The "New" Chelsea is No Friend to Fashion: Tamasar Insults Legendary Vogue Photographer Terry Richardson

    Manager Arnold Tamasar really made legendary photographer Terry Richardson feel at home in the Chelsea yesterday.  Richardson was doing a shoot for Vogue in a room at the Chelsea, when he thought he might like to have a shot or two looking into the room from the hallway.  No problem, right?  Especially when Vogue is paying $5,000 a day in addition to renting several rooms.  But when he got wind of this, manager Arnold Tamasar totally freaked out and sent security to shut the shoot down.  The flabbergasted producer went down to negotiate with Tamasar, who told her that they couldn't continue the shoot unless the Chelsea had full legal approval of all photos they run!  When asked the reason for this bizarre demand, Tamasar reportedly replied, How do we know you're not going to run something obscene with drugs and nudity and things?
(Drugs and nudity in the Chelsea?!  Quel Horreur!)  The producer said, in effect, We're Vogue, for God's sake!
    After going back and forth for two hours, being allowed to shoot and then being shut down again, the producer finally asked to speak to the owner.  Tamasar then produced David Elder, who said it was fine to shoot in the hallway!  The shoot resumed, but then, amazingly, Tamasar shut it down again, demanding another $500.  The producer got the Okay, but then Tamasar changed his mind again reportedly giving as his reason, I don't like you!  On her way out, when the producer politely said good-by to Tamasar he merely snorted in reply.  -- Ed Hamilton  (Photo: Terry Richardson and Barack Obama)