Chapter 7
Don Kirshner was there and we three had our pictures taken together. Then we went over to Studio 54. Stevie introduced me to Roy Cohn who was with four beautiful boys, but butch-looking. A boy is "butch" if he weighs over 170 and he's an all-American football-type, a spilling-out masculine man. A butch person looks like-well, we don't have one at our office. Maybe the building super. Yeah, a thinner version of Mike the super, that's "butch."
Monday, October 10, 1977 Cabbed to Diane de Beauvau's ($2.25). She told what she'd just learned about Barry Landau, that creepy guy we can't figure out, who somehow gets himself around everywhere with every celebrity. She thought he was a friend doing nice things for her, when suddenly she got a bill from him for $2,000 for getting her on The Mike Douglas Show! The Mike Douglas Show! Barry had asked her if she wanted to go on and she said sure. He probably sends Stevie Rubell bills, too. Barry had asked her if she wanted to go on and she said sure. He probably sends Stevie Rubell bills, too.
Went to Elaine's ($3.25). Bob Weiner was there, upset because New York New York magazine had rejected his article on Stevie. He was sort of pa.s.sed out but with his eyes open. magazine had rejected his article on Stevie. He was sort of pa.s.sed out but with his eyes open.
Tuesday, October 11, 1977 Cabbed up to Parke Bernet, got a few catalogues because they seem to be the best reference books (cab $2, books $24). Ran into Kenny Jay Lane who's put his whole house and furnis.h.i.+ngs up for auction-now that he's getting divorced from Nicky Weymouth he can present it as something he's doing "for the settlement." When you see all his junk together, it really looks bad.
Went to Chembank ($4). Steve Aronson was at 860 looking around, he had a beautiful girl with him. He says he can't start editing Popism Popism until next week. Vincent was off in Montauk, checking on the place-Jay Johnson and Tom Cas.h.i.+n are still out there roofing and repairing. By closing time Vincent still wasn't back, so I locked the place up myself. And when it's my responsibility, I get so nervous I do things like pull out the plugs to the Xerox machines so they won't start a spontaneous combustion; I decided I would risk leaving the refrigerator on. When I got home there was a message from Barry Landau, somehow he'd gotten my number. So now the three worst people to have your unlisted number have mine-Bob Weiner, Steve Rubell, and Barry Landau. until next week. Vincent was off in Montauk, checking on the place-Jay Johnson and Tom Cas.h.i.+n are still out there roofing and repairing. By closing time Vincent still wasn't back, so I locked the place up myself. And when it's my responsibility, I get so nervous I do things like pull out the plugs to the Xerox machines so they won't start a spontaneous combustion; I decided I would risk leaving the refrigerator on. When I got home there was a message from Barry Landau, somehow he'd gotten my number. So now the three worst people to have your unlisted number have mine-Bob Weiner, Steve Rubell, and Barry Landau.
Lester Persky called and invited me to a screening of Equus Equus. I loved Peter Firth, he was wonderful and Richard Burton was wonderful. The movie has the longest nudity. Usually when they photograph a c.o.c.k they make it fall in the shadows and the shadows always fall where the c.o.c.k is. But in this movie the c.o.c.k always falls right where you can see it. Peter Firth's d.i.c.k gets in the way when he moves. It's the biggest c.o.c.k on screen and not circ.u.mcised. As big as Joe Dallesandro's.
Peter Firth came over to me, he'd imported a girl from England for all the publicity and she was there and we had a good time. There was lots of food, but I'd already eaten. Then Peter Firth wanted to take the girl dancing so we walked over to Studio 54 for the Elton John thing. Stevie invited us all up to the booth where Michael Jackson was and Michael was sweet-in his high voice he asked me about art. David Hockney was there. The photographers were there and wanted Elton John and me to pose for pictures together so I asked Elton if I could kiss him, but he didn't answer me so I didn't. Maybe he didn't hear me. He was wearing a hat because of his hair transplant.
In order to get out of Studio 54 alone, I had to avoid all the boys I've been accepting rides and dates from lately. I had to look nervous and run around so no one would follow me-you know, the "frantic" technique.
Friday, October 14, 1977- New York-Springfield, Ma.s.sachusetts-New York Up to Ma.s.sachusetts to photograph Dorothy Hamill for the Athletes portfolio. It was nice to photograph someone really pretty. Dino Martin's sister was with her.
Barbara Allen's name was linked with John Radziwill's in "Suzy's" column. Philip Niarchos and Barbara have broken up and he's got a new girlfriend. Barbara's letting all these rich guys slip through her fingers, but I guess she's working hard, wanting to be an actress.
Sat.u.r.day, October 15, 1977 Ran into John Weitz, the fas.h.i.+on designer, on Madison with his wife Susan Kohner, the actress who gave up acting to be married to him. He was going over to Fraser-Morris, so I went with them.
They wanted to invite me to a party, they said, and asked for my number. They wanted the home number I guess and I gave them the number down at the office and I don't think she liked that.
Went to Studio 54 and it was jammed. Victor and Halston were there together. It was a party (laughs) (laughs) to show that Victor wasn't blackmailing Halston. Victor said that Bobby Zarem had called and said there was a rumor that one of Halston's employees was blackmailing him, so they should appear together to squelch the rumor and have lots of pictures taken. Then later Chris Makos took us to a bar on 52nd called Cowboys, a hustler bar where Ara and Zoli go to pick up beautiful kids for models. Left about 4:30, got newspapers and magazines ($5). to show that Victor wasn't blackmailing Halston. Victor said that Bobby Zarem had called and said there was a rumor that one of Halston's employees was blackmailing him, so they should appear together to squelch the rumor and have lots of pictures taken. Then later Chris Makos took us to a bar on 52nd called Cowboys, a hustler bar where Ara and Zoli go to pick up beautiful kids for models. Left about 4:30, got newspapers and magazines ($5).
