Tuesday, August 30, 1983 Chris came by the office and he was crying and saying that he wanted things to be back the way they used to be between us with me giving him lots of work, but I didn"t know what to tell him because I don"t. I don"t call him at all. I suppose I should. But I think about boys too much when I a.s.sociate with him.
The Argentine lady came and wrote out a fat check for her portraits, which was great, it pays a month"s mortgage on the new building. And last month Pia Zadora"s check did that, so that was a lift.
Fred went to Dr. Karen for his collagen test and he said that she"s klutzy, and actually she is, when I think about it. One thing she"s got to learn is not to have people lie down. Because if you lie down, all the wrinkles go go away, and how can you tell where to put the stuff? You should actually be hanging forward or something, so the wrinkles would really be exaggerated. away, and how can you tell where to put the stuff? You should actually be hanging forward or something, so the wrinkles would really be exaggerated.
Wednesday, August 31, 1983 Cab to meet Lidija ($5). Worked out with Jean Michel who brought me some of his hair, cut off and put on a helmet. It looked great. He got Bruno to pay his first month"s security and rent. He wanted to buy the Great Jones Street carriage house from me but I told him that together with our other one around the corner from it on the Bowery it was a nice lot, and that we might put a theater on it some day. He and Paige had a big fight because they had a date for 9:00 and he didn"t show up till 1:00.
And I"m so mad at Scavullo. Those pictures he did of me for the Jordan Marsh catalogue, he made me look so ugly. He didn"t air-brush at all, and he"s an air-brush queen! But he didn"t do it for me. I"d like to call him up and tell him off, but then he"d say, "We can only work with what you give us, darling."
Nelson called and said that Joe Dallesandro is driving a cab in L.A. Why can"t Joe just get some woman to support him? Or somebody. He still has a big d.i.c.k. He"s stupid. S-T-U-P-I-D. And I don"t know what happened with Heat Heat. They were showing it on Friday night at the New York Film Festival-they were doing a series on movies that had opened there in the past. I didn"t hear a thing about it.
Then Christopher wanted to have dinner. He said he hadn"t eaten all day so he promised that he would actually eat the dinner and not have it wrapped to take home. We thought of the Water Club but then decided on the Jockey Club at the Ritz Carlton (dinner $250 with tip).
Friday, September 2, 1983 Jean Michel didn"t show up for the workout because he was up all night. He was in love that day with Paige. Pia Zadora called to invite us to a party at Bob Guccione"s on Tuesday. She wants me to present her with the portraits there.
And the new building, the new building. I"m trying to start to pack up at 860, but I just want to throw my hands up in the air.
Monday, September 5, 1983 Labor Day. Jean Michel called, he wanted some philosophy, he came over and we talked, and he"s afraid he"s just going to be a flash in the pan. And I told him not to worry, that he wouldn"t be. But then I got scared because he"s rented our building on Great Jones and what if he is a flash in the pan and doesn"t have the money to pay his rent (supplies $35.06, $6)?
Pia Zadora called and said she was coming down. And they all came-her husband Riklis, his mother, and some other guy. I"d done twelve portraits of her. And they just liked two and they weren"t the ones that I thought were the best. So we have all these portraits left over. But we were lucky, she bought the Dollar Sign. Worked alone till 6:00. Got depressed. It was hot and muggy.
Tuesday, September 6, 1983 Sent Jay home early to dress up so he could come with Benjamin and me to the Penthouse Penthouse party for Pia Zadora and carry the portraits. Walked over to the party at Bob Guccione"s in my neighborhood. And Guccione said to me that the time seemed "right" now to really do p.o.r.no photographs with celebrities, and I put my foot in it, I said party for Pia Zadora and carry the portraits. Walked over to the party at Bob Guccione"s in my neighborhood. And Guccione said to me that the time seemed "right" now to really do p.o.r.no photographs with celebrities, and I put my foot in it, I said (laughs) (laughs), "How about Cornelia Guest?" I don"t know what made me say it. Guccione was wearing a shirt and tie, he had his gold chains covered over. I"d heard he was in the hospital for a head tumor or something like that, but maybe it was hair transplants.
Pia had on a beautiful ring-a diamond with blue sapphires, and she was wearing a Bob Mackie, red, white, and with a blue star. It really was a beautiful dress. Slit up to the a.s.s and when the wind blew once, one of the photographers groaned, "Oh my G.o.d, I missed a p.u.s.s.y shot." And the funniest line was one Benjamin heard. When they showed the portraits, one of the photographers said, "How could Andy Warhol sink to such mediocrity?" and the photographer he said it to said, "What do you mean? He"s famous famous for sinking to mediocrity." for sinking to mediocrity."
And it"s funny because there everybody is at this party for her and they still all put her down. Oh, but I was gushing because Riklis came over and said, "How can we get the rest of the portraits? Let"s talk about it." I was thrilled.
I snuck out at 7:30. Left Jay there looking for Bunnies. Or whatever Penthouse Penthouse has. Pets. has. Pets.
Wednesday, September 7, 1983 I called Robert Hayes. Told him about getting Matt Dillon for the cover and he was excited about that, but he didn"t like my idea of Shirley MacLaine. I"m trying to sell magazines. Maybe those ladies who watch Donahue Donahue will buy will buy Interview Interview if they see Shirley on the cover. if they see Shirley on the cover.
