Chapter 8
Thursday, January 5, 1978 Bianca had slipped her number to Nastase at the tennis matches that afternoon and when I got to Halston's the phone was ringing and it was Nastase, and Bianca told him to come over. He arrived with a boyfriend, just one of his friends, and he was intimidated by the place-Halston was dressing the Disco Queen in a coat he'd made for her that day, and she came down the stairs and Halston was saying [imitates] [imitates], "Come on, Disco Queen." He talks like baby talk. He didn't put any feathers in her hair this time. I told him he couldn't, that the newspapers wouldn't take her picture if she put one more feather in her hair.
And then Nastase's boyfriend decided not to come to Studio 54 with us, and when we got in the limo Halston was yelling at the driver because he couldn't find the black radio station, he said, "What do you mean you don't know where the black station is-you're black black, aren't you?" And then the driver said he couldn't see, meaning the radio dial, and Halston said, "What do you mean you can't see, you're driving driving, aren't you?" and then he told me that you have to yell at the help or they don't respect you. He has over a hundred people working for him and they're all so terrified of him, they're always asking each other what kind of a mood he's in.
And I noticed something-Bianca had two blemishes on her face! She's never had a blemis.h.!.+ I guess she's depressed about Mick, discoing the night away. She stays out until 6:00 then gets up for her 8:00 exercise cla.s.s.
Friday, January 6, 1978 Victor came over to the office a few times because he was nervous about his party that night. Richard Weisman called and said Pele was coming up to the Coe Kerr Gallery and so I had to go up there to sign (cab $5). Pele's nice, he invited me down to Rio as his guest (cab home $4).
Changed and went down to Victor's loft (cab $4). Victor had a security guard at the door, and his loft was all set up, he had lots of liquor and beautiful boys I'd never seen before. And Chris Makos came and he just got a free camera from Polaroid so he was getting all the kids to do funny things, taking off their s.h.i.+rts and posing. And there was a drag queen there, a former c.o.c.kette named I think Jumpin' Jack and he had about 18 pounds of t.i.t. And Diana Vreeland came with Barry Landau and Bill Boggs and Lucie Arnaz. They'd just seen the Mary Martin show. Larissa was there and Edwige. Edwige was unhappy because she came to New York to see Patti Hansen, who wouldn't see her again, so at the party Edwige put a four-inch cut in an X on the back of her wrist-later Victor found blood in his apartment.
And then, my dear, it was like a story-book fairy tale. Halston arrived in white, with Bianca on his arm in white fur, with Dr. Giller in white, in a white limo, with a white driver.
Sat.u.r.day, January 7, 1978 The maid at Halston's said Bianca was still upstairs asleep but that I could go up there. I woke Bianca up and she jumped up and put her clothes on over her pajamas, and that's when I realized that Bianca doesn't really take drugs-just a few poppers and maybe some c.o.ke once in a while, but otherwise she's not on drugs, she's normal.
Sunday, January 8, 1978 Got to Madison Square Garden for the tennis matches. The photographers were snapping, and Bianca told Jade to put her hands over her face, which is really funny, that Bianca has her trained, and Jade said, "But you have your your picture taken, Mommy." Bianca just wants all the attention for herself. The match was Connors against Borg. Connors won. picture taken, Mommy." Bianca just wants all the attention for herself. The match was Connors against Borg. Connors won.
I read The New York Times The New York Times at Halston's, he was at the office. Someone called Bianca and she was on the phone for an hour talking about her problems and I wished I'd listened or taped, but I was just reading. For the first half-hour she was talking about someone who she said was using her in London just to get their picture in the papers-she's so funny, because that's all she ever wants herself-and then the other half-hour she was talking about what a stupid blonde Jerry Hall is. I think she's really worried that she's getting her permanent walking papers from Mick. While Bianca was on the phone Jade asked me for candy and I gave her some M&Ms and then she said, "You've at Halston's, he was at the office. Someone called Bianca and she was on the phone for an hour talking about her problems and I wished I'd listened or taped, but I was just reading. For the first half-hour she was talking about someone who she said was using her in London just to get their picture in the papers-she's so funny, because that's all she ever wants herself-and then the other half-hour she was talking about what a stupid blonde Jerry Hall is. I think she's really worried that she's getting her permanent walking papers from Mick. While Bianca was on the phone Jade asked me for candy and I gave her some M&Ms and then she said, "You've got got to give me my supply for the night." So I gave her a few and she said, "You've got to give me some more, we'll go to the bathroom," and I told her that her mother would think it was strange if we went all the way to an upstairs bathroom and she said, "Well, come under the stairs, then." I slipped the M&Ms to her and she took them like drugs. to give me my supply for the night." So I gave her a few and she said, "You've got to give me some more, we'll go to the bathroom," and I told her that her mother would think it was strange if we went all the way to an upstairs bathroom and she said, "Well, come under the stairs, then." I slipped the M&Ms to her and she took them like drugs.
Monday, January 9, 1978 Worked a little at the office with Rupert and then with Alex Heinrici. I'm still using Heinrici to print screens but I'm giving more and more work to Rupert. Cabbed up through the snow. The whole ride was long and hard ($10).
Liza had sent six tickets for Bianca who wanted to see The Act The Act. Bianca disinvited Victor because she wanted to invite Stevie Rubell and her dancing teacher who was in from London. Bianca kept calling Stevie but she couldn't get him. It came out later on that Bianca only wanted to go because she'd heard Jackie O. would be there and she wanted to get photographed.
