David Whitworth
Email David Whitworth: David@Cameracandid.co.uk
Christmas '96.
l arrived in New York with the other half, staying in a super cheapo hotel for the holiday up on 48th somewhere. l knew Quentin lived there in New York, we've all heard the song from Sting! And l used a contact to obtain Quentins telephone number.
l rang him on New Years eve to wish him all the very best, he seemed very pleasant. l asked him if l could meet him, perhaps go for a meal?He said he would be delighted and arranged a date for the following day at 2pm (New Years day) and we would go from there to a cosy little eaterie that he knew of. He gave me his address but immediately l went around so l would find it straight away the next day. Walking down 3rd and onto Quentins street l noticed the front of one of the houses there was brushed in pink, how quaint! Yes it was Quentins home. Around the corner from his house is a bric-a-brac shop that sells movie memorabilia and in the window was b/w stills of some film stars, James Cagney, Julie Garland a picture of Divine was there too. Also a photo from his youth of Quentin Crisp.
New Years day arrived, l phoned QC at about 1pm just to make sure he hadn't forgotten l was coming to see him, he was ready and waiting! He asked me to phone him again from the corner of his street and he would come down to meet me. l got a cab down to his place rang him as instructed and down he came. I waited outside his home, the door opened and there he was, unbelieveable! l introduced myself and told him how honoured l was to finally meet him and that this was going to be the highlight of my trip to New York.
We went to a little deli down the road from his home for a meal and chatted for almost 3 hours, my biggest regret was not taking a tape recorder with me to keep the conversation for prosperity. He made me laugh when he said that he had recently been to see Sunset Boulevard and as he was leaving, one of Ms. Paige's entourage asked him if he would like to come back stage because Elaine would like to meet him, "Oh" he said, "Oh but l am not worthy" and left without meeting her.
We chatted about current music, he said he loved Madonna, he still receives a bottle of champagne each year on his birthday from Sting. l asked him if he would mind writing a little quote for me on the back of the restaurant bill, he thought first then wrote, 'You don't have to win' and signed it Quentin Crisp Time flew by and he said he would have to be getting back, l offered to walk him home and asked if he would mind me taking a few photo's of him walking home, he said he didn't mind at all.
I asked him about the photo in the window of the shop near to his home and he said he could'nt recall seeing it but once he saw it he remembered that it was taken when he first arrived in NY. I took several photo's of him as he walked down Third Avenue and some while he was stood outside the Bric-A-Brac shop in view of the younger picture of himself. I left him at the door to his home, that was my meeting with Quentin Crisp.
David Whitworth (orinally written July '97)
Christmas '96.
l arrived in New York with the other half, staying in a super cheapo hotel for the holiday up on 48th somewhere. l knew Quentin lived there in New York, we've all heard the song from Sting! And l used a contact to obtain Quentins telephone number.
l rang him on New Years eve to wish him all the very best, he seemed very pleasant. l asked him if l could meet him, perhaps go for a meal?He said he would be delighted and arranged a date for the following day at 2pm (New Years day) and we would go from there to a cosy little eaterie that he knew of. He gave me his address but immediately l went around so l would find it straight away the next day. Walking down 3rd and onto Quentins street l noticed the front of one of the houses there was brushed in pink, how quaint! Yes it was Quentins home. Around the corner from his house is a bric-a-brac shop that sells movie memorabilia and in the window was b/w stills of some film stars, James Cagney, Julie Garland a picture of Divine was there too. Also a photo from his youth of Quentin Crisp.
New Years day arrived, l phoned QC at about 1pm just to make sure he hadn't forgotten l was coming to see him, he was ready and waiting! He asked me to phone him again from the corner of his street and he would come down to meet me. l got a cab down to his place rang him as instructed and down he came. I waited outside his home, the door opened and there he was, unbelieveable! l introduced myself and told him how honoured l was to finally meet him and that this was going to be the highlight of my trip to New York.
We went to a little deli down the road from his home for a meal and chatted for almost 3 hours, my biggest regret was not taking a tape recorder with me to keep the conversation for prosperity. He made me laugh when he said that he had recently been to see Sunset Boulevard and as he was leaving, one of Ms. Paige's entourage asked him if he would like to come back stage because Elaine would like to meet him, "Oh" he said, "Oh but l am not worthy" and left without meeting her.
We chatted about current music, he said he loved Madonna, he still receives a bottle of champagne each year on his birthday from Sting. l asked him if he would mind writing a little quote for me on the back of the restaurant bill, he thought first then wrote, 'You don't have to win' and signed it Quentin Crisp Time flew by and he said he would have to be getting back, l offered to walk him home and asked if he would mind me taking a few photo's of him walking home, he said he didn't mind at all.
I asked him about the photo in the window of the shop near to his home and he said he could'nt recall seeing it but once he saw it he remembered that it was taken when he first arrived in NY. I took several photo's of him as he walked down Third Avenue and some while he was stood outside the Bric-A-Brac shop in view of the younger picture of himself. I left him at the door to his home, that was my meeting with Quentin Crisp.
David Whitworth (orinally written July '97)