Monday, September 12, 1983 Jean Michel was late and he had to go go back downtown so he was missing his pedicure. So I went over there and took his appointment ($35). And Yanna"s son came over from the School of Visual Arts around the corner, he was cute, he had blue eyes. back downtown so he was missing his pedicure. So I went over there and took his appointment ($35). And Yanna"s son came over from the School of Visual Arts around the corner, he was cute, he had blue eyes.
Then Mrs. de Menil was having a party for the Lalanne guy who did the sheep-to-sit-on furniture in the sixties. It"s French week at Bloomingdale"s. When we got there I said to Mrs. de Menil that gee, she was a great-grandmother-Tiya just had a baby-and I guess I shouldn"t have said that because she can"t face it, but what I meant was that she looks so beautiful, much better than her kids.
I talked to Peter Schjeldahl the art critic who I know hates me, but I was working hard for him to like me, so we talked about Ted Berrigan dying from diet pills and c.o.ke-the soda. He just wouldn"t stop drinking it and it ate out his stomach.
And Jean Stein was there and I guess Peter believed everything in Edie Edie. Then left there and Benjamin walked me home.
Tuesday, September 13, 1983 Jean Michel came over, he was drugged-out and excited, he brought a painting he wanted to show me. He told me a story about how he"d wanted to buy a pack of cigarettes so he did a drawing and sold it for $.75 and then a week later his gallery called up and said they had this drawing of his there and should they buy it for $1,000. Jean Michel thought it was funny. It is. And he was on his way upstairs to see if anybody would buy a painting of his for $2. I mean, because now his paintings go for $15,000 and so he wanted to see if anybody would give him $2 for one. Lidija was there, did a workout. Oh, and the girl Jean Michel took around the world and left in London arrived in New York and wanted a ticket back to California.
Sat.u.r.day, September 17, 1983 Got up at 6:00 to go go out on the second day of shooting the TDK ad in Queens. But it"s worth it when you get a fat check. We were supposed to work until 5:30 but we finished by noon. We went out to 45th Boulevard or whatever it was in Long Island City. The twenty j.a.ps were waiting. And the crew-ten American guys, so good-looking. Like Mafia or Irish. With the gay fashion look of bracelets and pink shirts and pink belts. They"re straight, but that"s how those film-crew guys dress now. out on the second day of shooting the TDK ad in Queens. But it"s worth it when you get a fat check. We were supposed to work until 5:30 but we finished by noon. We went out to 45th Boulevard or whatever it was in Long Island City. The twenty j.a.ps were waiting. And the crew-ten American guys, so good-looking. Like Mafia or Irish. With the gay fashion look of bracelets and pink shirts and pink belts. They"re straight, but that"s how those film-crew guys dress now.
We decided to go to dinner at the Cafe Seiyoken at 9:30. Picked up Bianca who was staying at the house of Marcie Klein"s boyfriend. And I guess Calvin really is trying to have a hot media affair with his a.s.sistant Kelly. And Bianca was trying so hard to get him.
So we went to Cafe Seiyoken and I introduced Bianca to Keith Haring. I bet she wants him to do a mural for free in her apartment. She says she wants to interview him for Interview Interview, and she also wants to interview Rauschenberg and all the artists.
Rauschenberg was there. He was drinking Jack Daniel"s and he came over and he was sweet. I think he said he"s working on costumes for Laurie Anderson but the Cafe Seiyoken is so noisy, though, you can"t talk to people (dinner $450). I don"t think I"ll go go back again because of the noise, but they"re advertisers, so it was good to go. back again because of the noise, but they"re advertisers, so it was good to go.
Then Steve sent his driver to pick us up to go go to meet them at that VanDam restaurant. And so we went and in addition to Steve and Ryan and Farrah, Bob Colacello was there. And Bob looks good, he was his old story-telling self. Ryan is so desperate, he calls you "Baby" and "Honey" and he kisses all the boys on the lips, it"s so sick. Farrah was also so peculiar. She made Keith draw on her arm. And then Ryan and Farrah were nervous so they took a walk around the block to smoke a joint. Because I guess it was tense because Bianca had had an affair with Ryan. to meet them at that VanDam restaurant. And so we went and in addition to Steve and Ryan and Farrah, Bob Colacello was there. And Bob looks good, he was his old story-telling self. Ryan is so desperate, he calls you "Baby" and "Honey" and he kisses all the boys on the lips, it"s so sick. Farrah was also so peculiar. She made Keith draw on her arm. And then Ryan and Farrah were nervous so they took a walk around the block to smoke a joint. Because I guess it was tense because Bianca had had an affair with Ryan.
Then I raved to Steve about Area, the new disco at 157 Hudson Street, and we went there. I"d been to the opening the other night, and so the guy let us in, but Steve shoved him aside and motioned us all in the door. It was funny, it was (laughs) (laughs) like like he he was the club owner and letting us in, but he"d never even been there before. Marcie Klein was there and she could only talk about wanting to meet Rob Lowe. was the club owner and letting us in, but he"d never even been there before. Marcie Klein was there and she could only talk about wanting to meet Rob Lowe.
Then it was 3:00 and Bianca wanted to go, so I dropped her at Marcie Klein"s boyfriend"s house, and then dropped Marcie on 83rd Street (cab $10).
