenty left to go. Another guy had been filling in for me and he handed me his pad and I took over. I didn't know how to score. The girls didn't look special because there was no spotlight on them. Once in a while a camera light would go go off and flash on one and then she would look good, but that was it. People like LeRoy Neiman were the other judges. He said he voted for anybody who could kick. Ivana voted for any of the girls who looked like her. off and flash on one and then she would look good, but that was it. People like LeRoy Neiman were the other judges. He said he voted for anybody who could kick. Ivana voted for any of the girls who looked like her.
And there were so many different kinds of bodies-some with big hips and small waists and some with boy-type bodies, and some with really skinny legs so there were big s.p.a.ces between their legs. And this cheerleading would be just something they'd do "for fun," they don't get paid. So they'd better get themselves a football player or they'll walk away with nothing. And somebody told Ivana she'd better watch her husband because she could lose him to these young girls, but then later somebody told me that he fooled around with all the girls anyway. And seeing these young things and then a sophisticated "lady" like Ivana, you'd think that some day they could be like that, too-if they marry right.
And they all had to dance to "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson, so we all had to hear "Billie Jean" seventy times during the tryouts, so it was sick.
Went to Beulah Land on 10th Street and Avenue A (cab $6) to see the photography show of the kids at the office-Benjamin and Paige and Jennifer-and it was right near where I first lived when I came to New York, on St. Mark's Place and Avenue A. And I thought about how hard it was then, walking all that way home from the subway on Astor Place with my drawings and then dragging them up seven flights of stairs. And when we got to Beulah Land they said that I'd just missed everybody's mother and father and relatives, and I was so glad I had. Like Jennifer's mother and father and Paige's aunts and uncles. And Benjamin's photos were like my ideas-manhole covers that all looked the same but they were actually all different. And Benjamin is the only one who sold anything-Jeffrey Deitch from Citicorp bought them. And Paige has so much energy, she did the Peter Beard look-writing little things-and it's almost there but how many things can you do with photographs? Stayed there an hour then went to the party at Pyramid for it. And it was the same crowd there. And these two clubs are the only places I've been to where the kids actually do dress the Fiorucci way-like wearing three dresses at once.
Thursday, January 19, 1984 After Benjamin picked me up we pa.s.sed a candy/newspaper shop and the woman said she'd consider getting Interview Interview, and she gave us a box of candy-covered-chocolate-covered peanuts. And then we were pa.s.sing the park and the pigeons were just going crazy, they were so starving, so we threw them the box of it. Usually they won't eat candy, but they were so starving they did. Barbara Allen called from Barbados because she'd just been interviewed about the expose that Women's Wear Daily Women's Wear Daily is doing on me. She said she said "all the right things," so I can just imagine. Maybe they won't run it. She's still with the same guy, the Polish guy. is doing on me. She said she said "all the right things," so I can just imagine. Maybe they won't run it. She's still with the same guy, the Polish guy.
Friday, January 20, 1984 At 12:30 Mrs. Tisch was coming to be photographed for a portrait. At last someone I met from a party was getting a portrait done (cab to meet Lidija $6). She came in all her jewelry. She has such a bad nose job though. When I first saw her I didn't know it was one, but it is. And you think, with all that money, why can't they make it right? Why can't they fix what went wrong? She's pencil-thin and she doesn't like red lips because she says her jaw is big, but she wasn't much of a problem. Worked all afternoon.
Monday, January 23, 1984 Joan Quinn sent Vincent a clipping from the Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times that said Ronnie Levin was arrested for stealing all this video equipment. Actually, he'd charged it to credit cards, though-some kind of scam. that said Ronnie Levin was arrested for stealing all this video equipment. Actually, he'd charged it to credit cards, though-some kind of scam.
And Jean Michel is meeting all these women in Hawaii and he's going to L.A. to paint Richard Pryor and then going back to Hawaii. And Paige is going out there and I told her that she should make sure he's really going to be there when she gets there. I mean, she'll make all these plans and she'll get there and he'll be gone.
Oh, and this kid came up who said he was Rupert Murdoch's nephew, and Jay, after his mistake with Sidney Poitier's "son," was saying this time, "He's a fake, I know it." But I think it was a real nephew because he left quickly, he didn't stay on and on.
Friday, January 27, 1984 We cabbed down to the Castelli Gallery to see the Jasper Johns show. When we got there Jasper was at the door letting some people out and I told him we were cras.h.i.+ng and he let us in. I wasn't invited, I don't think-I never saw an invitation. Or to the lunch they had either. The paintings were wonderful, and every one was like $600,000. I think Jasper owns most of them, just sells one when he has to. Then we left there and went to the South Street Seaport to take pictures there, and that was strange, because right where Jasper and Bob Rauschenberg and Bob Indiana used to live, now there's this whole fake town with 100 million stores. Stopped at a Greek coffee shop ($24).
Sat.u.r.day, January 28, 1984 Wandered to the East Village. Took a couple of rolls of film. Ran into Rene Ricard who's the George Sanders of the Lower East Side, the Rex Reed of the art world-he was with some Puerto Rican boyfriend with a name like a cigarette. We went to the Fun Gallery, then went to the Lochran Gallery which used to be a furniture store and now they've thrown paintings on the wall and it's a gallery. And then we went to Mary Garage. What's the name of that gallery? Gracie Mansion. On Avenue A. And there were five fakes of mine there. Electric Chairs. And some Jackson Pollock fakes. I didn't say anything. Left there and saw a sign that said "Funeral Home," and I thought it was a discotheque and started to go go in, but then they were actually bringing a body in and I freaked out and crossed to the other side of the street. in, but then they were actually bringing a body in and I freaked out and crossed to the other side of the street.
Sunday, January 29, 1984 No one was available to accompany me to the office, and I was afraid the elevator would get stuck, so I didn't go down. Paige made it to Hawaii. Jean Michel did make it back from Los Angeles to meet her there, I guess, and they were going off to some ranch.