Warhol’s High Security Factory
After the whole Valerie Solanas shooting Warhol incident, the Factory was packed up and moved up the block to a higher security building. Bullet proof doors, closed-circuit surveillance, and secret rear exits ensured that Warhol felt safe, and could “escape” fans if necessary. Warhol also tried to deter the obsessed fans who would call over and over by hiring only foreign receptionists. Repeatedly having to spell out their names over and over to the receptionists who could hardly speak English deterred more than one incessant caller from calling constantly.
During the ten years the Factory was here (from 1974-1984) Warhol created the boxes of “Time Capsules” (which now reside at the Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh), the Skull paintings, the piss paintings, and many of his films were created here.
Who: Andy Warhol
What: The 3rd Factory
Where: 860 Broadway & Union Square West
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Warhol’s High Security Factory http://t.co/CFkD2Epc
Warhol would hire foreign receptionists to deter stalkers at his “High Security Factory” in Union Sq. http://t.co/wUTpR415 @artnerdnewyork
Warhol’s High Security Factory http://t.co/eK1nWhY4
Warhol’s High Security Factory – http://t.co/tAtdV8bjYF http://t.co/hRKjXeGKVJ
RT @ArtNerdNewYork: Warhol’s High Security Factory – http://t.co/tAtdV8bjYF http://t.co/hRKjXeGKVJ
Warhol’s High Security Factory http://t.co/e3Ziddi4sO via @artnerdnewyork
The move from Union Sq. did not take place after AW was shot, it happened over the winter of 73-74. There was no security at all when I worked there in1973. The only difference was that when the elevator opened you were in an empty room, which is where the shooting happened. From there you went left thru two double doors then right into a large front room/ reception area with a front desk like in a hotel lobby and then a lush couch on the right. To the left of the lobby table or whatever you call those desks was the closely watched entry to ‘the back room” as it was jokingly called even though there were work spaces for about five ongoing functions. AW liked the term because it was how you thought of an old fashioned tailor shop. There were still plenty of those around in 1973 mostly old Jewish guys who had a bell on the door so they would hear a customer come in because they did their work in “the back room.” AW was a wonderful man, he was very avuncular and although I hadn’t seen him since 1975 I cried the day he died. Lou Reed got me hired, he was a super great guy, like the older brother you never had, he always stuck up for me. Pat Hacket was very real, totally down-to-earth sweet by nature but able to be very tough minded when she wanted to be. Bob Colacello was a fucking asshole and always on my case. Lou once threatened to beat him up if he didn’t lay off me lol. Great memories, a wonderful time for me.