In ”New York Confidential” (Crown), journalist Sharon Churcher gives the lowdown on the Big Town, zinging everyone from politicians to clergymen to celebrities.
Q–Why do you call New York the ”Big Onion”?
A–”Big Apple” was a publicity stunt that doesn`t fit. Apples are sweet. When you walk the steets in New York, you have to step over the homeless. ”Big Onion” suits the city much better. There are layers and layers of society here, and, frankly, it often stinks.
Q–Can you lie, cheat and/or steal your way into New York society?
A–Yes. A pair of 19-year-old twins renamed themselves DuPont and made it very fast in New York society. Everyone assumed they were part of the chemical-company dynasty. They were taken up by Andy Warhol, introduced to the late Duchess of Windsor. Actually, their name is Lasko, though their father is in chemicals to some extent; he runs a gas station. A lot of people
”restore” the family name and doctor their re sume s. Este e Lauder`s biography says she`s from a ”beauty-conscious Viennese family.” That`s true only if there was a Little Vienna in Queens. Oscar Renta became Oscar de la Renta. I think I`ll revert to my original family name and become Sarah Churchill.
Q–You write about how some lucky folks can do the town in gowns, jewels and limos without spending a buck. How is that possible?
A–It helps to be truly rich. Then you never have to pay for anything. You become a walking billboard. You can bet that if a gossip column puts the name of a well-known socialite next to the name of the designer of her dress, she didn`t pay for it. Rose Kennedy was the first to do this. She was at a big charity ball in Palm Beach when someone asked her how long she had had her beautiful tiara. She said, ”Two hours.” Nancy Reagan then made the practice chic.
Q–How does a plain old person get to have a date with Brooke Shields or Warren Beatty?
A–Brooke is easy. Those phony DuPonts escorted her to glitzy night clubs, which like to have celebrities, so they`ll send escorts for them. Warren is a bit trickier. But he seems to have a thing for waitresses, so I suggest you put on a waitress uniform and hang out at either Cafe Luxembourg or the Empire Diner.
Q–Who in your book is the most famous person doing the most outrageous thing?
A–It`s a toss-up between John Cardinal O`Connor, who has four video units to catch all his media appearances yet would allow only radios, no TVs, in Catholic shelters for AIDS victims; and Anthony Quinn, who refused to get into the limousine that was supposed to take him to the theater because it didn`t have hubcaps; no hubcaps, no Zorba.