Jed and I went over to Bianca's, thinking she'd have a car, but she didn't. Jade was coming, too. When we got to the theater, everyone was staring, looking around for Jackie O. The Act The Act was good again. Bianca was putting it down, but toward the end when she knew we'd have to go see Liza she started putting it up, saying it was great. Jade had to pee. Jackie and Swifty Lazar and Jack Haley and Bianca all had their pictures taken and everyone was staring while they did. And afterwards we went backstage to see Liza. I pointed my tape recorder in Jackie's direction and I hope I got a little breathy talk (tickets $60). was good again. Bianca was putting it down, but toward the end when she knew we'd have to go see Liza she started putting it up, saying it was great. Jade had to pee. Jackie and Swifty Lazar and Jack Haley and Bianca all had their pictures taken and everyone was staring while they did. And afterwards we went backstage to see Liza. I pointed my tape recorder in Jackie's direction and I hope I got a little breathy talk (tickets $60).
Then we cabbed back to Halston's ($3) and when we got there, he was just going to bed. You could see he was really ready to go to bed, he had Linda in his arms and everything. Linda's his dog. Then Bianca got on the phone and made calls to find out who was where, who was at the Ice Palace, who was at Elaine's, and then we went up to Elaine's (cab $2.75).
After the show Liza's group had gone to "21," and Bianca was calling there leaving messages about I guess c.o.ke-calling it "the book." Like, "I haven't got the book for her yet."
Halston hadn't dressed Bianca before she went out so she looked really awful when we went to the theater, but n.o.body had wanted to tell her. But when we got back to Halston's he finally told her how terrible she looked. He had her take off the turban and put on dark lipstick, and then then she looked good. But then she realized how bad she'd looked for the photographers at the theater. Jade was wearing a long dress. she looked good. But then she realized how bad she'd looked for the photographers at the theater. Jade was wearing a long dress.
Then Peter Beard came in with a guy who had a beautiful glove on and a bottle of c.o.ke in the other hand, and then later he showed us his hand which was a stump, it looked like in the movies when they show the fiendish ghoul-he lost it in a plane crash, his third plane crash, a DC-10 that he owns. He pa.s.sed the bottle of c.o.ke around (dinner $130.38, tip $20).
Then we went to the Ice Palace (cab $3) and it wasn't so crowded, just a few hustlers, and then around 3:00 Jed and I slipped out.
Tuesday, January 10, 1978 I walked over to Halston's and when I got there Jane Rose, Mick's secretary, was there and she was calling Mick so that he could sing to Jade before bedtime. Then we tried to get Fred on the line but it was busy for four hours. I wanted him to come out with us because I wanted to be able to duck out early.
Bianca was telling her side of the marriage story. At first she was saying that she never cheated on Mick, but then she said he was splitting from her because she had so many affairs-she had one with some guy named Llewellyn and now she's having one with Mark Shand. But she said she never flaunted it publicly. She told me that she wanted to be somebody on her own, and that she'd always wanted to make it on her own so that (laughs) (laughs) she could buy any waiter. She said she's giving Mick his divorce and I told her that they shouldn't break up. She said she and Mick hit rock bottom, that she can't go to bed with him because she just doesn't think he's attractive. And she said Mick was "rude," putting her down recently, she said she's never put she could buy any waiter. She said she's giving Mick his divorce and I told her that they shouldn't break up. She said she and Mick hit rock bottom, that she can't go to bed with him because she just doesn't think he's attractive. And she said Mick was "rude," putting her down recently, she said she's never put him him down. She said she couldn't be "free"-like a free spirit-with Mick because of who he was, and she was a n.o.body. And she talked about her trip to Hollywood coming up and she talked in that lub-luh-luh voice about her "role" in this movie with Tony Curtis and Lionel Stander and Gloria Grahame. She said they were rewriting the part for her, that she'd told them certain things she wanted. It takes place in Costa Rica. And she's scared because "the Critics are waiting to tear me down." And I don't know if she can do it. I mean, she tells me she can dance, too, and then last night I made a point to watch her and she's no Rita Hayworth, she's no Rita Hayworth. down. She said she couldn't be "free"-like a free spirit-with Mick because of who he was, and she was a n.o.body. And she talked about her trip to Hollywood coming up and she talked in that lub-luh-luh voice about her "role" in this movie with Tony Curtis and Lionel Stander and Gloria Grahame. She said they were rewriting the part for her, that she'd told them certain things she wanted. It takes place in Costa Rica. And she's scared because "the Critics are waiting to tear me down." And I don't know if she can do it. I mean, she tells me she can dance, too, and then last night I made a point to watch her and she's no Rita Hayworth, she's no Rita Hayworth.
She was happy because the Daily News Daily News finally ran the pictures of her with Liza and Jackie O. from the night before at finally ran the pictures of her with Liza and Jackie O. from the night before at The Act The Act in it (cab to Studio 54 $3.50). in it (cab to Studio 54 $3.50).
I'd given some beads to Jade earlier, and Bianca was saying that now this breakup is taking its toll on Jade, but Jade looks okay to me. Bianca is such a tease, she's always going after guys and getting them all excited, giving them her phone number and then when they call not doing anything.
Wednesday, January 11, 1978 Paulette called a few times to say not to be late. I dropped off Catherine and Fred ($5) and picked her up at the Ritz Towers at 8:15 (cab $1.50). I asked her where the new Halston she bought was, and she said, "I brought it back, it made me look too fat." She was wearing the dress that looks good on her, the YSL, and she had on her rubies, about a million dollars around her neck-I know, because I saw a stone like that that wasn't even as good and it it was a million. was a million.
We drove to the Waldorf Towers and the driver went around the other way to avoid the anti-Iranian demonstrators. Some creep asked us what I thought about the torture in Iran and Paulette said, "Listen, Valerian Rybar is torturing me here in New York." He's still decorating her apartment, she was complaining that it's been a year.