Sunday, October 16, 1977 David Whitney called about going together to the Jasper Johns opening that night at the Whitney-Philip Johnson was going with Blanchette Rockefeller.
Pretty day. Cabbed downtown ($3.50) then walked to work. Richard Weisman and his little kids arrived and Margaret Trudeau was with them. She's really split up with her husband now so she lets herself be photographed with anybody, and I guess she's been dating Richard for a while. She was primping the kids' hair. I didn't have enough light bulbs though, and they fought over the teddy bear.
Cabbed to the Whitney ($2). Bob Rauschenberg blew me a kiss in the elevator and then later came over and said it was silly to blow blow a kiss so he kissed me. Jasper was drinking Jack Daniel's. It was a small party, just for lenders, old people. I ran downstairs to get a catalogue and then I looked around to have Jasper sign it, but I couldn't find him so I had Rauschenberg sign it, and then I did find Jasper and he rubbed out Rauschenberg's signature and signed "To a Lender." a kiss so he kissed me. Jasper was drinking Jack Daniel's. It was a small party, just for lenders, old people. I ran downstairs to get a catalogue and then I looked around to have Jasper sign it, but I couldn't find him so I had Rauschenberg sign it, and then I did find Jasper and he rubbed out Rauschenberg's signature and signed "To a Lender."
John Cage was there with Lois Long, de Antonio's first wife. Jack and Marion Javits were there, and Jack gave a speech. Robert Rosenblum was there, and he just got married. I guess it's another Nicky Weymouth-Kenny Jay Lane-type thing. He's from the gay old Henry Geldzahler crowd. Mrs. Irving who's the president of the museum whose mother is a Whitney was there. She lives down the street from me and I've asked her a few times if I could rent the garage s.p.a.ce in her carriage house for the car. I want it so badly, but nothing ever happens. At the Whitney she said that she definitely would call me-and I think it's because I ran into her husband going into the garage that morning.
When we sat down to dinner there were packages of Philip Morris cigarettes at each place- they were the sponsor-and when n.o.body was taking them I took them "for the box." [see Introduction] [see Introduction] There was one red one but I couldn't get it. There was one red one but I couldn't get it.
Monday, October 17, 1977 Cab to see Chris Makos's show at the Andrew Crispo Gallery on 57th Street, it was closing tomorrow (cab $2.15). The gallery was closed but they opened it just for me. I thought it was really great. He did two photos framed in the same frame-things like I used to do-and it looked beautiful. I told Bob we should give Chris two pages a month in Interview Interview to do whatever he wants. Andrew Crispo came in and said that there were very few photos sold from the show but that it looked good. to do whatever he wants. Andrew Crispo came in and said that there were very few photos sold from the show but that it looked good.
Cabbed to Chembank ($3). The office was busy. Kevin Goodspeed came up for lunch.
Yesterday I saw a roach go into the water cooler, in between the jar and the stand, then I saw it magnified (reimbursed Ronnie for cabs $2.10, $3.05, $2.25).
Some African sculptor named Eugene, a friend of Joe Eula's, was at the office doing a sculpture of me. He says he needs to look at me but I think he just wants a free place to work in. He sees me as a hermaphrodite. He's a terrible sculptor and it doesn't matter if I pose for him all day or not, it's just going to come out like an African totem pole anyway.
Then Boris Tinter called and I wanted to escape the office and catch up on the jewelry business so I went up to 47th Street (cab $2.80). Boris had just been to Parke Bernet and had some good new pieces. I love to sit with Boris in his cubicle and see all the strange people who come in. And I love Boris's fake hand.
Tuesday, October 18, 1977 Woke up after a good long night's sleep. I needed it to clear up some pimples. When you don't sleep you really have them.
Doug Christmas didn't send a check yet and I told Fred to tell him I wasn't going to Paris unless we got it.
Wednesday, October 19, 1977- New York-Buffalo, New York The plane ride was an hour (cab to LaGuardia $7, toll $.75, tip $2.25, magazines $3.10). I asked Richard if he remembered to tell O.J. Simpson to bring a football to the motel where we'd arranged to meet. He hadn't. We asked the manager to find one for us, told him that it'd be autographed by O.J. Simpson and Andy Warhol. O.J. arrived. He remembered Regine's and asked about Marisa Berenson-they presented an Oscar together last year-and was so sweet. He had a five-day beard and I thought the pictures would be awful but Fred said no, that they'd be s.e.xy, and he was right, they were. O.J. is so good-looking.
Sat.u.r.day, October 29, 1977-New York Barry Landau called and said he had tickets for Liza Minnelli opening in The Act The Act.
So we picked up Diana Vreeland and Jamie Auchincloss, the half-brother of Jackie O., and Ruth Warrick, who I know from years ago. She was on As the World Turns As the World Turns, and now she's Phoebe in All My Children All My Children. She was Orson Welles's first wife in Citizen Kane Citizen Kane. She's very good. The first thing she said when she saw me was, "Your Soup Can changed this country." We got to the theater and I've never seen a crowd that big, not for anyone, so many people.
Liz Taylor and Halston sat behind us, Sammy Davis was in front of us with his wife, Altovise. Liza was on for the whole show. The Halston clothes were beautiful, they really were. I asked Halston to make me up a black sequined tuxedo with light blue shoes, too. It was so beautiful, the boy suit. Everything was sequins in all different colors. Liza's lost a lot of weight.
