Liberation: Diaries:1970-1983
January 2. 153¼. Started revising Wanderings. We saw Swami. We had supper with Jess, Glade, and Ted Bachardy at El Coyote. We went with Ted to see Kubrick’s Lolita and part of Kazan’s Splendor in the Grass.
January 3. 151¾. Worked on revision of Wanderings. Ran on San Vicente. We ate at home.
January 4. 154. Drove with Dharma Das and Urbashi to Santa Barbara. I read Swamiji’s “Practical Vedanta—1”2 at the temple and we drove back. We had supper with Jo Lathwood—Roger Rosenberg and Marylee Gowland were there.
January 5. 155. Revised Wanderings. Ran on San Vicente. Tom Shadduck and his friend Eric Moore pruned trees with power saw. The people opposite (de Cuir) sent for the police. Tom and Eric had drinks with us later. We ate at home.
January 6. 152 ¼. Revised Wanderings. We had Tony Richardson and Francis Fry3 to dinner; Don cooked. Tom Shadduck worked on pruning. Saw John Kniest of Pelican Records about doing an album for them, of readings from my books.
January 7. 154. Don painted Rick Sandford. Tom Shadduck worked on pruning. I saw Dr. Wolff about the inflammation on my leg. To gym. Worked on Wanderings. We had supper with Vincent and Coral Price. Roddy McDowall and Paul Anderson were there.
January 8. 152¾. Worked on Wanderings. Don painted Ralph Williams. Christian Gollub4 came to see me. Don and I saw John Huston’s The Man Who Would Be King. We had supper at Pancho’s Family Café.
January 9. 152¾. Worked on Wanderings. Stephen Miles came to see me. Don had supper with his parents. I ate at home.
January 10. 151½. Tom Shadduck and Eric Moore worked on pruning. Talked to Mrs. O’Hilderbrand[t] about removing bush. To lunch given by Olivier. (Maggie Smith, Warren Beatty, Dustin Hoffman, Coral Brown[e], Roddy McDowall, etc.) Then we had drinks with David and Beth Schneiderman and met Oliver Stallybrass.5 We ate at home.
January 11. Worked on Wanderings. We ate at home.
January 12. 152¼. To Dr. Allen for cholesterol test. To gym. Worked on Wanderings. Don’s car being repaired. We had supper with Chris Wood and Paul Sorel at the Bellevue.
January 13. 152. Jogged on San Vicente. Worked on Wanderings. Taped readings for Pelican Records. We ate at Casa Mia.
January 14. 153. Worked on Wanderings. Stathis Orphanos came by, worked on my bibliography, drove me to Vedanta Place. Don and I saw Swami. I ate at monastery, read in temple with Chetanananda. Don picked me up. We went to Little Club, heard Paul Anderson sing.
January 15. Warm. 153¼. Leak in V.W. gas tank, took it to Pico Auto House. Worked on Wanderings. Picked up V.W. With Don and Ted Bachardy to see Lucky Lady (Liza Minnelli, Robby Benson) and part of Ingmar Bergman’s film of The Magic Flute.
January 16. 151¼. Warm. Natalie Leavitt cleaned house. Tom Shadduck worked on pruning. Worked on Wanderings. Don had supper with his folks. Ate at home. Started sore throat.
January 17. 151¾. Very warm. Throat sore. Worked on Wanderings. Natalie Leavitt cooked and we had Michael and Pat York, Hope Lange, and Ralph Williams.
January 18. 153½. Throat better. Don drove me to Santa Barbara. I read “[The] Methods and Purpose of Religion” by Vivekananda at the temple. We had lunch with Brad Fuller6 and Jack at their house. Jaime Green, Margaret Mallory. Drove home in fog. Ann McCoy came by with Klaus [Kertess]7. We had supper with Tony Richardson and Bob Newman at Patrone’s.
January 19. 152¾. Worked on Wanderings. We saw Hitchcock’s Frenzy and part of John Schlesinger’s Midnight Cowboy.
January 20. 152¼. Roger Rosenberg came to talk to us about our Hilldale property. Don drew and painted Mark Andrews. Worked on Wanderings. Jogged on San Vincente. We ate at home.
January 21. 152¼. Worked on Wanderings. We had supper with Jo Lathwood at Casa Mia, then saw The Hindenburg (George C. Scott, William Atherton). Don drew and painted Ian Whitcomb. Lee and Grace Prosser came to see me with their daughter Mandy.
January 22. 151¾. Worked on Wanderings. Jogged on San Vicente. We ate at Pancho’s Family Café then saw The Duchess of Malfiat the Mark Taper Forum (with Eileen Atkins).
January 23. 151¼. We went to Vedanta Place for Swamiji’s breakfast puja at 7:00 a.m. and then had breakfast there. We picked up Michael York on our way back. Don drew him. Don went to see Joe Chaikin’s production of Electra. I worked on Wanderings. Natalie Leavitt cooked and we had Tony Richardson (who leaves for New York tomorrow) and Bob Newman to supper.
