VANITY FAIR

Contents

Volume 49 Number 4

1986

Features

The First Sitting: Marilyn Monroe dramatically reincarnated by Kate Mailer in her father Norman’s new play—and photographed by Bert Stem. Report by James Atlas. Plus an exclusive extract from the play, Strawhead 58

The Women of Palm Beach: How they rule Florida’s fantasy island. Writer Dominick Dunne and photographer Helmut Newton ride again 68

Keitel on a Roll: From a Brooklyn luncheonette to Broadway and Hollywood, the ex-Marine more than got lucky. Pete Hamill profiles Harvey Keitel 76

Happy Birthday, Samuel Beckett: On the eve of his eightieth birthday, the grand old man of letters poses for his first portrait in many years, specially for Vanity Fair 82

The Painted Garden: America’s urban parks and garden cemeteries have their roots in the work of William Kent, whose eighteenth-century masterpiece is Rousham Park. Photographs by Derry Moore, text by Paula Deitz 84

The Awful Truth About Women’s Lib: Erica Jong on the ultra-feminists’ big mistake—they shunned motherhood 92

Writing the Range: Move ’em on, head ’em up. Tom McGuane, Montana cattle rancher and rebel writer, by James Atlas 94

Getting In: Desperate doings at the disco, from Paul Rudnick’s new novel, Social Disease 98

How to Run an Embassy: Sondra Gotlieb finds that the way to the heart of Washington power is through its stomach 102

Out to Lunch: Bill Zehme eats with Pia Zadora (buttermilk pancakes) and her baby (freshly pulverized swordfish) 124

Vanities

Nothing Short of perfect... Pratt House frat house... Stretching it... Elizabeth Hardwick’s feast of words... Battering Ram... Bryant Gumbel stayed home. . .Frugging with Longo.. ,I.Q. queen. . .The Restaurant. .. Christopher Buckley makes a mess.. .Tenn chatter.. .Welt Schmertz... Yo, Yolana.. .PEN patter.. .Schnabel and Niarchos.. .Party lines 19

Columns

Editor’s Letter: Fast things first 8

Mixed Media: James Wolcott’s hymn to the master of mellow, Bob Newhart 38

The Mind’s Eye: Leon Wieseltier in praise of the late Big Joe Turner 42

Memento Mori: Martin Amis remembers Philip Larkin 46

Vintage Point: Joel L. Fleishman on breathing or not (winewise) 50

Letter from Washington: Michael Kinsley on David Stockman 52

Flashback:Vanity Fair, 1931. Game, set, and matchless Francis X. Shields 56

Arts Fair

Photography: Club El Morocco’s Winogrand tour.. .Theater: Fosse fostering a Big Deal. . .Comedy: Jay Leno’s outstanding stand-up. . .Dance: The alluring legacy of La Nijinska.. .Movies: 9V2 Weeks of sex and the single-minded... Books: The Hitler-diary straits... Hot type... Night-table reading 108

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