Sunday, September 18, 1983 Couldn"t get up after being up so late till 3:00. Saw the dogs off for the day. n.o.body called because I guess I"d driven them crazy during the week. Went to church. Walked up to the Frick (admission $4) and gee, it"s amazing how rich people were. One of the guards knew me, named Fayette, and he gave me a free catalogue.
Then Jon and I walked to the Castle in Central Park. Went to the Boathouse and we rented a rowboat ($20). We rowed for an hour and it was like modern Seurat, all these people on the lake. We got stuck on a rock and then four girls rammed into us, that was fun. And then they were gone and Jon and I were alone and then I thought I was Sh.e.l.ley Winters in A Place in the Sun A Place in the Sun. I can"t swim.
Then went home. Decided to see the Presented by Coppola Presented by Coppola movie at the 57th Street Playhouse. It was boring. Like being at the Cinematheque in the sixties, that kind of a movie. Cuts together, a guy cutting salami, eating a Twinkie, clouds going faster than they should through the sky- everything you never wanted to see. It was over quickly though. And it was packed, crowds waiting to get in (popcorn $5). movie at the 57th Street Playhouse. It was boring. Like being at the Cinematheque in the sixties, that kind of a movie. Cuts together, a guy cutting salami, eating a Twinkie, clouds going faster than they should through the sky- everything you never wanted to see. It was over quickly though. And it was packed, crowds waiting to get in (popcorn $5).
And then I couldn"t sleep because I"ve been taking these things called taurine and l-argentine and cystine. And selenium. From the Life Extension Life Extension book and from the nutritionist kid, Shea. S-H-E-A. I always spell it because he always spells it. He says, "I"m Shea. S-H-E-A." I had to get up three or four times to pee because of them. book and from the nutritionist kid, Shea. S-H-E-A. I always spell it because he always spells it. He says, "I"m Shea. S-H-E-A." I had to get up three or four times to pee because of them.
Tuesday, September 20, 1983 Got picked up early by Benjamin. Went to Hagen-Dazs and got energized and walked all the way down to Interview Interview on 32nd Street (phone calls $.60). Cab to meet Lidija ($4). Jean Michel didn"t show up for the workout because he was up all night with Paige. He"s going off to Zurich. He hasn"t moved into Great Jones Street yet. It was a busy afternoon. Worked on the Cocteau drawings for Pierre Berge with Rupert. Painted. Worked until 7:30 (cab $6). Worked at home. Read magazines. on 32nd Street (phone calls $.60). Cab to meet Lidija ($4). Jean Michel didn"t show up for the workout because he was up all night with Paige. He"s going off to Zurich. He hasn"t moved into Great Jones Street yet. It was a busy afternoon. Worked on the Cocteau drawings for Pierre Berge with Rupert. Painted. Worked until 7:30 (cab $6). Worked at home. Read magazines.
Thursday, September 22, 1983 Got up early and went to get collagen at 1050 Park Avenue at Karen Burke"s. She talks your head off. She had people waiting but she rattled on for an hour. She did my neck and it was so painful, like going to torture. She gave me her life story while I was on the table.
When I got to the office Brigid had just had her cat Jimmy put to sleep. And I got so mad and told her how could she have done it when she didn"t even take it to another doctor for a second opinion. And Rupert had offered to take it to Pennsylvania because sometimes things can just change and the cat can get better, but she didn"t even tell him, so he never got the chance. She"d been having to shoot it up every day because it had kidney problems, and she was afraid it was going to start peeing on her rug. Jimmy was cute.
Decided to go to go to Richard Weisman"s party for Catherine Oxenberg"s birthday at Le Club. The last time I saw Catherine Oxenberg was at a party in Spain given by Marc Rich, and he was in the newspapers yesterday because he owes the government more evaded taxes than anybody in history, hundreds of millions or something. I took pictures of the birthday girl. Richard Weisman"s party for Catherine Oxenberg"s birthday at Le Club. The last time I saw Catherine Oxenberg was at a party in Spain given by Marc Rich, and he was in the newspapers yesterday because he owes the government more evaded taxes than anybody in history, hundreds of millions or something. I took pictures of the birthday girl.
Friday, September 23, 1983 Then this was the night of Drue Heinz"s big seventy-fifth birthday party for her husband Jack. It was at their townhouse on Riverview Terrace, off Sutton Place, outside in the back, and she had the whole waterfront lit up. There were crowds of people. About fifty tables with ten people at each table, and they were all in costumes of 1890,I was the only one in black tie. Ahmet Ertegun was in a fez. Jerry Zipkin had a mustache. I ran into Mrs. Heinz when I got there and told her my date Cornelia had cancelled, and she said, "Well in that case you"ll be sitting next to no one." And I asked her where Malcolm Forbes was because I had something for him, and she said, "Oh just throw it over the wall." I didn"t know what to think about that, she was just being glib. So I was supposed to be at table 2, which was a good table, but when I got there my name wasn"t on any of the cards.
I ran into Jeane Kirkpatrick who I"ve been watching on TV because of the Korean flight 007 Soviet thing, and that was exciting.
So I"d been moved to Table 18 and there was no other person at this huge table except for some artist who was doing work for the Heinzes. It was so strange-there we were alone and all the really important people were up another level. Tom Wolfe was next to a man, too. But I mean, this artist and I, we were down there alone alone. He was actually cute and fun. I thought he was gay because he was alone, but he said they"d told him he couldn"t bring a date so his girl didn"t come. His name was Ned. And so we gave each other the presents we"d brought for Mr. Heinz. His is still wrapped-it"s a drawing and I haven"t unwrapped it because it looks so nice wrapped.