The du Pont lady and Paul Jenkins were there, they'd just stepped off the Concorde. "Suzy" was there, and her apartment is also being done by Valerian Rybar and she told Paulette not to take it personally-that he'd been doing her her place for two and a half years. I told "Suzy" I loved her column that day because there was so much dirt in it about Mick and Bianca, and how Mick has left Jerry Hall, and about Liza and Baryshnikov and Scorsese. Hoveyda and Zahedi were there, Barbara Walters was there with Roone Arledge. I was so excited to meet Roone, we talked about Art Buchwald. And Mayor Koch was there with Bess Myerson, and she's really tall and handsome and he's about the same height. And Governor Carey walked by and I said h.e.l.lo to him a couple of times but he didn't say anything, he was with the Ford girl. And Beverly Sills was there, she's tall, too. This was a thing for "artists" and tomorrow the queen is opening an Iranian exhibit at Asia House. s.h.i.+rley MacLaine said h.e.l.lo to me a few times. And Mollie Parnis was there, and Jerzy Kosinski. place for two and a half years. I told "Suzy" I loved her column that day because there was so much dirt in it about Mick and Bianca, and how Mick has left Jerry Hall, and about Liza and Baryshnikov and Scorsese. Hoveyda and Zahedi were there, Barbara Walters was there with Roone Arledge. I was so excited to meet Roone, we talked about Art Buchwald. And Mayor Koch was there with Bess Myerson, and she's really tall and handsome and he's about the same height. And Governor Carey walked by and I said h.e.l.lo to him a couple of times but he didn't say anything, he was with the Ford girl. And Beverly Sills was there, she's tall, too. This was a thing for "artists" and tomorrow the queen is opening an Iranian exhibit at Asia House. s.h.i.+rley MacLaine said h.e.l.lo to me a few times. And Mollie Parnis was there, and Jerzy Kosinski.
Then they started the speeches. Zahedi, then the-empress, the queen. Then Koch, then Carey, then Kissinger-and he talked for almost forty-five minutes, so long-winded. They flew in violets for the ladies, and the caviar was called Pearls of the Caspian Sea and Paulette had about a pound. It was white and not too salty. The violinist from Lester Lanin asked for Paulette's autograph. Paulette wanted to leave so we did and she said she'd go out of her way to drop me at the door, it was so cold. I mean, you know know it's cold when it's cold when Paulette Paulette gets considerate. gets considerate.
Thursday, January 12, 1978 Interviewed Lucie Arnaz at Quo Vadis, and it was nothing really startling. She's so tall, she eats everything, she's a little fat and she was wearing jeans so she looked fatter, but she has a beautiful face. We brought up Jim Bailey the female impersonator and Burt Reynolds. She dated both of them. She said Burt was sweet and devoted. These girls are brought up strict, they think you shouldn't put out.
Went uptown ($6) to pick Catherine up at 7:50 and walked over to the Copa for the Bette Midler opening that Mica Ertegun sent tickets for. Ron Galella was there and he had his own camera crew-a TV thing was being done on him. It was the same Mafia-type people at the Copa like when we had our party there last year. Richard Turley was standing in the doorway and he asked if he could try to slip in with me, and I didn't know what to say, I said he could do whatever he wanted to but that it was Mafia and that he'd never make it, and he didn't. Chessy Rayner was there, and Peter Tufo and Lee Radziwill were there together but she was at a different table from him, and I'll get to that in a second.
I couldn't see anything, just the top two inches of Bette's head when she finally came out. And Catherine was sitting so that she faced Peter Tufo and pretty soon I felt his leg rubbing against mine and I guess he thought it was Catherine. They were really flirting hot and heavy, and he said to her, "Why don't you get up on the table and boogie?" and I was surprised because he's usually so sour. He was yelling things like (laughs) (laughs) "Colored sounds!" at the black girls singing. "Colored sounds!" at the black girls singing.
I kept hitting Catherine to turn around and look at the show, but she was telling about going to Plato's Retreat the night before. She said she didn't know if she'd been penetrated or not while she was there, and hearing this got Peter Tufo hotter, and she spilled a drink on his pants, but that just made him hotter, too, and he slipped her a note that I found out later said just "When?" "When?" and all I could think was that it was a repeat of our friend Barbara Allen taking Peter Beard away from Lee, and now here our friend Catherine was stealing Peter Tufo. and all I could think was that it was a repeat of our friend Barbara Allen taking Peter Beard away from Lee, and now here our friend Catherine was stealing Peter Tufo.
I just wanted to run out, it's a firetrap there, I hate to be in places like that. And then everybody left, Catherine went back inside to get the "When?" "When?" note and we got separated, and she went over to Quo Vadis in the Erteguns' limo, and I walked over and when I was walking in Lee and Peter Tufo were fighting, but Lee stopped fighting to wish me Happy New Year with a kiss. We were at Ahmet's table. Dinner was a little pigeon. Lee left first and I thought Peter Tufo would stay for Catherine, but he left with Lee, so Catherine was safe. And Ahmet was loading up with cognac and being funny. And afterwards we were all invited up to the Cotton Club, which they
Also today, got back my photographs of Edwige cutting her wrists at Victor's party the other night, and Victor said that her scars would be punk jewelry.
And Bob met today with the Rums of Puerto Rico guy from Kenyon & Eckhardt and the guy who's from something like the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, and they want to have a party at the office to unveil the Liza portrait I'm doing because Liza's endorsing Rums of Puerto Rico, and so they're giving Interview Interview three months of rum ads. They're trying to get Burt Reynolds for this campaign, and I'd be doing his portrait, too, but the two people he wants to be in the ad with him, the agency didn't think they were "cosmetically right." So Bob called Burt's manager in L.A. and had to ask if they could submit some other possibilities, and the manager said, "Listen, Burt's endors.e.m.e.nt is worth a million dollars and he's only even three months of rum ads. They're trying to get Burt Reynolds for this campaign, and I'd be doing his portrait, too, but the two people he wants to be in the ad with him, the agency didn't think they were "cosmetically right." So Bob called Burt's manager in L.A. and had to ask if they could submit some other possibilities, and the manager said, "Listen, Burt's endors.e.m.e.nt is worth a million dollars and he's only even considering considering it because he wants a Warhol portrait, and if Burt sent a midget and a dwarf over to be in the ad with him, Rums of Puerto Rico and their ad agency should be thrilled." And Bob said the people Burt wants aren't even bad-looking anyway. it because he wants a Warhol portrait, and if Burt sent a midget and a dwarf over to be in the ad with him, Rums of Puerto Rico and their ad agency should be thrilled." And Bob said the people Burt wants aren't even bad-looking anyway.