January 24. Worked on Wanderings. Jogged on San Vicente. We ate at home.
January 25. 152. Long phone call from Glenway Wescott. Worked on Wanderings. We went to a goodbye party for Roland and Janet Flamini, given by Phyllis Nugent,8 and then had supper with Hal, Peter and Michael Buckley at Hal’s house. Don drew and painted Don Cribb.
January 26. 152. Finished revising chapter 13 of Wanderings. Jogged on San Vicente. Don drew George Raya.9 Natalie cooked and we had Stephen and Jean Garrett and Roland and Janet Flamini to supper.
January 27. 152¾. Worked on Wanderings. We saw The Story of Adele H. (François Truffaut). We ate at home.
January 28. 152¼. Worked on Wanderings. We met Mark Andrews on Hilldale and talked about our property and what to do with it. To Vedanta Place, saw Swami, had supper at the monastery, read with Chetanananda. Don drew Bill Bopp and fixed supper for him. I saw Bill when I got home.
January 29. 151¼. Worked on Wanderings. Don out with his parents. I ate at home.
January 30. 151¾. To see Dr. Thomas Sternberg about my skin. Jogged on San Vicente. Worked on Wanderings. Natalie Leavitt cleaned house. We ate at home.
January 31. Worked on Wanderings. We ate at home. To gym.
February 1. Worked on Wanderings. We went to a party given by Paul Millard and Rob Matteson for Estelle Winwood’s ninetieth birthday.10 We had supper with Nick Wilder at Au Petit Joint. Fell and hurt my back.
February 2. 153. Worked on Wanderings. Mrs. Leavitt cooked and we had John and [Ch]ristel Boorman, Peter and Clytie Alexander, Rospo and Barbara Pallenberg11 to supper. We went to the vespers for the Brahmananda puja. Saw Swami afterwards.
February 3. 154½. Worked on Wanderings. Arthritis in back. Ate at home. Don out to openings.
February 4. 153¼. Rain. Worked on Wanderings. Back bad. Supper at Le Petit Moulin with Billy Al Bengston, Penny Little, Robin and Jessie French. Then with Penny to see Jan Michael Vincent in White Line Fever.
February 5. 153½. Rain. Worked on Wanderings. Natalie Leavitt cooked and we had Joan Houseman, Renate Druks, Perry and Karen King, Jack Larson and Jim Bridges to supper.
February 6. 153½. Rain. Saw Dr. Sternberg. Worked on Wanderings. We went to the gym. We had supper with Avilda Moses—Sam Francis,12 Ann McCoy, Lynda Benglis13 and Douglas Bergeron were there.
February 7. 154. Rain. Worked on Wanderings. Don saw Alex Garcia.14 Then Ken Handler15 came with David Hillbrand and Cindy Fusco16 to show his photographs. Talked on the phone to David Hockney just arrived in L.A. Don and I had supper at the Dar Maghreb with David Goodstein, Christopher Stone,17 John Moya, Seymour Black.18
February 8. 152¼. Rain. Worked on Wanderings. We had lunch with David Hockney, Gregory Evans, Nick Wilder at the Bellevue. We went to Tom Wudl’s opening at the Mizuno Gallery. We had supper with Newt Dieter19 and Tom Morton20—Joel Wachs,21 and Paul Revere, Mark Rockland, David Dear. We saw Wayland Flowers with his puppets22 at Studio One with Rick Sandford.
February 9. 154. Rain. Worked on Wanderings. We had supper at George Cukor’s—Maggie Smith, Lauren Bacall, David Lean and Sandy,23 Beverl[e]y Cross.24
February 10. 153. Worked on Wanderings. We had Philippa Foot25 to tea, after Don had drawn her. Natalie Leavitt cooked and we had David Hockney and Don Cribb to dinner.
February 11. 154. Worked on Wanderings. With David Hockney we went to the Forum in Inglewood to see David Bowie. Met him and Angie Bowie after performance.
February 12. Finished chapter 14 in revision of Wanderings. Don painted Bob Dootson.26 Jeff Bailey and Jim Hansen came to see us. We went to see Paul Anderson in Pinter’s The Homecoming.
br /> February 13. 151½. Worked on Wanderings. We went to gym. We had supper with John and Christel Boorman at the house they have rented—141 North Bristol. Natalie Leavitt cleaned house.
February 14. 153¼. Worked on Wanderings. We went to gym. We saw Truffaut’s Two English Girls and The Soft Skin. We ate at home.
February 15. 153½. Stu Brandt drove me to the Santa Barbara temple, where I read [Vivekananda’s] “Hints on Practical Spirituality.” Worked on Wanderings. We went to John Schlesinger’s birthday party—Roddy McDowall, Paul Anderson, Elton John, Charlotte Rampling, Warren Beatty, David Hockney, Henry Geldzahler.