Martin Scorsese's parents were saying h.e.l.lo to me. He directed The Act The Act. Victor was putting down the clothes saying there was nothing creative about them, which surprised me, that he would put down Halston's stuff. But he's into punk now. When the show finished, people were doing the "bravo" thing. Sammy Davis was standing up doing that.
Liz Taylor yelled at me for leaving Diana alone. She was glaring at me for some reason, giving me that look like she'd scratch my eyes out. And Liza came over and was kissing Liz so much for the photographers that I didn't talk to her. She and Jack Haley weren't accepted into River House yet, so they're at the Park Lane Hotel. Jack Haley was sweet, he told me that Liza may want a portrait.
We dropped off Diana and then Victor and I went over to Studio 54 ($4). It was jammed with beautiful people. Now Studio 54 has its liquor license. Stevie took me over to meet Vladimir Horowitz and his wife who's the daughter of Toscanini. He was thrilled to be there, in his seventies about, but chipper, but when he got up he tripped. I wanted to get out of Studio 54 because there were so many beauties trying to get my phone number and I was inviting everybody down to the office, so I had to leave.
Sunday, October 30, 1977 At Elaine's Stevie Rubell told me he's very rich, but that all his money's in a.s.sets or hidden away. People on drugs, you think they don't notice things, but they notice everything: everything: Elaine had new menus and Stevie noticed the new prices right away. I only noticed because it was clean. Elaine had new menus and Stevie noticed the new prices right away. I only noticed because it was clean.
Oh, and after he confessed how rich he was, he started to worry that I only liked him for his money, and I mean, what can I say?
Monday, October 31, 1977 This week's New York New York has a big article about Stevie in it by Dan Dorfman. It said that he has $25 million and dirty fingernails-which isn't true at all, they're not dirty-and in it Stevie called Nan Kempner a "p.i.s.ser," and Joe Armstrong, the editor, told me that she's already called up the magazine to ask, "What's a p.i.s.ser?" has a big article about Stevie in it by Dan Dorfman. It said that he has $25 million and dirty fingernails-which isn't true at all, they're not dirty-and in it Stevie called Nan Kempner a "p.i.s.ser," and Joe Armstrong, the editor, told me that she's already called up the magazine to ask, "What's a p.i.s.ser?"
There was a Halloween party at Studio 54, Stevie kept giving me more drinks and then somebody shoved a Quaalude in my mouth and I was going to shove it to the side but it got stuck and then I drank vodka and it went down and that was a big mistake. My diamond choker was pinching my neck-I hate jewelry. How do ladies wear it? It's so uncomfortable. I went home by cab and got in around 6:30 somehow. My boyfriend Peter came up and found me with my boyfriend Danny so I introduced them as my boyfriends and that got them interested in each other so they went off together.
Tuesday, November 1, 1977 Actually slept through PH's call. Woke up at noon when Jed came in to shake me. The nightlife is taking its toll.
Kevin Goodspeed called from San Francisco. There were about fifteen really important calls that I never called back. Lucie and Desi Arnaz, Jr. called-I'd seen them at a party the other night-and I haven't returned their call yet.
I dropped Catherine (cab $4). I think she's having a secret affair because she's always busy now.
Wednesday, November 2, 1977 In the morning I didn't feel so well so I went over to see Doc c.o.x and got the surprising news that for the first time ever my blood pressure was up from seventy-eight to ninety-seven. But I don't know what that means. The nurse didn't seem upset.
Friday, November 4, 1977-New York-Los Angeles There was a problem with the plane to LA-it was stuck on the runway for three hours. Victor was also on the plane going out to California for a couple of weeks, but he was back in tourist. I read John Kobal's Rita Hayworth book and loved it.
Cab to Century City to meet Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His manager was good-looking and had a bull's hat, like a cowboy hat but 100 times bigger. Kareem was so big, I could walk through his legs. He was fun and he was easy to photograph, the way I guess Negroes are. Everybody always forgets the ball ball, though, and somebody had to go get one.
Went to the Beverly Wils.h.i.+re. They were going to put me in the old part but I wanted the new. Called New York. Nelson Lyon called. Don Simon whose wife is dying of cancer in Texas called, and Fred invited him for dinner.
Went over to the Polo Lounge.
Sat.u.r.day, November 5, 1977-Los Angeles-New York Victor called and he was on an acid trip. I asked him how he could take acid. Don Simon called to say he had a lot of fun the night before. We ran into Marisa in front of the hotel, and she's going to have her baby in two weeks. She's going to do The Vivien Leigh Story The Vivien Leigh Story but I don't know how she's going to do it-she can't act. I mean, they went through so much to get a good actress for but I don't know how she's going to do it-she can't act. I mean, they went through so much to get a good actress for Gone with the Wind Gone with the Wind and then now they're having and then now they're having Marisa Marisa play her? play her?
Then as we were waiting, trying to get a cab to the airport, a whole big limo filled with Vuitton luggage pulled up and a person with dark gla.s.ses was in it. It was Francesco Scavullo, and he
Sunday, November 6, 1977 David Bourdon called to say that Valerie Solanis had just called him, so she's still around town. He said she wanted the address of someone who had put her S.C.U.M. Manifesto into their book on women's lib, she wanted to shoot them or sue them or something. Victor called from California, not quite over his acid trip. He wants to stay out there, I told him he'd be wanting to come back soon.
When I got to the Iranian emba.s.sy (cab $2.50) it was full of movie directors and producers- Elia Kazan, Elliot Kastner, Milos Forman, Lester Persky, Barbara Loden-thirty or forty people.