They had fireworks. And I got drunk. The food was good, not the canned stuff. They had 100 waiters, great-looking fairies, and they couldn"t figure out why we were down there alone at this table. People came and asked us to go go up, but I didn"t. Henry Geldzahler was there and he asked, but I didn"t. Then Ned said he had to up, but I didn"t. Henry Geldzahler was there and he asked, but I didn"t. Then Ned said he had to go go to the bathroom, and I said if he did I was leaving and he said, "Tough"-he was drunk, too. But I didn"t leave. It was so cold, I just lose my thinking when it gets cold. You just sit there like a b.u.mp. If all this had happened inside somebody"s house I would have gotten up and left right away, but I just felt stuck. I just sat there in the cold. And then the artist came back and then I left. Before dessert. It was the strangest thing, and my last party at the Heinzes". to the bathroom, and I said if he did I was leaving and he said, "Tough"-he was drunk, too. But I didn"t leave. It was so cold, I just lose my thinking when it gets cold. You just sit there like a b.u.mp. If all this had happened inside somebody"s house I would have gotten up and left right away, but I just felt stuck. I just sat there in the cold. And then the artist came back and then I left. Before dessert. It was the strangest thing, and my last party at the Heinzes".
Sat.u.r.day, September 24, 1983 Worked with Benjamin till 7:00 (cab $6). Then the guy from Harper & Row who wants me to do the America America book called and said he wanted to take me to dinner at Texarkana and we said we"d meet at 9:00. Cabbed there ($6). It"ll be a book of photographs with just a little text- maybe just captions. book called and said he wanted to take me to dinner at Texarkana and we said we"d meet at 9:00. Cabbed there ($6). It"ll be a book of photographs with just a little text- maybe just captions.
Ran into Ronnie Cutrone and a whole bunch of forty people and they had just come from Ronnie"s show that said on the invitation "In memory of my father." And Benjamin and I had intended to go, but then we were carrying things home and just forgot, but you can"t say, "I forgot." So it was really embarra.s.sing. Tony Shafrazi was there and Keith Haring, and Lou Reed looking so glum, so peculiar. His wife looks more Puerto Rican every time I see her. I don"t know if Lou is big or not. Rolling Stone Rolling Stone gave his alb.u.m four stars, but was it a hit? Ronnie said Lou"s in A.A. so I guess he"s not drinking. But Sam the next night was telling me that he saw Lou at the Ninth Circle drinking, but maybe he was just there picking up boys. But then he lived in that neighborhood, anyway, so maybe he was just hanging out. Ronnie said that when he goes to visit Lou in the country that he"s always just bought another motorcycle and another piece of land. gave his alb.u.m four stars, but was it a hit? Ronnie said Lou"s in A.A. so I guess he"s not drinking. But Sam the next night was telling me that he saw Lou at the Ninth Circle drinking, but maybe he was just there picking up boys. But then he lived in that neighborhood, anyway, so maybe he was just hanging out. Ronnie said that when he goes to visit Lou in the country that he"s always just bought another motorcycle and another piece of land.
So after I"d sat there so long with this Harper & Row guy, Craig Nelson, he still hadn"t gotten the check and how long can you wait, so I asked for the check and he didn"t offer to pay it. It was $100 with tip. Dropped Craig Nelson at his pad on Avenue A (cab $8).
Sunday, September 25, 1983 Woke up freezing. Went to church.
Called Curley and he discouraged me from having dinner with him and his friends saying that it was a great night to stay home, but that if I really really wanted to come out they had reservations at this one place. So I could take a hint. Then I called Mark, the kid from the Pedantiks, and we arranged to meet at Texarkana. He said he was bringing the guy named Sam from his group. Then I called Jay Shriver and he said he"d fallen asleep and just couldn"t drag himself out that night, so I said okay (cab downtown $6). Met Sam and Mark on the street on the way in. wanted to come out they had reservations at this one place. So I could take a hint. Then I called Mark, the kid from the Pedantiks, and we arranged to meet at Texarkana. He said he was bringing the guy named Sam from his group. Then I called Jay Shriver and he said he"d fallen asleep and just couldn"t drag himself out that night, so I said okay (cab downtown $6). Met Sam and Mark on the street on the way in.
Anyway, during dinner we talked about rock, I guess. Mark has blond hair and he looks regular, you"d never think he was gay. Sam"s teeth are bad and he looks grey, but then I guess rock and roll isn"t healthy and these kids do start to look like that. We were there for a while and suddenly over walked Jay! Jay!He"d been there for half an hour sitting at the bar and he thought I"d seen him but actually I hadn"t. And then after drinking he got too paranoid and decided to come over and face me. But I never would even have seen him. I can"t see with my new contacts. I don"t even know which ones I"ve got on. He was there to try to pick up the waitress he"d seen the night before. I felt really mad at him because he"d lied and said that he wasn"t going out. I mean, all he had to do was tell the truth. I mean, I"m not a kid (dinner $120).
Called Benjamin a few times but he said he was tired because he"d worked till 5:00 at the Pyramid Club as a drag queen. But Mark is a doorman at the Pyramid and he said they close before that, so I don"t know if Benjamin was lying to me, too.
