Because photographer Keith Green found the hotel to be a peaceful retreat in 1988, he vowed to return. And return he did—to photograph Dee Dee Ramone for his book jacket (Chelsea Horror Hotel) and to witness the tail end of superstar Viva’s eviction:
During the latter part of the 1980s, I worked as a photo assistant for photographer, Jean Kallina who photographed assignments, primarily, for Vogue as well as producing her fine art photographic interiors at Versailles. During the Fall of 1988, she left for a month-long assignment in Europe with Julian Schnabel of whom she was close friends and a collaborative partner on several art projects. Jean sublet her studio loft, on 18th Street and Broadway, during the time she was away. Upon her return from Europe three days earlier than the contracted date, she found herself in a pinch for a place to stay so, Julian arranged for her to spend the three days in his, very large, room at the Chelsea Hotel. Jean took one look at the place, decided she didn't like it and refused to stay. Julian immediately offered Jean refuge in the incredibly spacious bohemian apartment above his equally spacious studio in Greenwich Village. Since the room at the Chelsea was paid in advance, Jean offered it to me for the entire three-day period. The hotel's iconic neon sign beamed intensely as it bathed the white stucco walls in hypnotic flashes of red light; providing me a brief, yet peaceful sanctuary from the chaos that frequented the lower east side apartment that I shared with two roommates. I vowed, then, that I would someday return to the Chelsea Hotel with the purpose of encapsulating that bohemian spirit on film.
One other brief anecdote: Immediately after finishing the roll of film for this portrait of Dee Dee, he motioned for me to look over the balcony on to the street and said, "See that U-Haul van down there?" "Yes", I replied. "That's Viva's stuff they're moving...They finally kicked her out".
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