[tag]Norman Mailer[/tag] died today at the age of 84. He was such a colorful personality that I'd never really do him justice trying to eulogize him here. I do have what I think is a funny story about Mr. Mailer and how I got invited into his [tag]Brooklyn[/tag] apartment.
Brooklyn - 1983
I lived in Brooklyn, New York from 1983 through 1986. It just so happened that several old [tag]celebrities[/tag] did too. Among them, [tag]writer[/tag] Norman Mailer. I met him several times. I would occasionally run into him on the street and say "hello Mr. Mailer" and he was always very pleasant as we passed. For some dumb reason, I decided to ring his doorbell one night (although for the life of me I cannot remember why, although it's entirely possible that I'd had a couple of beers). I can tell you I was not drunk or even tipsy.
[tag]Brooklyn Heights[/tag] is made up of great brownstone walkups from the 1830s - 1860s. They're about three stories tall. Mr. Mailer's apartment was on the third floor.
I buzzed the intercom, and a garbled voice came back, I just said "I'd like to see Mr. Mailer" and I was buzzed in. At the top of the first landing I met this very nice black lady who took my coat and directed me upstairs. I thought "wow, that is really nice" and walked up. At the door to the apartment upstairs I knocked and a beautiful woman in formal evening attire let me in. She had a cocktail in her hand and asked what I wanted - that was the first indication that there may be some misunderstanding. I saw him in the background walk past a doorway, and he was certainly not expecting me, nor did he even know I was there. He was just out of the shower it appeared. Oh man.
I quickly glanced around the room. Outside to the west was Manhattan just after sundown, a spectacular sight. Just in front of me were a couple more people with cocktails - looking at me like I was the Son of Sam or something. Well, after all I wasn't dressed properly for the party.
The lady who'd let me into the apartment turned out to be his wife, [tag]Norris Church[/tag] - a striking lady. She very nicely told me "you'll have to come back another time, we're getting ready for a party." That was a pretty embarrassing moment for me. After the warm welcome, with the lady taking my coat and all, I was ready for a martini. Evidently the intercom was garbled on the inside speaker too, and who'd think of some dumb kid just walking in on party night?
Of course I left, passing arriving guests on my way down the stairs, collecting my coat and my self-respect. But as I left, and to this day, I grin at the thought that I'm probably the only person I know of who's been to Norman Mailer's apartment. If you have any experiences with Norman Mailer, please leave a comment. Thanks!
Oh, and anyone looking for a Norman Mailer / [tag]eBay[/tag] angle:
 Norman Mailer Signed The Castle In The Forest 1st Dec US $150.00 |
 The Naked And The Dead By Norman Mailer 1948 Rinehart US $9.99 |
 An American Dream By Norman Mailer 1987 US $9.95 |
 Barbary Shore 1963 Norman Mailer US $9.95 |
 3 Hardcover Norman Mailer Novels Harlots Ghost 1st Ed US $14.99 |
 Oswalds Tale An American Mystery By Norman Mailer Hb US $9.00 |
 The Naked And The Dead By Norman Mailer 2000 US $16.87 |
 Armies Of The Night By Norman Mailer 1994 US $16.09 |
 1995 Picasso Norman Mailer True 1st Ed Hbdj Art Pablo US $29.99 |
 Barbary Shore Signed Norman Mailer 1st 1st US $189.99 |
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2 comments ↓
Just wanted to ask you, “Are you awesome”?
I am…and you should know. Thank you for your comment.
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