Friday, January 13, 1978 Lunch for Bloomingdale's at the office. It was a big thing that Mr. Traub himself came down. And Cal, the friend of Robert Hayes's who was at Bonwit's and gave us ads there, is now at Bloomingdale's. Bob gave a big impressive speech about Interview Interview, and then he turned to Carole Rogers, Interview's Interview's a.s.sociate publisher, and said, "Carole, could you give us some statistics, please?" waiting for her to reinforce the figures that he'd given-that a.s.sociate publisher, and said, "Carole, could you give us some statistics, please?" waiting for her to reinforce the figures that he'd given-that Interview's Interview's circulation is 80,000 and that 20 percent of that is subscriptions-but instead she said, "Our subscriptions are 7,000," and everyone turned red and gasped, and Bob couldn't believe it. Afterwards Cal called and said that was the first thing Mr. Traub brought up in the car after they left, so that might have blown it, but they'll give circulation is 80,000 and that 20 percent of that is subscriptions-but instead she said, "Our subscriptions are 7,000," and everyone turned red and gasped, and Bob couldn't believe it. Afterwards Cal called and said that was the first thing Mr. Traub brought up in the car after they left, so that might have blown it, but they'll give Interview Interview something because they do think it reaches the right people. All the Bloomingdale's people were in blue suits. something because they do think it reaches the right people. All the Bloomingdale's people were in blue suits.
Sat.u.r.day, January 14, 1978 Went to a screening of The Leopard The Leopard that Suzie Frankfurt was having at her house. Victor was there with a really good-looking little seventeen-year-old high school kid from New Jersey, all-American that Suzie Frankfurt was having at her house. Victor was there with a really good-looking little seventeen-year-old high school kid from New Jersey, all-American Happy Days Happy Days type of good looks, and I was thinking how can he come to New York and do things like meet me, and know Victor, and go to the Ramrod and come to Suzie's for a screening of type of good looks, and I was thinking how can he come to New York and do things like meet me, and know Victor, and go to the Ramrod and come to Suzie's for a screening of The Leopard The Leopard, and then go back and sit all day in high school.
Monday, January 16, 1978 We found out Andrea Portago is marrying Mick Flick this weekend in Switzerland. And then Barbara Allen came by with Lacey Neuhaus. Barbara was just back from Acapulco, and she was very tanned. When she heard the news about Mick Flick and Andrea, she tried not to look shocked-she recovered in a second and said, "I only had one date with him and he was so boring that I left before the espresso."
At around 4:00 Margaret Trudeau arrived, and Marc Balet and Robert Hayes took her to be photographed. Arranged to meet her at 9:00 at Quo Vadis. Worked until around 8:00, then dropped off Catherine (cab $4).
Went home, glued, and then walked over to Quo Vadis to meet Bob and Margaret Trudeau. She did a really great interview. She had five margaritas. Her family sounds like Viva's, she has a lot of sisters, too, but then she's more intelligent and more beautiful than Viva and her family, because she's not so crazy. She hitchhiked in 1969 in Morocco. And she had us turn off the tape and she told us that she sat next to Nixon at dinner and he didn't talk to her the whole time until he turned around and told her about the s.e.x life of a panda, and that was it.
Margaret was wearing a new designer's dress. She said she was just on the list of the worst-dressed women in the world. She told us that wherever she goes, no matter who else is around, the photographers always go after her and keep snapping. Then we went over to Studio 54 for Scavullo's birthday party and it was true (cab $3.25). Margaret was dancing and the cameramen went crazy. Stevie had said there would only be one photographer, but there were twenty to fifty. When they brought in the birthday cake, which was in the shape of a camera for Scavullo, they didn't even notice the cake-they were still going after Margaret.
Tuesday, January 17, 1978 We went to the Vincis' dinner for Lina Wertmuller at the Italian emba.s.sy. She coughed all over me and then said she was just getting over the flu. But I found that lady Cappy Badrutt and she was fun-I really like her, she's so beautiful, like an elegant courtesan. She told me about some of her affairs. When I left Bob stayed on so Fred dropped me off.
Wednesday, January 18, 1978 John Chamberlain and his new wife Lorraine came to the office for lunch. She's really pretty, a lot younger than he is. He said he was tired of living in lofts-he's looking for a small apartment in the Dakota. He's still doing the same sculpture things, but they still look great-the car crashes-and people are still buying them. I did some photographs of him and his wife.
Thursday, January 19, 1978 Went to the auction of Joan Crawford's costume jewelry. Saw PH there bidding on a huge pink necklace and when it went over her limit she dropped out, but then I bid some more and got it and gave it to her. She was so grateful she took me down to the Village to Sixth Avenue near Waverly and showed me a secret store she'd discovered on the second floor where a man sells all the Diors and Balenciagas that belonged to his sister who's now dead. It was the greatest place and I bought about five dresses. Everything there is size 14, though, because the sister was fat. The store is called Fabulous Fas.h.i.+ons, and it has hats and handbags and umbrellas, too, and it's all cheap cheap.
I went home to change for dinner, but I forgot that Sandra Payson-you know, Lady Weidenfeld-had told me it was black tie. So I glued myself and went over there. Cabbed to Sutton Place ($2.25). It was a small dinner party and when I saw I was the only one not in black tie, that's when I remembered that she had mentioned it. When they saw how bad I looked everybody ran away from me and they didn't come back until they were drunk. I was trying to make it better with conversation, so I just started telling them about how I was buying lots of dresses now, and they just backed away. And Mrs. Payson invited me, I think, because she wanted a painting, but she never mentioned a thing about it so I guess she was so shocked by my clothes that she decided against it.