February 16. 153¼. Worked on Wanderings. We had a birthday dinner at the Century City Clifton’s Cafeteria for Glade Bachardy. Ted and Jess were also there. Then Don and I saw Lelouch’s Happy New Year Caper and And Now My Love.
February 17. 152¼. Worked on Wanderings. Don drew Renate Druks. Jogged on San Vicente. Took tape of my reading from my books to Pelican Records. We ate at home.
February 18. 153½. Worked on Wanderings. Don drew Werner Pochath.27 Jogged on San Vicente. We had supper with Jo Lathwood and all went to see a rehearsal of The Belle of Amherst ( Julie Harris).
February 19. 152¼. Worked on Wanderings. We were photographed by Mary Ellen Mark.28 Don drew Jean Santoro. We had supper with Billy Al Bengston and Penny Little. We watched James Dean (Stephen McHattie) on T.V. Strong wind in the night.
February 20. 153¾. Worked on Wanderings. Saw Dr. Thomas Sternberg. Went to gym. Don drew and painted Rick Sandford. Saw Jim, the World’s Greatest. We ate at home.
February 21. 152¾. Worked on Wanderings. We had supper with David Hockney, Gregory Evans, Henry Geldzahler, Don Cribb.
February 22. 151½. Worked on Wanderings. To UCLA library to do research for Wanderings. Don out to see films. We had supper around midnight.
February 23. 152¼. Worked on Wanderings. Dar[y]ll Marsha[k],29 Bobby Littman’s assistant, came by to pick up “Sally Bowles” contracts.30 We saw Casque d’Or (Signoret) with Scott Velliquette31 and Ted Bachardy; then had supper with Scott at Pancho’s Family Café, then all went to a party given by Paul Kantor.32 David Hockney, Henry Geldzahler were there.
February 24. Rain during night. Worked on Wanderings. Jogged on San Vicente. We went to a show of film star photographs arranged by John Kobal33 at the Barnsdall Park Gallery (“Dreams for Sale”). We had supper with Roddy McDowall and Paul Anderson—Nina Foch, her husband Michael Dewell, Sidney Guilaroff.34
February 25. 152. Worked on Wanderings. Saw Larry Holt at St. Vincent’s Hospital. Saw Swami, had supper at the new monastery, read with Chetanananda in temple. Don and I went (separately) to party given by Stanley and [Elyse] Grinstein.35 David Hockney, Gregory Evans, Don Cribb, Jack Larson, Jim Bridges, Chuck Arnoldi, Ed Moses etc. were there.
February 26. 151¼. Worked on Wanderings. With Don, Bill Scobie, Tony Sarver to UCLA, where I spoke in the upstairs lounge of Kerckhoff Hall as part of Gay Awareness Week celebrations. We ate at home later. At 6:00 p.m. we went over to talk to Mr. and Mrs. George Caldwell about the building of Don’s studio.
February 27. 152¼. Worked on Wanderings. We went to gym. Natalie Leavitt cleaned house. We had supper with Michael and Pat York, Rick McCallum, David Hockney and Don Cribb at Ma Maison, after having been refused service at L’Hermitage because David didn’t have a jacket.
February 28. 152¾. Sea-fog. Worked on Wanderings. We went to see Ted Michel (Tat Twam Asi) who gave me a ring.36 We ate at home.
February 29. 154. Worked on Wanderings. Charlotte Rampling, her husband Br[y]an [Southcombe], her son Barnaby, David[,] Barnaby’s nurse and Mary their secretary came by for drinks. We ate at home.
March 1. 152¼. Rain. Worked on Wanderings. David Hockney came and drew us. Don had lunch with him. Don and I ate at Pancho’s Family Café, then saw Pabst’s Pandora’s Box.
March 2. 151½. Rain. Worked on Wanderings. George and Phila Caldwell came by for drinks. Paul Chin and Chris Gaynor drove me to Fullerton State University where I talked to the gay students, met Kurt Yount, was driven home by Bud Schindler. Ate at home with Don.
March 3. Worked on Wanderings. We went to gym. We went to the temple for vespers of the Ramakrishna puja, saw Swami. We had supper with Rick Sandford at El Adobe. We went with him to Northridge State University and saw part of Hamlet, with Jon Voight.
March 4. Worked on Wanderings. Natalie cooked and we had George Cukor, Whitney Warren,37 Tom Crema, David Hockney, Mark Lancaster and Nick Wilder to dinner.
March 5. Heard that Chris Wood had a stroke. Broke my upper partial and had it repaired by Jim Kearin. Don and David Hockney drew Nick Wilder at Gemini. Don and I had supper with Jess, Glade, and Ted Bachardy at Clifton’s Cafeteria. Don and I got naval uniforms from Western Costume Co[mpany] for Nick’s party tomorrow. We saw Nashville at the Academy, sat with Harry Brown and Barbara Poe.