So then dropped Mark and Sam off ($6) and when I got home I was just so mad at Jay and all these kids. I felt so used and abused and lied to. Watched a good TV show on HBO. For the first time I saw why Andy Kaufman was funny, so clever. He had a plant in the audience saying, "You don"t do anything new-the same old routine for ten years," and then the guy is yelling the lines with him, and then Andy Kaufman really starts to sweat and you don"t know if it"s real or not. It was very, very good. Talked to Jon in Los Angeles.
Monday, September 26, 1983 I"d been hating the Republicans so much since the other night at Drue Heinz"s, but I"ll really change my mind today if we find out that Ron Jr. was able to get an interview with his father for Interview Interview. For the January cover. I mean, wouldn"t that just put Interview Interview on the map? I"d even vote Republican. I know I don"t vote but I"m thinking of registering again, because they just started getting the jury-duty lists from the tax rolls instead of the voter things, and so I got one. on the map? I"d even vote Republican. I know I don"t vote but I"m thinking of registering again, because they just started getting the jury-duty lists from the tax rolls instead of the voter things, and so I got one.
Tuesday, September 27, 1983 Vincent is shooting Joanne Winship talking about her annual charity thing. You never hear about her since she got sick. It"s so quick what happens in New York. You can just get forgotten in five minutes. Less. You can see millions of people all the time every night for years, and then they can forget you in a minute. Benjamin arrived early to pick me up. He wasn"t in drag. I wish he would be. He looks so much more masculine when he goes into drag. It"s strange because he looks so slight and girlish as a boy, and then he goes into drag and you notice his hands are so veiny and he has big shoulders and tough hands.
I"d like to start wearing lipstick at night so my lips look fuller, but I"m afraid I"d get stuck under a bright light someplace.
Wednesday, September 28, 1983 Bianca called and asked me to the lunch at Da Silvano that she was having for the Nicaraguan Sandinista cultural minister. A girl. There was an American guy who was like de Antonio, being Communist-Peter Davis, he did a movie called Hearts and Minds Hearts and Minds. And Clemente the Italian artist was there, and gee, I like him a lot-he"s picked up the American att.i.tude. He understands American humor, which is so strange, because you don"t understand how a person from another country can pick it up. He doesn"t say much, he just sits and eats and watches. Bianca"s trying to get him to do a free mural for her apartment. She"s b.u.t.tering up all the artists.
And this other guy at the lunch had been a political prisoner somewhere in South America I think, and now he works for Mitterrand.
It turned into a five-hour lunch. The Nicaraguan cultural minister girl didn"t get there until late. She"s almost as pretty as Bianca. And she says, "Oh yes, people think we don"t have art in a revolution but even as the bombs are falling and the bullets are flying, people are still making art. We have dancers and painters and photographers, and we"re becoming unionized "I mean ... and then she was saying how the true revolution is really winning out, that "the people are having their day." And I don"t know, it was all so abstract, but then being at that big Heinz party the other night with all those rich Republicans I got a creepy feeling there, too. It"s like any people when they have the power, they don"t want anyone else to ever get it. It"s like women trying to keep their husbands away from seeing what young girls look like. But I guess that"s not only the rich.
Anyway, they"re saying they want us to come down to Nicaragua and, and I don"t know, support their art cause. And Clemente is saying, "Oh yeah, sure, and lose the green card I went through so much to get." And then when we were finally done, the rebel girl got into her limousine, and the Socialist who works for Mitterrand got into his his limousine, and we went down to Clemente"s loft, which is right next to Tower Records, and his loft is just beautiful. It"s really an artist"s loft, big paintings all over. He produces a lot. So many paintings. And the Mitterrand guy was awful, he walked on one of them that was on the floor and pretended he thought it was a rug, but I just know he knew it was a painting. limousine, and we went down to Clemente"s loft, which is right next to Tower Records, and his loft is just beautiful. It"s really an artist"s loft, big paintings all over. He produces a lot. So many paintings. And the Mitterrand guy was awful, he walked on one of them that was on the floor and pretended he thought it was a rug, but I just know he knew it was a painting.
Then they wanted to see my "studio" so we went to the office, and there was just nothing there. The contrast was so-evident. We"ve gotten so involved with fashion that we don"t know about all these other things like wars and governments anymore. I didn"t have any art to show them. They wanted to see movies, but I didn"t have any movies, either.
So finally they all left. I worked till 7:30 7:30 and Cornelia called and asked where I was because she was ready, and I had a black tie down there, so I just stuck it on and went to the Waldorf Towers. I asked her to be downstairs since we were late, but she said, "I don"t want to wait downstairs like a prost.i.tute." So when I got there the doorman was so dumb, after fifteen minutes of me sitting in the cab he came out and said there was no Mr. Warhol staying there. So I did it myself, rang Cornelia"s room and she came down in a red dress looking like a hooker. But beautiful. She"s put on a little weight. Oh, and I saw Mrs. Douglas MacArthur while I was waiting and she was great. She"s eighty-four or something and still has all her marbles. And me, I can barely walk. So then Cornelia came and we went to the Pierre (cab $8) to this fashion show for charity that Joanne Winship organized. and Cornelia called and asked where I was because she was ready, and I had a black tie down there, so I just stuck it on and went to the Waldorf Towers. I asked her to be downstairs since we were late, but she said, "I don"t want to wait downstairs like a prost.i.tute." So when I got there the doorman was so dumb, after fifteen minutes of me sitting in the cab he came out and said there was no Mr. Warhol staying there. So I did it myself, rang Cornelia"s room and she came down in a red dress looking like a hooker. But beautiful. She"s put on a little weight. Oh, and I saw Mrs. Douglas MacArthur while I was waiting and she was great. She"s eighty-four or something and still has all her marbles. And me, I can barely walk. So then Cornelia came and we went to the Pierre (cab $8) to this fashion show for charity that Joanne Winship organized.