The party was for a ballerina whose name I forget, but who was the big ballerina at the same time Margot Fonteyn was-not a Russian, though. She told me about every cat she'd ever had and how each one died. She had a Siamese who jumped onto a ledge and then fell five stories, and she said she could still see the claw marks that it left on the ledge, and that was sad-it tried to turn around and it slipped.
Friday, January 20, 1978 This was the morning of the big blizzard that had started the evening before. Biggest snowstorm since '69.
Down at the office I looked out the window and for about an hour a black man was trying to get his car unstuck. He went down into the subway and came back with a shovel and he tried to dig himself out, and whenever he'd get back into the car to try it he'd take the shovel inside with him-I guess so it wouldn't get stolen. After an hour, a bigger Negro guy with a bigger shovel walked by but he didn't help him. McDonald's closed early. Chemical Bank closed at 1:00.
Sat.u.r.day, January 21, 1978 Cabbed over to Studio 54, and then when we got there, the place was packed. Ken Norton was there. It was jumping for a snowy night, Stevie couldn't believe that so many people came out in the blizzard for it, he was turning away people at the door as usual. Then we wanted to go down to a place called Christy's Restaurant on West 11th Street where there was a Sat.u.r.day Night Live Sat.u.r.day Night Live party for Steve Martin. We went outside to try to get a cab but we couldn't. Then along came a white guy and a black girl in a car who offered us a ride anywhere we wanted to go, and we took it. They said that Stevie wouldn't let them in to Studio 54 because they didn't look right, but they looked okay to me-I mean, he looked like a fairy and she looked like a drag queen, it was the Studio 54 look. As we were going along Catherine looked out the window and said wasn't that Lou Reed on the street, and it was. He was with a Chinese chick, and they got in and he was very friendly. When we got to Christy's, Steve Martin was great, he seemed thrilled to meet me. party for Steve Martin. We went outside to try to get a cab but we couldn't. Then along came a white guy and a black girl in a car who offered us a ride anywhere we wanted to go, and we took it. They said that Stevie wouldn't let them in to Studio 54 because they didn't look right, but they looked okay to me-I mean, he looked like a fairy and she looked like a drag queen, it was the Studio 54 look. As we were going along Catherine looked out the window and said wasn't that Lou Reed on the street, and it was. He was with a Chinese chick, and they got in and he was very friendly. When we got to Christy's, Steve Martin was great, he seemed thrilled to meet me.
Sunday, January 22, 1978 Sam Beard was giving a fortieth birthday party for his brother Peter in his apartment on 92nd and Park. It was an exciting party. Jackie O. and Caroline were there. Caroline asked me what I thought of totalitarianism and I couldn't p.r.o.nounce it so I tried to joke about it and she said, "No, I'm serious." Mary Hemingway was there, and Jonas Mekas filmed her being a lion attacking Peter Beard.
Fred was there with Lacey Neuhaus and Stevie Rubell was there. Victor arrived in a torn T-s.h.i.+rt with spurs on his arms, with a present for Peter-it was something that looked like he might have found in the street or maybe used in Halston's display window, like a part of a machine. And he had a present for me, too-a used jockstrap. It was great. Barbara Allen was there with Philip Niarchos, he's in town. Ronnie and Gigi and Walter Steding were also there, and Jennifer Jakobson who doesn't seem to be with Francois de Menil anymore. And Steve Aronson. He's a real charmer, he speaks so beautifully and wears those great clothes. Peter was very happy because all of his old girlfriends were in one room.
Then we all went over to Studio 54, and they had an elephant cake for Peter come down from the ceiling because Peter took all those great African elephant pictures. Arnold Schwarzenegger was there. I left around 2:00 just as Halston and Bianca were coming in. They were both in elephant masks, but the photographers didn't care, they're tired of Bianca. She better get out of town for a while.
Tuesday, January 24, 1978 Suzie Frankfurt called and said her facelift was very painful.
Since it was nice weather I walked down to work. Victor called and said that he'd done "something terrible" but wouldn't say what it was on the phone, that he would come over (lunch for Victor $5.29). But he still wouldn't tell what he did. Later when I was talking to Bianca I got it out of her, so I called him up and said, "Gee, Victor, I had a dream last night that you were painting on top of my my painting. Isn't that crazy?" And he started to freak out that I really had dreamed it, and then I said not to worry, that I knew what he'd done and that I'd give him another one. painting. Isn't that crazy?" And he started to freak out that I really had dreamed it, and then I said not to worry, that I knew what he'd done and that I'd give him another one.
Later that night at Studio 54 there were two little kids from Caracas there, and Victor got jealous when I was talking to them, and they knew exactly where Victor was from when they heard him talk-it turns out Victor has the "Brooklyn accent" of Caracas.
Philip Niarchos arrived with Manuela Papatakis. Bianca was thrilled that Barbara and Philip seem to have broken up.
Wednesday, January 25, 1978 When I walked into the office, the lunch for Carole Bouquet, the beautiful French actress, was going on, but she wasn't there because she was still filming her movie. Peter Beard was there, though, and Mona, and it was half from William Poll, half Brownies. The cute guy with the burned hand, Peter's friend Tom Sullivan, was there. We liked his boots so he asked us our sizes and called this place in Georgia to send three pairs up. He's been living in a suite at the Westbury for months waiting to have skin grafts on the hand he burned in his plane crash. I think Catherine has a crush on him.
Worked on some paintings in the back. I'm really tired, though, I'm not getting enough sleep. Bianca stopped by and five minutes later Mark Shand did. And Brigid told me, "All day long Lady Isabella Lambton picks her nose and eats it, and if you say something to her about it, she just laughs and goes right on doing it. She told me that at night she and her boyfriend pick each other's noses. It's hard to take."
Went up to the Olympic Tower to see Halston's new offices (cab $3). It's on two floors and it looks out on St. Patrick's steeple. We had some drinks. We dropped Catherine off and she didn't have any shoes on so Peter's cute friend carried her up six flights.
