Betty Bishop spent a memorable six months here at the Chelsea back in the early nineties, attending one of good ol' Gingie's birthday parties. She even got to have one of her paintings on display in the lobby for a while. But she sure was glad that the guy who jumped down the stairwell was all cleaned up by the time she got home.
1. What do you do? I have done a lot of things. From working as a waitress to owning a fairly large
catering company where we made little sandwiches for the Queen of England. I sold it and retired when I was 51 years old. Then I took up art. I am now 72.
2. When did you stay at the Chelsea?
1. What do you do? I have done a lot of things. From working as a waitress to owning a fairly large

2. When did you stay at the Chelsea?

I stayed at the Chelsea for 6 months the winter of 1992/93. Room 603 I think. You can see a painting of my room and there is also one of the hall on the 6th floor. (Click here for her photos. The one on the right hung in the lobby for a while.)
3. What brought you to the famed hotel?
I am from Toronto - I wanted to study at the Art Student's League and did study at the Art Student's League. I knew about the Chelsea and I just phoned and asked if they had a room with a kitchen. They did and the price was right although it took rather a long time to get them to tell me exactly how much it would cost me. "Come on down and we will see"...............it was sort of like that if I remember correctly.
4. Has your art been influenced by any former or currents residents of the hotel?
Probably unconsciously.
5. Which artists do you most admire and why?
Cezzane, Titan, Tuttle, Freud, Horace Pippin - why? because they give me shivers! Oh yes - Van Gogh! Matisse.........
6. Do you think the Chelsea Hotel has a creative spirit?
I imagine it does. I sometimes wondered who else had slept in my bed and who they slept with.
7. What was the best/worst thing that happened to you at the Chelsea?
The worst was the day I came "home" and learned a guy had jumped or fallen down 9 flights into the stairwell. Fortunately for me they had cleaned him up before I got home. The best was Ginger's birthday party - Ginger was the house dog and I am invited to her September Birthday party - forever and ever!
8. Did you spot any celebrities during your visit?
Yes although it depends on your definition of a celebrity doesn't it? I had dinner with a woman who used to swim with Picasso. She also lived between the Chelsea and her Paris apartment. I am sure she is dead now so I can mention her but I don't know if she was a celebrity. She was a painter.
Yes although it depends on your definition of a celebrity doesn't it? I had dinner with a woman who used to swim with Picasso. She also lived between the Chelsea and her Paris apartment. I am sure she is dead now so I can mention her but I don't know if she was a celebrity. She was a painter.
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