Oh, and at lunch I brought up the Liz Smith items about Calvin and his model Kelly to Bianca, saying the papers said they were such a hot item, and Bianca said, "Ha-ha! What a joke!" So that"s her position.
Thursday, September 29, 1983 I woke up with flea bites and that made me hysterical. I ran out and bought flea collars for my ankles.
Cabbed downtown ($5) to the new chic supermarket at Park Avenue and 18th Street, the Food Emporium, but a gay guy there made my sandwiches and so I couldn"t eat them.
Kenny Scharf came by, he just bought a $2,000 house in Bahia and eats coconuts all day. His wife"s having a baby. His father must be a semi-rich producer. Kenny met his wife on a plane to Carnival.
Then Keith Haring came by after getting a B-12 shot from Dr. Giller, and it was like the sixties when the kids would get shot up and come back so bubbly. And Keith was ranting and raving about this black graffiti artist that"s in the papers now because the police killed him-Michael Stewart. And Keith said that he"s been arrested by the police four times, but that because he looks normal they just sort of call him a fairy and let him go go. But this kid that was killed, he had the Jean Michel look-dreadlocks.
Worked all afternoon. Dropped Benjamin (cab $7). Glued myself and went over to Engine"s alone, she was having a party for Julio Iglesias"s birthday, and Lester Persky was arriving when I was, and we went in as a couple, and there were cameras but everybody said it was (laughs) (laughs) just Spanish television. The usual people there, "Suzy" and Jerry Zipkin and Cornelia. And Julio Iglesias looks different than in pictures. He"s 6"3" and very handsome with a very dark tan, and teeth that are practically fluorescent. He was very friendly as if he really knew me. Maybe he knows somebody that we know who talks about us all the time. And Cornelia sat near so she could catch his eye. Halston had called and said to come over to his place afterwards. just Spanish television. The usual people there, "Suzy" and Jerry Zipkin and Cornelia. And Julio Iglesias looks different than in pictures. He"s 6"3" and very handsome with a very dark tan, and teeth that are practically fluorescent. He was very friendly as if he really knew me. Maybe he knows somebody that we know who talks about us all the time. And Cornelia sat near so she could catch his eye. Halston had called and said to come over to his place afterwards.
So I went to Halston"s and Jane Holzer was there and Halston was doing the same "I"m so rich" routine, but I mean, he must be worried after that thing came out in Fortune Fortune where the guy who owns him now said he was thinking of selling him. where the guy who owns him now said he was thinking of selling him.
Oh, and Halston asked again about meeting Jerry Hall. He still wants to make Bianca jealous. But now that Jerry"s pregnant, it"ll be hard to dress her.
Sat.u.r.day, October 1, 1983 Had to get up early. Maura and I were scheduled to interview Matt Dillon at Fred"s house. Finally Matt came and sat in the kitchen and Maura interviewed him. He"s only nineteen. Maura asked the same things she always asks: "Are you Catholic?" and "Are you Irish?" He said yes. It"s going to be the same exact interview as Brooke Shields.
Wednesday, October 5, 1983-New York-Milan Got up early, tried to pack, was picked up by Benjamin (cab $6.50). Jean Michel Basquiat came by the office to work out with Lidija and I told him I was going to Milan and he said he"d go, too, that he"d meet us at the airport. Worked all afternoon till 4:30.
I hadn"t thought Jean Michel would come, but while I was waiting in line at the airport he appeared, he was just so nutty but cute and adorable. He hadn"t slept in four days, he said he was going to watch me sleep. He had snot all over the place. He was blowing his nose in paper bags. It was as bad as Christopher. Paige has turned him into sort of a gentleman, though, because now he"s taking baths. We arrived in Milan practically on time. Arrived at the famous hotel, I forget the name.
Thursday, October 6, 1983-Milan Did five or ten interviews this day, they kept coming in one at a time. Went out to lunch at some great restaurant. Really good food, people looked so beautiful, think we did a lot of Interview Interview advertising work. Had a big dinner at some new disco place with all the beautiful models. advertising work. Had a big dinner at some new disco place with all the beautiful models.
Got home. Jean Michel came by and said he was depressed and was going to kill himself and I laughed and said it was just because he hadn"t slept for four days, and then after a while of that he went back to his room.
Friday, October 7, 1983-Milan Had to do some more press. Then we had an opening of a gallery with two paintings, and forty million people came to a little hallway to see them. Just too crowded. Had to get dressed for a big dinner party for Leandro Gualtieri and his wife, Regina Schrecker the designer. Jean Michel came back and I got him to do artwork on plates so we gave everyone a portrait on a plate. And it was glamorous and the kids went off dancing and Jean Michel made a big play for Joanna Carson who was in Milan.