Thursday, January 26, 1978 When I called Catherine at home in the morning before I left a man answered and said she'd already left for work, and it was Tom Sullivan from the day before. He said he was just there dropping something off. He shouldn't have answered the phone. When I told Catherine later that he had, she said, "Well, you got me," and she was slightly embarra.s.sed.
The boots arrived at the airport and Peter Beard brought them down. Mine fit perfectly, I'd told Tom to get me 8-D-the only thing wrong was that I had said round toe and they came with the pointy toe. And they'd all come in a big box and Peter had taken the shoes out of the box because it was so big, and thrown the box away, and then we found out that one of Catherine's pair was still in the box, and so Tom's driver went back uptown looking for where they'd thrown out the box, and he did come back with it, so Catherine was thrilled. They're cowboy boots made out of elephant ears.
Lunch for Isabella Rossellini (supplies $7.13, $16.41). John Richardson was there and gave me a present of a picture of his c.o.c.k. Bianca was wearing white with a purple Halston stole and she and Tom Sullivan, Brigid said, "were practically f.u.c.king against the wall, it was really disgusting"-and Isabella Rossellini, Robin West, and Claus von Bulow were there. Dinner was at Bianca-at-Halston's, it was veal blanquettes. Diana Vreeland was there with Fred, and Stevie is so funny, he said to me she was "fascinating," and then later in the evening he said she was so boring he didn't know how to get rid of her. And you know, I've come to realize lately that Diana Vreeland is just a person. I realized it a few months ago when I was thinking again about the thing in the sixties with Viva at Vogue Vogue, when Diana killed the pages on Viva that would have made Viva's career. Diana does do things for her "career"-she listens to people who tell her if something's a bad thing to do, if she'd suffer professionally, and then she does what they tell her. Somebody must have told her that if she ran the Viva photos it would be a bad thing for her. You think that she doesn't think that way because she's Diana Vreeland, but then you suddenly realize that she does.
Friday, January 27, 1978 Went over to Halston's. The Halston crowd coordinate themselves, they talk to each other and decide what color themes are on for the evening. It was back to black and red this night. Pat Mori the model was there in black and red, and Halston had his red socks on with his regular black and white.
We went over in the limo to Studio 54. I was there until around 6:00 in the morning but all I remember is Catherine and her new boyfriend Tom Sullivan who I do think is a c.o.ke dealer. Bianca said she got a movie part opposite Jeff Bridges.
Sat.u.r.day, January 28, 1978 Picked up Bianca and went over to the Dakota for Susan and Gil s.h.i.+va's party ($2.50). Lina Wertmuller and her husband, Enrico Job, were the guests of honor. He was the production designer on our movies Frankenstein Frankenstein and and Dracula Dracula. Her movie A Night Full of Rain A Night Full of Rain with Giancarlo Giannini and Candy Bergen is opening. Neil Sedaka was there. People kept bringing Woody Allen over to meet me so I met him four times. And Betty Bacall was there, she lives in the Dakota, too. And Judy Klemesrud the nice girl from the with Giancarlo Giannini and Candy Bergen is opening. Neil Sedaka was there. People kept bringing Woody Allen over to meet me so I met him four times. And Betty Bacall was there, she lives in the Dakota, too. And Judy Klemesrud the nice girl from the Times Times was there, and that Nancy Collins, the one who used to be at was there, and that Nancy Collins, the one who used to be at Women's Wear Women's Wear who's now in Was.h.i.+ngton, and Candy Bergen was there. Also at Gil s.h.i.+va's, Andrea Portago and Mick Hick, back in town after their wedding, and Bianca said, "He wanted to make me at Studio 54 last night, he attacks me now that he's married-he never attacked me before." who's now in Was.h.i.+ngton, and Candy Bergen was there. Also at Gil s.h.i.+va's, Andrea Portago and Mick Hick, back in town after their wedding, and Bianca said, "He wanted to make me at Studio 54 last night, he attacks me now that he's married-he never attacked me before."
Then we left for Studio 54. Catherine was there with Tom Sullivan, and they were going to the Bra.s.serie for cheeseburgers and invited me, and so I went.
Forgot to say the most exciting thing about the evening, When we left the s.h.i.+vas, Bianca wanted to stop back at Halston's to pick something up. When we got there, there was a pretty boy in a fur coat standing outside, and when we walked in, there was Liza Minnelli talking to Halston. She wanted to know if she and Baryshnikov-it was him outside-could spend some time at his place. So we weren't supposed to see this. And Liza and Baryshnikov were taking so much cocaine, I didn't know they took so much, just shoveling it in, and it was so exciting to see two really famous people right there in front of you taking drugs, about to go make it with each other.
Liza is just back from the rest cure in Texas, and she's going to start doing The Act The Act again. again.
Sunday, January 29, 1978 Barbara Allen called and she wanted me to take her to the New York Film Critics dinner, and she sounded down in the dumps. She told me that it's really getting to her that Philip and Manuela are around. Everybody's calling Barbara and saying, "We're inviting Philip and Manuela-do you still want to be invited?" She's unhappy.
At 8:30 I went over to Halston's. Bianca was wandering around with her t.i.ts showing. Mark Shand's left town.
We cabbed up to the Iranian emba.s.sy ($2.50). Maximilian Sch.e.l.l was there and he'd gotten a supporting role award for Julia Julia. I had never met him before and I was disappointed that he was fat, but he was really sweet. He said that I did great things for him in Germany, that he'd seen Flesh Flesh and hated it and then gone back to see it again and again and loved it, and that he thought, and hated it and then gone back to see it again and again and loved it, and that he thought, If this is a movie, then I can make a movie, too If this is a movie, then I can make a movie, too. I didn't know what to say, so I decided to give him Bianca, and they went crazy over each other from then on. I'd always heard he was a f.a.g, but the way they were carrying on, that image was fading. And Sissy s.p.a.cek introduced me to her husband, he was very nice, and Bella Abzug's campaigner-what's her name? s.h.i.+rley MacLaine told me she had the picture I did of Bella on her bureau. And John Simon was there, he was intrigued by Bianca. She had her hair in big pincurls that she said was a Nicaraguan style, but it looked Puerto Rican. S.J. Perelman was there and I wanted to talk to him because Nelson always said he's the funniest man in the world, but I didn't.