Amba.s.sador Hoveyda said we should do Polaroids right then for the portrait of Princess Ashraf, and get it over with, so we went into a room. It was so easy. The Iranians have the best plastic surgeons in the world and every picture-if you keep it very white-comes out great. The princess said they've seen and done everything in town-every movie, every play, even Outrageous Outrageous. Dinner was great, the best ever there. The princess ate a lot, but the queen when she was there didn't eat much at all, maybe because she was afraid of poisonings, although the food is pre-tasted. Then everyone went upstairs and in barged Barry Landau with Margaret Trudeau. He got in by saying he was my very best closest dearest friend. But it worked out fine. And Bella Abzug and her husband Martin came with s.h.i.+rley MacLaine. Milos, who I really like, offered Margaret a part in Ragtime Ragtime as Evelyn Nesbit, but she'd have to go nude, he said, and she's thinking about it. I told Milos that I wanted a part in as Evelyn Nesbit, but she'd have to go nude, he said, and she's thinking about it. I told Milos that I wanted a part in Hair Hair and he said that if Margaret and I were in Central Park tomorrow morning at 9:00 we could have bit parts. I told him I wanted to be in and he said that if Margaret and I were in Central Park tomorrow morning at 9:00 we could have bit parts. I told him I wanted to be in Ragtime Ragtime, too.
Monday, November 7, 1977 Raining very hard. It was a bad day, "family" problems. Jed came by the office and was in the back in my working area and when he saw the stacks of Polaroids of all the "landscapes" I photographed for the Shadow paintings-all the closeups of c.o.c.ks and things-he began screaming that I had degenerated so low to be spending my time that way and he left, really upset, and it ruined my afternoon.
Oh something I forgot to tell the Diary! Somebody told us Jack Haley was a f.a.g! Oh I wish I could remember who it was who told us! I thought Liza had married a real man. He doesn't seem gay, I was shocked. I don't think it's true, though. I really don't.
Anyway, I was upset about Jed being upset so I decided to treat myself to junk food and gave Ronnie money to go out for tea from McDonald's for him and Chris Makos and Bobby Huston ($10). We sat on the couch by the window in the conference room with the pouring rain talking through tea about the movie Bobby Huston is writing that I a.s.signed about kids who commit suicide. Rupert came and helped me work. Barry Landau called. I called Jed and he hung up on me. Then we all left the office and a wonderful thing happened: the rain was so penetrating you were soaked in two feet's walk. It felt so exciting!
Later, at the Studio 54 party for Diane de Beauvau, Diane's name was up in lights. And I went over and screamed at Jay Johnson and Tom Cas.h.i.+n for not telling Jed the things I asked them to to calm him down. So I screamed and didn't have a good time. Chris Makos and Bobby Huston were there, and Robert Hayes saw Christopher and left, said he didn't want to run into him. They live together but they fight. Christopher said he hadn't had s.e.x for three days so he was laughing and trying to rip Bobby Huston's clothes off. I didn't have my camera, I wasn't in the mood. Then I went home and took the dogs out and they wouldn't pee.
Tuesday, November 8, 1977 Richard Weisman came down and he had just gotten back from the Ken Norton fight. He was in a nervous mood, and when he saw that I was doing a new style of painting he got upset, he didn't like it that I did the Chrissie Evert in lots of little pictures instead of the big ones, but then he saw that the Newsweek Newsweek girl who was there interviewing me loved it, so then he kept calling me back all day to say he was sorry. girl who was there interviewing me loved it, so then he kept calling me back all day to say he was sorry.
At Richard's party later for Vitas Gerulaitis Margaret Trudeau was there with two girlfriends from Canada. One was just divorced and she had three kids and she was fat and big and looked older than Margaret because she was fatter, and she decided to put the make on me-she came over and put her hands on her hips and gave me the best lines, I mean, you really could fall for it! n.o.body's ever said anything like it to me, just the right thing, something like: "You are so much more than I ever expected!" I told her that Margaret should go back to her husband and go into politics and she was thrilled to hear that, that's what she she thinks. She had a beautiful stole on, in that deep purple color-"aubergine," is it? They always say it in the fas.h.i.+on shows and I never know what it is. thinks. She had a beautiful stole on, in that deep purple color-"aubergine," is it? They always say it in the fas.h.i.+on shows and I never know what it is.
Lacey Neuhaus was there with Francois de Menil and she said that she just met the number-one cowboy in the world and she was going to interview him for Interview Interview. Frank Gifford was there with a woman, maybe his girlfriend, maybe his wife-she had so much makeup on, lots of white all over her face and lots of eyeliner, but very beautiful. He loved his painting. The owner of the Giants was there.
Wednesday, November 9, 1977 I forgot to say that one of these late nights, I watched the Tom Snyder Tom Snyder show. He had Roy Cohn on. Roy Cohn is now Stevie Rubell's lawyer. Also Carmine Galante's. He was incredible, such a creep. He was saying Archie Bunker things like "If I could get my hands on the Son of Sam I'd kill him myself" and talking about the "reds," and this crazy-looking person goes into courtrooms, he looks like such a creep. You could just imagine him like down at the Anvil in black leather, he would look so perfect. I bet he show. He had Roy Cohn on. Roy Cohn is now Stevie Rubell's lawyer. Also Carmine Galante's. He was incredible, such a creep. He was saying Archie Bunker things like "If I could get my hands on the Son of Sam I'd kill him myself" and talking about the "reds," and this crazy-looking person goes into courtrooms, he looks like such a creep. You could just imagine him like down at the Anvil in black leather, he would look so perfect. I bet he does does go to those places. He would. Or maybe he's just the opposite. Yeah, he's probably just the opposite-he wears dresses. But the things he was saying, like "Put everybody in the chair"-it was like hearing Paul Morrissey talk.... Yeah, they asked him how he could defend Mafia people since he's so concerned about everything, and it was that "rights" thing. It always is, you know-"They have a right to say they're not Mafia and to be defended." go to those places. He would. Or maybe he's just the opposite. Yeah, he's probably just the opposite-he wears dresses. But the things he was saying, like "Put everybody in the chair"-it was like hearing Paul Morrissey talk.... Yeah, they asked him how he could defend Mafia people since he's so concerned about everything, and it was that "rights" thing. It always is, you know-"They have a right to say they're not Mafia and to be defended."