Sat.u.r.day, October 8, 1983-Milan-Paris Jean Michel came in when we were leaving. He said he was staying on with Keith Haring to get publicity-Keith had come in from Spain with Kenny Scharf to paint Fiorucci (concierge $30, bellboys $20, maid $10, magazines $10, doorman $5, taxi to airport $30).
Tuesday, October 11, 1983-Paris-New York When I got home to 66th Street I didn"t shower because I knew that if I did I"d never get to work. I was wearing (laughs) (laughs) "Essence of France"-b.o. There was a strange picture of Mayor Koch in the paper, sneering at Nixon at the Cardinal Cooke funeral. It was a weird picture (cab $6). Met Lidija. Had a lot of coffee. "Essence of France"-b.o. There was a strange picture of Mayor Koch in the paper, sneering at Nixon at the Cardinal Cooke funeral. It was a weird picture (cab $6). Met Lidija. Had a lot of coffee.
Worked till 7:00 or 7:30. Ronnie Cutrone came by and said that he was in Milan when we were and that Jean Michel went off to Madrid. Jean Michel"s trying to get so famous so fast, and if it works, he"ll have it, I guess.
Wednesday, October 12, 1983 I tried to get Thomas Ammann all day but he wasn"t around. He still wants to rent part of my house-the second floor-to show his paintings in and I don"t know how to get out of it, because you can"t keep that kind of thing a secret, people would know it was my house. It"s just a little too hard.
And Paige is really upset because Jean Michel hasn"t called her. He hasn"t called us, either. She sells his paintings, she"s been doing that for a while. And he dropped Mary Boone-she took 50 percent, Paige only takes 10 percent. He"s still with Bruno, though, so that"s how he"ll still be shown. I told Paige that Jean Michel was after Joanna Carson in Milan, and maybe I shouldn"t have. Paige said she might just forget him, that it had to be all or nothing. But naturally people are people and a fool is a fool so no matter what they say, they"ll just go on being in love.
Thursday, October 13, 1983 Princess Caroline was getting to the office at 9:00 to pose for the December cover of French Vogue Vogue. She"s the guest editor for this year"s Christmas issue and I was asked to photograph her. So rushed (cab $6.50). She was already there, but it took her one or two hours to get dressed. And they wanted pictures of me taking the pictures of her so I called Chris and he came over. She"s pretty but she looks forty. She looks like she"s really been through the mill. But they know how to pull her together. She had a j.a.panese makeup guy.
Paul Morrissey was there driving us all up the wall. He wants to do a remake of Pepe Le Moko Pepe Le Moko with children. Paul does have good ideas, though, so if we could just work with him and get him to not think the old-fashioned drug-trash way He had Brigid retyping some contracts. with children. Paul does have good ideas, though, so if we could just work with him and get him to not think the old-fashioned drug-trash way He had Brigid retyping some contracts.
Tuesday, October 18, 1983 Jean Michel came by and I slapped him in the face. (laughs) (laughs) I"m not kidding. Kind of hard. It shook him up a little. I told him, "How dare you dump us in Milan!" Benjamin put me up to it. I"m not kidding. Kind of hard. It shook him up a little. I told him, "How dare you dump us in Milan!" Benjamin put me up to it.
Wednesday, October 19, 1983 The tree in front of my house hasn"t grown an inch all season. The ginkgo. It"s still green, but it hasn"t grown. Benjamin says it has to dig its roots in first. It"s pretty, though. Small and pretty and green.
There were articles in the papers about the police arresting the "Sidney Poitier and Diahann Carroll son" for being an imposter. He was staying at all these people"s houses. Halston was smart that time, right away he told him to leave. You could just tell in a second that this kid was lying. But these other people all let him stay at their houses! I mean, he could have been anybody, he could have just wiped out a whole family.
Friday, October 21,1983 There was a big lunch at the office for the English contingent and Tab Hunter and his new producer who wants me to do a poster for the movie, and an interviewer from Amsterdam. Jean Michel came in and Paige Powell was there with some clients. And Paige had set it up for Jean Michel to go to Va.s.sar with Jennifer that night to give a talk-Jennifer goes to school there now-and the car was going to pick them all up.
But Jean Michel told me he didn"t want to take Paige up to Va.s.sar with him because he would be wanting to f.u.c.k the girls up there. So when I got home there was a message from Robert Hayes saying Paige was hysterical because Jean Michel had never come in the car to pick her up. So that was mean. And I told her that that"s the way life goes and I said we"d go out for drinks and I called Sean McKeon to come with us so that I could handle it better. And Sean"s had a crush on me for a few years, and it"s nice to be around someone who likes you. That was him in the sungla.s.ses in People People this week. this week.
So we went to the Mayfair and had two champagnes and a coffee ($40). And Paige was so upset-here she"d just handed Jean Michel a $20,000 check for selling some of his paintings. She said she"d never show or sell his stuff again. I told her I"d let her do an exhibit of my work called "The Worst of Warhol" where I would just go go into my closets and find all the really horrible stuff that had never worked out, so then she cheered up a little. But then in a little while she left because she was still so nervous. Sean dropped me and I went to bed. into my closets and find all the really horrible stuff that had never worked out, so then she cheered up a little. But then in a little while she left because she was still so nervous. Sean dropped me and I went to bed.
