Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The World-Famous Waiter
Stanley Bard wouldn't even let the presence of a major celebrity distract him from the busi-
ness of rent collection. One occasion involved the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Arthur
Miller.
PAUL VOLMER
Once, Stanley and the staff were celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the
hotel.
JULIE EAKIN
Smithsonian magazine did a huge article about the one-hundredth Anniversary
when it happened. It was really fun—they did an extensive photo shoot. I think
they even hired a dance troupe to move through that central stairwell and took
photographs of them doing it. It was wonderful!
PAUL VOLMER
At the anniversary, they were putting up a plaque for Arthur Miller. The Chelsea
has these plaques out in front to commemorate the hotel's eminent residents: O.
Henry, Dylan Thomas, Thomas Wolfe and others.
So I'm walking through the lobby, coming back exhausted from my waiter's
job. They're having this media event in the lobby. All the newspapers were
there—the New York Times, the Daily News and others. Stanley Bard was talking
to Arthur Miller. 87 As I was walking into the lobby, Stanley made a point to dra-
matically turn and glare daggers at me as I walked past. This prompted Arthur
Miller to turn and see what famous or illustrious person was coming into the
Chelsea. And it was just little old me, whose money Stanley wanted!
His personality was very odd because he would let some people slack on the
rent, but if you were chosen, he'd give you the worst business. Stanley was very
greedy. Money was the only thing he cared about. He would let known drug deal-
ers live there as long as they paid their rent. 88
DAVID LAWTON
You hear about people leaving the Chelsea owing thousands or whatever. I myself
probably got away with one month's rent unpaid, and I was thinking, “Oooh! I
really got away with something here!” They used to send a monthly bill. When I
first moved there, there was one month when the bill never arrived. I was never
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