I was the centerfold of the Post Post, a photo in front of the Sports paintings with a text by Jerry Tallmer. But I keep saying the wrong things. I said that athletes were better than movie stars and I don't know what I'm talking about because athletes are are all the new movie stars. And here we're getting all this publicity and it's a month ahead of when the opening is. I think it should be more toward the opening. all the new movie stars. And here we're getting all this publicity and it's a month ahead of when the opening is. I think it should be more toward the opening.
I read John Simon's review attacking the way Liza looks. He was just so awful. I mean if she ever saw that it would just crush her so badly. And she's actually nice-looking, I mean, I see her, she's not hard to look at. What does John Simon think he's doing? His philosophy must be that only good-looking people should entertain and I guess that's what I think, too. But Liza isn't ugly Liza isn't ugly!
I was also on the front page of the Voice Voice, photographed next to the empress of Iran for an article about torture in Iran.
Fred had tickets to the International Center of Photography benefit that Jackie O. was putting on at the museum up on Fifth and 94th. I asked Jed if he wanted to come but he said he was too tired (cab $2). Big mansion. The dinner was a horror. They put us at such a nothing, n.o.body table. You can't imagine-I was sitting next to Fred! Fred!
So here we were in this room where we didn't even recognize recognize anybody except each other and this girl comes over to me and says, "I know you have a camera, and you can take pictures of everyone here except Mrs. Ona.s.sis." I didn't think too much of it right then, I just thought she was one of those nervous-type girls who run these events. And then that rich old guy Nate c.u.mmings was screaming at Fred to open a window, and at first Fred was offended-Nate c.u.mmings somehow picked him to scream at-but then Fred figured out he was turning senile, so he decided to be a nice boy and do it, and then the girl started screaming at Fred not to. And Fred's going to call her up and really tell her off, because things got much worse. We got up and left that room and Fred went to find Diana Vreeland and when we walked into the anybody except each other and this girl comes over to me and says, "I know you have a camera, and you can take pictures of everyone here except Mrs. Ona.s.sis." I didn't think too much of it right then, I just thought she was one of those nervous-type girls who run these events. And then that rich old guy Nate c.u.mmings was screaming at Fred to open a window, and at first Fred was offended-Nate c.u.mmings somehow picked him to scream at-but then Fred figured out he was turning senile, so he decided to be a nice boy and do it, and then the girl started screaming at Fred not to. And Fred's going to call her up and really tell her off, because things got much worse. We got up and left that room and Fred went to find Diana Vreeland and when we walked into the other other room, there was room, there was everybody we knew! everybody we knew! Peter Beard was having fun with Barbara Allen and Lacey Neuhaus. I mean, Catherine was sitting at Jackie's table! But that's not the most incredible thing. When we walked into this room there were 4,000 photographers taking pictures of Jackie. And that horrible girl had come over to tell me Peter Beard was having fun with Barbara Allen and Lacey Neuhaus. I mean, Catherine was sitting at Jackie's table! But that's not the most incredible thing. When we walked into this room there were 4,000 photographers taking pictures of Jackie. And that horrible girl had come over to tell me I Icouldn't! Fred's really going to scream at her. It was like a Bobby Zarem event, there were so many cameras flas.h.i.+ng.
I cabbed with Fred and Diana Vreeland to Sutton Place to Robin West's party for Jamie Wyeth. I didn't have any change so I gave Fred $5. He gave the money to the guy, the fare was $2.80, and he told him to keep $.60 and the guy said, "How much is that?" and Fred started screaming, "I can't do your adding for you." And all the way down in the cab Diana and Fred had been fighting like they were a screaming old married couple. And the cab driver was b.u.t.ting into the conversation with, "Wasn't that Peter Beard's opening I picked you up outside of? Wasn't he on the cover of the Sunday Times?" Sunday Times?"
I talked to Carole Coleman from New Orleans. She's Jimmy Coleman's sister. Then Bo Polk came into the room and it got crazy. He'd met Carole at a bar and they'd gone out, and now he said things like "I want to eat your p.u.s.s.y," and on and on like that, they were just talking in front of me and Carole wasn't even embarra.s.sed. I was surprised because she's older than most of the girls Bo Polk goes after. She has beautiful eyes and she's rich and never married, she could have been like Jennifer O'Neill, but she has problems, I guess, and not too many boyfriends, but very attractive. And he was saying things like "I want to lick your toes and up to and into your c.u.n.t," and then he'd turn to me and say, "I want you to be there and take pictures, Andy," and oh, he's just nuts.
I went to say h.e.l.lo to Phyllis Wyeth and then Bo Polk and John La.r.s.en came over and Bo yelled to some girl that he'd put some c.o.ke on her c.l.i.t and John laughed and called him a c.o.ke tease. And then Bo and Carole left. But then in a few minutes they came back in and talked about if they should leave and she wanted to know what they were going to do and that went on and on.