Bianca came running over and told me that for the first time she'd fallen for an older man. She said she had to leave, that she had to go home and cook a dinner for Halston, and I guess I laughed out loud because I remembered when Amanda Lear told me that the reason Mick's left Bianca is that she never made him a meal. When she's after somebody, though, she's a real coquette, out to prove she can do all the things. So we went back to Halston's. Maximilian let his car go, I guess he was cheap.
Stevie called and said come to the club. Victor and I had a feast in the kitchen-we made popcorn and I had orange juice and vodka. We left Bianca and Maximilian hugging and kissing in the other room. Halston took Linda and went to bed. Then we went over to Studio 54 and it was jumping.
Monday, January 30, 1978 I was supposed to interview Fran Lebowitz on her new book at lunch but Bob said that she couldn't have her regular column plus an interview, too, in the same issue, so Fran got upset and cancelled.
Catherine got a call from Tom Beard and Joel McCleary inviting us to a dinner they were having at Elaine's with Bill Graham, formerly of the Fillmore, who gave us-gave the Velvet Underground-our first big break in the sixties but then kicked us out.
Dinner wasn't until 9:30, and Catherine's been out so late, she falls asleep all day, so she wasn't ready until 10:00 and I picked her up. She was packing her tote bag to go over to the Westbury because Tom Sullivan is out of town and told her she could stay there and order room service, so all she could think about was sausages and eggs in the morning. He left her a limousine, too. She's really in love with him. She wears his clothes, his Valentino coat and leather jacket. She said his father died when he was very young and left a lot of money, that he'd made a lot of money on a radiator part (cab to Elaine's $2.60).
There were a lot of famous people there that I knew, but I didn't go to say h.e.l.lo-Candy Bergen, Joel Schumacher. Fred was already with the Carter people-Tom Beard and Joel McCleary. Bill Graham and I got right to the central incident of our relations.h.i.+p-him kicking the Velvets off the bill at his San Francisco Fillmore in I guess '66-and it finally came out after all these years that what made him really hate us wasn't the Velvets' music-it was that he saw Paul eating a tangerine and throwing the peels on the floor of the theater! (laughs) (laughs) Can you believe how Can you believe how long long it takes to get the real story? So then everyone at the table thought we hated Bill Graham and didn't talk to him-Bobby Zarem was there, too, with us, and he's getting fatter and fatter-but it wasn't that we were mad, I was just dead tired. But they thought there was "tension at the table." Dropped Catherine at the Westbury ($3). it takes to get the real story? So then everyone at the table thought we hated Bill Graham and didn't talk to him-Bobby Zarem was there, too, with us, and he's getting fatter and fatter-but it wasn't that we were mad, I was just dead tired. But they thought there was "tension at the table." Dropped Catherine at the Westbury ($3).
Tuesday, January 31, 1978 Rupert was at the office. Maximilian Sch.e.l.l came by and the minute he walked in the door Brigid immediately asked him for five autographs and Catherine asked for eight, then Chris Makos was snapping away, too, and poor Max was bombarded. They did need one picture, though, to go with the interview we were doing. He was calling a girl to meet him down at One Fifth.
At dinner at "21," Jody Powell was with a girl. The whole idea of the dinner was to interview Joel McCleary, but then my tape recorder was doing funny things. I sat next to a girl, Lynn, who said she and Joel were first sweethearts but that they never got married because he was a hippie and she was a Marxist. It was fascinating to see two hippies who couldn't make it because they were different kinds kinds of hippies. She said that Joel used to be so skinny, but now he's gotten fat, but that fat was better for politics, that it was better to see a big hunk of man up there. She said her guru told her that if you're a man and you're thin, then you turn h.o.m.os.e.xual, and I'm thinking I agree with that because of all the models. She said she and Joel meet once a year and tell each other off. So I guess people do do that. I told her that was what the couple does in that Broadway play of hippies. She said that Joel used to be so skinny, but now he's gotten fat, but that fat was better for politics, that it was better to see a big hunk of man up there. She said her guru told her that if you're a man and you're thin, then you turn h.o.m.os.e.xual, and I'm thinking I agree with that because of all the models. She said she and Joel meet once a year and tell each other off. So I guess people do do that. I told her that was what the couple does in that Broadway play Same Time Next Year Same Time Next Year.
Lynn said she's involved with that Pillsbury guy's foundation, but when I asked her for money she said she's only able to give it (laughs) (laughs) to "people in New England." to "people in New England."
Wednesday, February 1, 1978 Victor picked me up and we went to Chinatown. I hadn't been there for years. I still think they have the one kitchen in the back of Chinatown with the one big pot that they all dip into. We ate at some dump on Ca.n.a.l Street. We went to a lot of Chinese stores, and one Chinese girl recognized me. Then we took the limo to the Spring Street Bar and had drinks ($6) and I realized we should have come there for hamburgers, that would have been the better thing.
We stopped in at the O K Harris gallery and Ivan had just put a new show up and it was really crowded. Then we went around the corner costume-hunting to a store where a boy who was a camp sold $2,000 capes made out of gold thread. Then we went over to Fabulous Fas.h.i.+ons.
Victor thought it was the most fabulous place I'd ever taken him. He bought things for Halston there. And then after Fabulous, he dropped me off at the office because I had to meet the Hoveydas there, they were bringing a famous Iranian and his wife down and then we were all going down to Ballato's. Mr. and Mrs. Ghaferi.
Ballato's was very exciting because John and Yoko Lennon and Peter Boyle and his new I think wife were there. Catherine asked John for his autograph and he said no, because he said he just read that Robert Redford doesn't give autographs, so he wouldn't either. And Calvin Klein was there with that girl who gave me my first job at The New York Times The New York Times-Carrie Donovan. The food was really good and Mr. Ballato was there, and I paid the check with a check and then it was so early, 10:30, but they dropped us home.