Sunday, October 23, 1983 There"s a painting of mine going up for auction soon, and it"s only estimated at $100,000. I think it"s a c.o.ke Bottle. And Roy"s things go go for five, six, or seven, and Jasper"s go for a million. for five, six, or seven, and Jasper"s go for a million.
Monday, October 24, 1983 It"s freezing and the heat"s not coming up. And I"m still having waterbug problems. I corner this one bug every night and then I can"t bring myself to kill it. He"s been eating my food for the past three years.
I was reading the Barbara Hutton book and the best thing is she had servants wiping her a.s.s. This is at the end when they"re robbing her blind. And in the end she was so poor from all these people taking her money that she had to go and ask the people she"d given gifts to if she could have them back-oh, but wait. It could have just been the people working for her who decided to do it. I didn"t think of that ...
I just keep worrying that I"ve made a mistake buying the 33rd Street building. Maybe we just should have bought it and turned it over right away. But it"s the real estate key to that whole block, because of the T shape. There"s a truck coming on Friday to move some things out of 860.
Tuesday, October 25,1983 Went to that restaurant Santa Fe (cab $5.50) and Bianca was on time. Then Calvin arrived with the interviewer from Playboy Playboy. Jean Michel had his hand on Bianca"s knee-she giggled. Then the greatest moment came when I went to pay the bill and Bianca said Calvin had paid.
Bianca said she wanted to go go to where they were shooting to where they were shooting Rhinestone Rhinestone on West Broadway, at one of the galleries. So we went down there and found Steve Rubell. Then Stallone came over. He"s hot for Bianca, I think, he saw her and came right over. And I yapped about where was my role in on West Broadway, at one of the galleries. So we went down there and found Steve Rubell. Then Stallone came over. He"s hot for Bianca, I think, he saw her and came right over. And I yapped about where was my role in Rhinestone Rhinestone that I"d paid $5,000 to get at some Marvin Davis charity auction out in Colorado. And they"d turned this art gallery into a bar for the movie. You could see how much money they"re spending. It was the first time I"d been to a movie set where they"d really turned something into something else completely. Zooms and booms all over the street. I thought the cab that was sitting behind me was part of the movie, but then it turned out it wasn"t, so I got in and took it home ($6). that I"d paid $5,000 to get at some Marvin Davis charity auction out in Colorado. And they"d turned this art gallery into a bar for the movie. You could see how much money they"re spending. It was the first time I"d been to a movie set where they"d really turned something into something else completely. Zooms and booms all over the street. I thought the cab that was sitting behind me was part of the movie, but then it turned out it wasn"t, so I got in and took it home ($6).
Wednesday, October 26, 1983 Jean Michel was at the office all afternoon. Paige came in but left in a huff. I guess it"s over between them because he wants to be free and easy and she wants to be involved.
Thursday, October 27, 1983 Gael Love called up screaming that the newsstand dealers were mad because I was out on the streets pa.s.sing out complimentary new issues before it even got to their stands to sell and I told her I"d do whatever I wanted to do.
The Richard Gere issue was I think our biggest seller yet, even though the interview inside was so bad. So it doesn"t matter, it"s just if it"s somebody they want to read about.
Tuesday, November 1, 1983 Cabbed to meet Lidija ($6). A German kid was at 860 and said he"d been to that bar Cowboys the night before and that the AIDS scare is over, that "the mood is back." And Robert Hayes"s boyfriend who has it is in town staying with him. They can"t give him chemotherapy because something else happens when they do.
And now Jean Michel has this blonde WASP girl that he"s f.u.c.king. I think he hates all white women.
And Cornelia"s taken my scarf. She always goes out with no clothes on and see-through dresses and then she complains she"s too cold. So she took the great red scarf that I got at a fashion show, so that"s the end of that. And it was finally the right red.
Thursday, November 3, 1983 Brooke Hayward called and wants to do an interview with me about Mick. She"s doing the research for that book they gave Mick the big advance for. And she got tough with me. She said, "Listen here," and I thought if she"s like that already already ... oh, she"s no good, she can"t do anything. I did like ... oh, she"s no good, she can"t do anything. I did like Haywire Haywire, but she"s a one-book girl. And anyway, I hate her because I keep on remembering that it was her and Jean Stein that got me in all this IRS trouble because they"re the ones that asked me to do a McGovern poster, and I wanted to do something clever, so I got that bright idea to do a green face of Nixon with "Vote McGovern" under it. And that"s when the IRS got so interested in me.
Walked to the new offices on 33rd Street and picked up a phone and made my first phone call from there. I was there to scout corners where we could store props. It"s filled up already and I haven"t even moved my my stuff in yet. And my house is starting to look so bad, too. I want to take pictures of the clutter, but my camera focuses on areas so small that everything just looks neat because I don"t get the bigger picture of the big mess that the little areas are all part of. stuff in yet. And my house is starting to look so bad, too. I want to take pictures of the clutter, but my camera focuses on areas so small that everything just looks neat because I don"t get the bigger picture of the big mess that the little areas are all part of.
Robyn decided to leave his job to go work for the Tower Gallery. I don"t think it"ll last, though. He wants to be an artist and he feels that"s closer.
Tuesday, November 8, 1983 At the auction last night, my Triple Elvis went for $135,000, so that"s good. It was estimated at $70,000-$90,000. But Thomas Ammann bid $440,000 for one of David Whitney"s Rauschenbergs.