And then Carole and Bo and Jay Mellon and Catherine and I left and walked. We pa.s.sed a place that had Famous Amos cookies in the window. I had never seen the package. It was the most beautiful picture of a cookie that I've ever seen, and I went in and bought it, but when I opened the package, the cookies were really little. It was the first time I was ever deceived! They tasted tasted good, but they weren't big and beautiful like the one on the package. good, but they weren't big and beautiful like the one on the package.
Thursday, November 10, 1977 Got a cab downtown, saw the driver's name and I liked it-Vincent Dooley. He was a really cute little boy, so good-looking. He said, "I don't want to be rude, but what does it feel like to be in Iran?" He had the Voice Voice with my picture on the front page on the seat next to him, the article about torture that also mentioned Raquel Welch, Liza Minnelli, and Farrah Fawcett-Majors. I got fl.u.s.tered and then told the kid that he was so good-looking, why was he a cab driver. He said, "Well, the closest I ever came to acting was I bought Joe Dallesandro's dog." He meant Caesar, Joe's big dog that was in with my picture on the front page on the seat next to him, the article about torture that also mentioned Raquel Welch, Liza Minnelli, and Farrah Fawcett-Majors. I got fl.u.s.tered and then told the kid that he was so good-looking, why was he a cab driver. He said, "Well, the closest I ever came to acting was I bought Joe Dallesandro's dog." He meant Caesar, Joe's big dog that was in Trash Trash, that Paul brought back from Hollywood out of Jack La Lanne's dog's litter. What he actually said was, "My girl and I bought his dog." The kid had a high voice so I had high hopes he was a fairy until he said that. He said that he's still with the girl and they still have the dog. I was embarra.s.sed about Iran so I gave him $5.
Cabbed to the bank ($3) then walked to the office. Then Rupert came by and he'd had a facial all morning from the famous health lady-he's more interested in having his hair dyed and facials than in working. And if you're going to go for facials you have to go every day, and anyway, you might as well do it yourself, all a "facial" means is that you take more than five minutes to wash your face. Jay and Tom stopped by for a while, they were mourning Mich.e.l.le Long, their drag queen friend who just died.
Went to Regine's dinner for Ira Von Furstenberg (cab $2). Regine never showed up. Talked to Ira. And then her son came in and he was so good-looking. We did his brother for Interview Interview recently, Kiko Hohenlohe, but this one was even better-looking. Ira said, "I could be the best stage mother in the world." But his father wants him not to be an actor. Princess Ira has always wanted to be a movie star. Always. She's been in lots of movies that never made it. I saw on TV the other night the Darryl Zanuck movie that he made for his girlfriend, Genevieve Gilles, and Ira was the second lead. recently, Kiko Hohenlohe, but this one was even better-looking. Ira said, "I could be the best stage mother in the world." But his father wants him not to be an actor. Princess Ira has always wanted to be a movie star. Always. She's been in lots of movies that never made it. I saw on TV the other night the Darryl Zanuck movie that he made for his girlfriend, Genevieve Gilles, and Ira was the second lead.
Francois Catroux was there with his wife Betty, and they were sitting with Ahmet Ertegun. And in a case like that who do you say h.e.l.lo to first-you go to the table and who do you kiss first? I know Ahmet was offended. Princess Ashraf was there with her boyfriend who likes polo.
Catherine was talking to a beautiful woman and it turned out to be Princess Elisabeth of Yugoslavia who seemed to know me, and she asked why I wasn't at Sharon Hammond's c.o.c.ktail party the day before. She's trying to get a green card and so is Ira, everybody wants a green card. And an interesting thing is that how she knows Sharon is that Mr. Oxenberg, Princess Elisabeth's first husband, left her for Maureen McCluskey, Sharon's sister, and I can't figure that out.
But anyway, Ira's son was so handsome, he had the slight kind of accent, just the right kind, like a kid that you would want to go out on a date with.
Friday, November 11, 1977 Sal Marciano from channel 7 Eyewitness News 7 Eyewitness News came to the office. They shot about five or ten minutes' worth in front of portraits. Then the people on the fifth floor called and said there was someone stuck in the elevator around the second floor named Victor. Vincent and I went out in the vestibule and heard a little voice calling for help. The fifth floor had called the Tenth Precinct, but they should have called the Thirteenth. The Tenth was over on the West Side. When the police arrived the first two were emergency-unit types, with ski jackets and baseball hats, like SWAT-looking. Then two uniformed cops came. came to the office. They shot about five or ten minutes' worth in front of portraits. Then the people on the fifth floor called and said there was someone stuck in the elevator around the second floor named Victor. Vincent and I went out in the vestibule and heard a little voice calling for help. The fifth floor had called the Tenth Precinct, but they should have called the Thirteenth. The Tenth was over on the West Side. When the police arrived the first two were emergency-unit types, with ski jackets and baseball hats, like SWAT-looking. Then two uniformed cops came.
They were doing everything by the emergency regulation rulebook. But one kidded and said, "Do you have any dynamite?" in a loud voice. One was peeking down into the shaft and the other was holding onto his coattails. Finally from the third floor they lowered a rope ladder down to the car and brought Victor up through the hole in the top.
Then afterwards they washed up in the bathroom and one took off his belt and holster, and it was lying on the table, the gun in the holster, while he washed up. They were both 6'5" 6'5".
Sunday, November 13, 1977 Victor called from San Francisco, he was getting dressed for a leather party. He said he'd been to a party the night before where it was a bunch of "straight" carpenters inviting a bunch of gay f.a.ggots. I don't know what that means.