March 6. 151½. Worked on Wanderings. We had supper at Casa Mia. We went to Nick Wilder’s party at the gallery.
March 7. 152¼. [ Jon], Anna, and Rachel [Monday] took me to Santa Barbara. I read Vivekananda’s “Bhakti or Devotion” in the temple. We drove back. Don and I ate at home.
March 8. Worked on Wanderings. To gym. We had supper with Chris Wood and Paul Sorel at the Swiss Café.
March 9. Worked on Wanderings. Carl Day38 and Norm Haley39 came to talk to us about the Coastal Commission hearing on the studio. We ate at home. Don drew David Dambacher.
March 10. 152¾. Finished chapter 15 of Wanderings. We saw Swami at Vedanta Place; I stayed for supper at the monastery and read with Chetanananda.
March 11. 151¼. Began chapter 16 of Wanderings. Jogged on San Vicente. We talk[ed] to Frank Hotchkiss40 about the permit to enlarge the studio. Ate at home.
March 12. Jogged on San Vicente. Worked on Wanderings. We had supper with Michael Laughlin at Mr. Chow’s, with Jim Katz. Natalie Leavitt cleaned house.
March 13. 152. Worked on Wanderings. We had supper with Ivan Moffat and Hope Lange Pa[k]ula at Le Petit Moulin.
March 14. Carl Day and Norm Haley to see us about the hearing tomorrow. Worked on Wanderings. Natalie Leavitt cooked and we had Lauren Bacall, David Hockney, Billy Al Bengston, Penny Little and John O’Shea (very drunk) to supper.
March 15. We drove with Carl Day to the City Hall at Torrance for the first hearing of our application to the Coastal Commission for a permit to enlarge Don’s studio. Norm Haley and George Caldwell spoke. To gym. We had supper at Pancho’s Family Café. We saw Sandakan [8]41 at the Academy.
March 16. 152¾. Worked on Wanderings. Don drew Paula Sweet. Ate at home.
March 17. We flew to Catalina (by Catalina Airlines) at 9:30 a.m. with David Hockney, Nick Wilder, Joe McDonald,42 David Dambacher, Gilbert Haacke,43 and Lee Brevard. The flight takes twenty minutes. We had lunch at Michael John’s.44 Don and I flew back at 3:30 (by Air Catalina). The others returned later. We ate at home.
March 18. Worked on Wanderings. Jogged on San Vicente. We ate at home.
March 19. 154. Worked on Wanderings. Jogged on San Vicente. We had supper with Charles Hill and Paula Sweet at her studio—with Dorothy and Elizabeth.
March 20. 153¼. Worked on Wanderings. Don went to Gemini, drew with David Hockney. We went to a party given by Peter Alexander at his studio, then we had supper with Greg Harrold and his friend Gordon Myers.
March 21. 153¾. Worked on Wanderings. Stu Brandt drove me to Santa Barbara and back. I read Vivekananda’s lecture on “Discipleship” at the temple. We had supper with Gore Vidal at the Luau.
March 22. Worked on Wanderings. We went to the gym. We had supper with Bill Scobie and Tony Sarver at Musso and Frank, then saw Boy Meets Boy (David Gallegly).45
March 23. 154. Worked on Wanderings. Jogged on San Vicente. Natalie Leavitt cooked and we had Leslie and Michael Laughlin, David Hockney, and Don Cribb to supper.
March 24. 155. Worked on Wanderings. Digby Diehl took me to the L. A. Times offices, where I received a Woman of the Year A
ward for Anaïs Nin, who is in hospital. Don and I saw Swami. Had supper at the monastery. Read at the temple, with Chetanananda. Don drew David Dambacher and [Gilbert] Haacke.46
March 25. 154¼. Worked on Wanderings. Don drew with David Hockney at Gemini. Jogged on San Vicente. We had supper with John Schlesinger and Michael Childers.
March 26. 153½. Worked on Wanderings. We saw Taxi Driver (Robert de Niro). We ate at home. Jogged at gym.
March 27. Worked on Wanderings. Don drew with David Hockney. Michael and Pat York came by to see us, with Rick McCallum. We ate at home.
March 28. 153½. Worked on Wanderings. We saw Night Moves (directed by Arthur Penn).
March 29. Worked on Wanderings. To party at Billy Al Bengston’s, to watch the Oscar awards on T.V. We talked to Carl Day about the studio.
March 30. Worked on Wanderings. Natalie Leavitt cooked. We had David Hockney, Gregory Evans, Nick Wilder, David Dambacher, [Gilbert] Haacke, Michael Kaplan47 and Don Cribb to supper. Showed them the film of our trip to Europe in 1955.