The party for Warhol*
Gordon Locksley.
In the 1970's Mr. Locksley was a local pop-star. An important one.
Not that it matters, but I 'worked' for him - I was moonlighting as a bartender at a bar he owned, Sutton's. As a kid in my early 20's, I was impressed with what many regarded as his cultivation of the Warhol-Factory-Pop-Star culture. Along with his partner George Shea, Locksley developed a sort of cult following amongst the very chic and trendy. As one obituary noted: their parties attracted socialites, hippies, business executives, professors, politicians, actors and art collectors. The more successful they became, the more notable they became. The pair built a lucrative art business, their mansion was also their gallery, sort of a refined version of Warhol's factory one might say. Indeed Warhol was the starring guest at more than one event, yet many A-list pop artists and celebs traipsed through the venue, attracting local glitterati and wannabe famous types and star struck pretty boys. If you are actually interested, you can read the obituary here.
May he rest in peace.
Locksley welcoming Warhol.
All I want to say is there was really something very dark in that underground. The scene was openly gay - proudly gay - when gay was still a degenerate subculture. The people involved in Warhol's Factory were notorious, as were some of the people in the Locksley milieu. The clique surrounding him developed a reputation for a lot of sex, drugs, rock'n'roll - and young guys. There was an ambiance or illusion of connection to the trendy gay scene in NYC and San Francisco - call it a collection of radical faerie tales - too many to recount here. In retrospect, it is easy to recognize the art scene and gay-chic thing they capitalized on was totally superficial and pretentious - yet it was a business venture. The art world is big business - manufactured, packaged, marketed, promoted for fun, fashion, fame, and profit. In that respect it is very much like the entertainment industry.
The deception continues.
*Ed.note: The news of Locksley's death and photos which accompanied the stories creeped me out. In the top photo there is a guy who went after young teen boys at the time. I was in junior high when we 'met'.
The deception continues.
*Ed.note: The news of Locksley's death and photos which accompanied the stories creeped me out. In the top photo there is a guy who went after young teen boys at the time. I was in junior high when we 'met'.
Terry, have you read the "Andy Warhol Diaries?" That whole factory thing and that New York in the 60s, 70s and 80s is fascinating to me..from a distance..(all those drugs and sex, and ambition...seems exhausting) It was always nice to put the book down and go back to the real world! Plus, for all his fascination with them, he does break bad and make bitchy comments on a lot of the Celeb-a-Tards of that era.
ReplyDeleteTerry, you have an interesting past..you should write a book!