Cabbed with Bob up to 94th Street to Paul Jenkins and Joanne du Pont's house. Ran into Linda Eastman's father, the lawyer, and his wife on the street.
Paul Jenkins is nutty. He told Bob and me, "I nearly fainted when you called today to say that you couldn't stay for dinner because you weren't invited invited for dinner. You're invited for dinner. You're invited next next week." Instead of just not saying anything and we would have thought we'd been invited twice. week." Instead of just not saying anything and we would have thought we'd been invited twice.
The du Pont lady told me that the first time she met me was at Mica Ertegun's and we were in front of the fireplace and the screen exploded. She happened to be wearing the biggest diamond in the world, one of them. She just got it from a sultan the day before, and when she got back to the hotel that night-she wouldn't say which hotel-she put it in the safe, and that night, she said, they switched ice on her, gave her a piece of gla.s.s.
Paul Jenkins showed us his collection-American Indian and Indian Indian stuff. When I was in India I could've gotten anything for nothing, but it's one of those things I just don't understand. Like Chinese stuff-I can't tell which is the good stuff, it all looks like the same junk. And he told us, "Lincoln Kirstein had his annual birthday freakout, but this time he physically threw his boyfriend out of the house," so Paul was setting the guy up in a little apartment, he said, that belongs to Zero Mostel's son. I really want to do people like Lincoln Kirstein in Interview Interview. I think it'd be so fascinating to do him our way and do it really good.
Sunday, January 1, 1978 I felt like my fever was coming back. I've taken lots of the drugstore pills, and it's scary.
Monday, January 2, 1978 I cabbed down to University Place and it was bubbling and bustling (cab $4). It was a half-holiday. I got to the office and I was a secretary, answering the phone. Robert Hayes and Marc Balet came in to work on Interview Interview.
I called Bianca and she said to come right over to Halston's, so we did and Dr. Giller the cute doctor was already there. We cabbed to Sat.u.r.day Night Fever Sat.u.r.day Night Fever ($3) and when we got there it was all sold out. So then we cabbed to the other theater where it was playing and that was sold out, too (cab $3). Then we decided to try to see the Bunuel film, ($3) and when we got there it was all sold out. So then we cabbed to the other theater where it was playing and that was sold out, too (cab $3). Then we decided to try to see the Bunuel film, That Obscure Object of Desire That Obscure Object of Desire (tickets $14, popcorn $4). It was really good, more modern than his early ones because every once in a while when it would get quiet, they would look out the window through the venetian blinds at the Paris street, and a bomb would go off-somebody would be blowing something up. But none of us could understand the movie. It's one role played by two girls, and they never explain why. (tickets $14, popcorn $4). It was really good, more modern than his early ones because every once in a while when it would get quiet, they would look out the window through the venetian blinds at the Paris street, and a bomb would go off-somebody would be blowing something up. But none of us could understand the movie. It's one role played by two girls, and they never explain why.
Larry Rivers and his girlfriend came in and they sat near us. Larry told me that he did Aly Kaiser's portrait, and she's the one that said she wanted me to do her portrait and Victor kept telling me to call her and I just didn't. So Larry did her portrait, and I think he must have had to f.u.c.k her, I don't know.
So we walked back to Halston's, and he'd fixed those pastas with meat inside them, not ravioli but maybe they're called cannellonis? And he'd made a chicken, and we had lots of drinks. And Stevie Rubell was there, and Bianca got upset because he reads the London papers and he quoted something Mick had said. It was in Earl Wilson's column here today about him and Jerry Hall, so it probably was Stevie who gave it to him-I mean, he pretends to be so friendly, and then he calls up the papers. And there were so many English reporters outside Halston's waiting for a statement from Bianca or Halston.
Bianca and Halston seem like they're a couple now, they really do. It's like a romance. But Bianca is so upset about Mick, and I'm surprised that she is, because she could get somebody rich in a minute. Somebody said to Halston, "Why don't you marry Bianca?" and he put his hands on his hips and said, "Because I'm I'm the hostess here." the hostess here."
And then we all went over to a place called the Ice Palace on 57th and Sixth. It's lesbians and hustlers. Bianca was dancing around, but she's so unhappy, and she and Halston were trying to get Jed to go home with them, and they were asking me if this was okay. She said, "n.o.body likes me." Everybody was wet from drinks getting spilled on them.
Tuesday, January 3, 1978 There's an article in People People about my Athletes show that's on now at the Coe Kerr Gallery. about my Athletes show that's on now at the Coe Kerr Gallery.