Oh, and in the middle of dinner I told Catherine how Brigid and Chris Hemphill were both refusing to transcribe any more of the interviews that she does because they said they were so bad, and I told Bob he'd have to straighten it out. And later he told me he doesn't know what to do, because on the one hand Catherine's interviews are are really bad-I mean, she asked where the Bronx was in one of her interviews, and then even left it in the article because she thought that was "fascinating"-but on the other hand Brigid and Chris shouldn't be allowed to decide what they'll transcribe. really bad-I mean, she asked where the Bronx was in one of her interviews, and then even left it in the article because she thought that was "fascinating"-but on the other hand Brigid and Chris shouldn't be allowed to decide what they'll transcribe.
And at dinner the Iranians told me that when I paint the Shah to go easy on the eye shadow and lipstick. They said, "Keep it casual but conservative."
Thursday, February 2, 1978 When I got to the office, Brigid was still embarra.s.sed because Lucio Amelio, the art dealer from Naples, had arrived earlier for an appointment with Fred and when he got to the reception desk he stared at her for a long minute and then said, "Brigid Polk? La actress famosa di "Brigid Polk? La actress famosa di Chelsea Girls?" And Brigid was mortified that now she was a receptionist so she told him that she'd just appeared in Chelsea Girls?" And Brigid was mortified that now she was a receptionist so she told him that she'd just appeared in Bad Bad, too. He was so excited, telling the people with him how famous she was and acting like he'd just met Greta Garbo and (laughs) (laughs) poor Brigid had to keep answering phones. poor Brigid had to keep answering phones.
Ran into Robert Mapplethorpe near the office. He told me he has a show opening in San Francisco and he's going there for a month for a "s.e.x vacation" because "San Francisco is the best place for s.e.x in America."
Went home to change and then went to pick up Barbara Allen to go to a party at Diane Von Furstenberg's (cab $2.60). I wasn't invited-Barbara invited me as her date. Her ex, Philip Niarchos, was going to be there with Manuela.
We got to 1060 Fifth Avenue about 9:00, and it was a super party. Diane has a big apartment, huge, with fabric on the walls. She has a bathroom as big as a living room. Barry Diller lives there now, too, when he's in town. She had wood painted white and then painted wood-grained, like Art Nouveau. I made a faux pas faux pas. I walked into the room where everyone was eating, and Carl Bernstein was talking to Helen Gurley Brown, and he looked up and said to me, "Do you think Bob Colacello is attractive?" and I didn't know what was going on, and I guess I put my foot in it, I said, "Well, he's not my my type," and she got up and walked away. And then he told me that she'd mistaken him for Bob Colacello, and when he got insulted she was telling him how attractive Bob Colacello was and I blew it. type," and she got up and walked away. And then he told me that she'd mistaken him for Bob Colacello, and when he got insulted she was telling him how attractive Bob Colacello was and I blew it.
Barbara is really unhappy-Bianca's got herself a movie career and Manuela has Philip. She had a good long talk at Diane's with Philip. And Manuela isn't good-looking at all.
Barbara said the same thing that Bianca did, that Mick Flick was after her.
Friday, February 3, 1978 Had to get up early-at 6:30, the sun rises after 7:00-to call Catherine and tell her I wouldn't be going to Mardi Gras.
The lunch at the Lachmans' was at 1:30. Jaquine Lachman wants a painting but she wants a bargain price. I mean, her husband owns a third of Revlon! Bob is going to tell her no bargain.
When we got to the Lachman apartment, I could see that Mrs. Lachman was this French lady who's really so bored with her husband. His daughter from another marriage told her father he should paint, so now all he does is stay home and paint all day. He paints one painting each in the style of every artist. And he follows his wife around the house, he literally b.u.mps into her when she stops.
While we were there one of her friends called her and said she was too tired to go fur-coat shopping. So Jaquine was upset.
Tuesday, February 7, 1978 Catherine called, she's still down in Tampa with Tom Sullivan.
I think Peter Beard's in love again, with Carole Bouquet, the girl from That Obscure Object of Desire That Obscure Object of Desire, the Bunuel movie that's out now. He called and said he was having dinner with her up at Elaine's and invited me. When I got there Elaine was jitterbugging with a guy from the bar. Lorna Luft was there. She said she's got a part in Grease Grease.
And the Calvin Klein daughter kidnap is still in the papers. He gave an interview to Eugenia Sheppard about how brave his daughter was when she was kidnapped. Left around 2:00, dropped Bob (cab $3).
Wednesday, February 8, 1978 Before I left the house my nephew Paulie who's been in Denver for years called from New Jersey and said that he was leaving the priesthood and going to get married. I told him to come by the office in the afternoon and we'd talk about it.
When I got to the office ($3.60) Bob Colacello and Robert Hayes were having an important business lunch and so I went to sit in on it because I knew I was supposed to. But whenever it's a sort of important lunch, it's so stupid in that room, because Brigid will walk into the bathroom or Ronnie will wander through or someone will come to the door and say, "Barry Landau is on the phone for you" or "Crazy Matty is here to see you"-they don't seem to know what's important, and so it's silly in there.
My nephew arrived. He told me that he'd given up his parish in Denver. You're still a priest even if you give up your parish, but after he gets married he'll be excommunicated. I told him he should see Sat.u.r.day Night Fever Sat.u.r.day Night Fever. Because remember the part where the brother's leaving the priesthood? I didn't know what else to say, he wasn't listening to me anyway. He even said, "I'll just do what I'm going to do anyway, so let's not even talk about it." But then he kept bringing it up. And after 5:00 when the rates were down he called Denver and had me talk to his Mexican-American fiancee who's thirty-seven-older than he is-and she did actually sound nice.
It was Ash Wednesday.