When I got home from the office I made a lot of phone calls, then walked over to Halston's to pick up Bianca, she was cooking like a Puerto Rican, and she had the whole house smelled up with onions and hamburgers, she had them out on the counter. We cabbed up to 86th Street ($2.75) and we finally hit Sat.u.r.day Night Fever Sat.u.r.day Night Fever at the right time and were able to get in. Well, the movie was just great. That bridge thing was the best scene-and the lines were great. It's I guess the new kind of fantasy movie, you're supposed to stay where you are. The old movies were things like at the right time and were able to get in. Well, the movie was just great. That bridge thing was the best scene-and the lines were great. It's I guess the new kind of fantasy movie, you're supposed to stay where you are. The old movies were things like Dead End Dead End and you had to get out of the dead end and make it to Park Avenue and now they're telling you that it's better off to stay where you are in Brooklyn-to avoid Park Avenue because it would just make you unhappy. It's about people who would and you had to get out of the dead end and make it to Park Avenue and now they're telling you that it's better off to stay where you are in Brooklyn-to avoid Park Avenue because it would just make you unhappy. It's about people who would never never even think about crossing the bridge, that's the fantasy. And they played up Travolta's big solo dance number, but then at the end they made the dance number with the girl so nothing, so underplayed. They were smart. And New York looked so exciting, didn't it? The Brooklyn Bridge and New York. Stevie Rubell wants to do a disco movie, but I don't think you could do another one, this one was so great. But why didn't they do it as a play first? What was this first, a short story? They should have milked it-done it as a play first and it would have run forever. even think about crossing the bridge, that's the fantasy. And they played up Travolta's big solo dance number, but then at the end they made the dance number with the girl so nothing, so underplayed. They were smart. And New York looked so exciting, didn't it? The Brooklyn Bridge and New York. Stevie Rubell wants to do a disco movie, but I don't think you could do another one, this one was so great. But why didn't they do it as a play first? What was this first, a short story? They should have milked it-done it as a play first and it would have run forever.
Bianca fell asleep. Somewhere in the theater we found Dr. Giller. But he had related to the movie so well that he wanted to see it again, so we left him there and went back to Halston's.
Halston and Bianca were in the kitchen together cooking, and he said he had so much energy he wanted to go dancing. He told me lots of gossip-he said that the night before when the doorbell rang it was Liza Minnelli. Her life's very complicated now. Like she was walking down the street with Jack Haley her husband and they'd run into Martin Scorsese who she's now having an affair with, and Marty confronted her that she was also having an affair with Baryshnikov and Marty said how could could she. This is going on with her husband, Jack Haley, standing there! And Halston said that it was all true, and he also said that Jack Haley she. This is going on with her husband, Jack Haley, standing there! And Halston said that it was all true, and he also said that Jack Haley wasn't wasn't gay. You see? I was right, I didn't gay. You see? I was right, I didn't think think so. Halston said Jack so. Halston said Jack likes likes Liza but that what he Liza but that what he really really goes for is big curvy blonde women. So when the doorbell rang the night before, it was Liza in a hat pulled down so n.o.body would recognize her, and she said to Halston, "Give me every drug you've got." So he gave her a bottle of c.o.ke, a few sticks of marijuana, a Valium, four Quaaludes, and they were all wrapped in a tiny box, and then a little figure in a white hat came up on the stoop and kissed Halston, and it was Marty Scorsese, he'd been hiding around the corner, and then he and Liza went off to have their affair on all the drugs. goes for is big curvy blonde women. So when the doorbell rang the night before, it was Liza in a hat pulled down so n.o.body would recognize her, and she said to Halston, "Give me every drug you've got." So he gave her a bottle of c.o.ke, a few sticks of marijuana, a Valium, four Quaaludes, and they were all wrapped in a tiny box, and then a little figure in a white hat came up on the stoop and kissed Halston, and it was Marty Scorsese, he'd been hiding around the corner, and then he and Liza went off to have their affair on all the drugs.
Then Dr. Giller arrived from his second viewing of Sat.u.r.day Night Fever Sat.u.r.day Night Fever. Bianca had been fighting with Victor before he came, because Victor was eating all the hamburgers she'd made and she was saying to save some for Dr. Giller. But I think she just wanted them herself-her a.s.s has gotten really big.
The s.e.x Pistols arrived in the U.S. today. Punk is going to be so big. They're so smart, whoever's running their tour, because they're starting in Pittsburgh where the kids have nothing to do, so they'll go really crazy.
And Bianca loves Jed. She keeps calling the house, but he was off in Connecticut with Judith Hollander and Sandy Brant for his interior decorating business.
And they wanted to go out, but Halston didn't like the way Bianca looked, so he put three feathers in her hair. Oh, and Victor had just come over to get an extra bottle of Vaseline from upstairs.
Wednesday, January 4, 1978 In the afternoon Edwige, the Queen of Paris Punk, came down for lunch, and she brought a hairdresser guy down with her. She just got married and her husband sent her on a honeymoon, she said. He stayed home. She's a lesbian and he's a fairy.
And Edwige doesn't have any hair, and the hairdresser had hair down his back. Then about twenty kids that I'd met at Studio 54 and invited up came by, so they saw Brigid the Fat Lady. Then they saw the Lesbian. Then they saw the Hairdresser. Then the tour was over. But we got rid of lots of Interviews Interviews on them. They're from Southern University, something like that. on them. They're from Southern University, something like that.
Cabbed to Bianca-at-Halston's ($2.25). Bianca wasn't there. She'd slept all day and was out at her exercise cla.s.s. Halston was on the floor having a fit and he told lots of gossip. He said that once Liza and Bianca were both at his house, they were in the bathroom peeing together-you know how girls like to do that, have people to talk to while they're in the bathroom-and Bianca said that she had bigger muscles than Liza, and so they dropped their tops and were comparing muscles in the mirror and Halston walked in on them. And while Halston was telling me this, Bianca came in from exercise cla.s.s and Halston had her show her muscles, so she dropped her top and showed them, and she really does have a good body on top. Then she made another Puerto Rican dinner.
And then Dr. Giller came in and he'd slept a few hours after being up all night dancing, so he was refreshed, and he started trying to find Halston's energy center, and while he did that, Halston was having white powder, so finally when Dr. Giller announced that he'd found Halston's energy center Halston had had enough white powder so that he did have energy. Then Bianca brought the food in and the doorbell rang and it was Victor in his underwear.
And then it was time to dress Bianca for Studio 54. Then over to Studio 54 and it was full of pretty people.