One of the
most amazing things about David Wills is that his life has intersected with
both Hollywood and fashion. Please do not think for a second that this means he
cares or worries about the like of the starlet of the day and whose clothes she
got to wear without owning them. Mr.
Wills has authored or co-authored 6 or so books and has established himself as
the go to guy if you are in search of celebrity photos and their negatives. Not only has he authored but he is one of the
largest collectors, preservationists and curators of archival photos,
transparencies and negatives in the world.
Having been
fortunate enough to have reviewed several of his books for the New York Journal
of Books, It is my please to say that the books are immaculately written and
researched as well as being superb
photographic treatments of each subject. Add all that to the fact that
he is one helluva nice guy and you have an ideal situation for an interview
such as this.
It is my pleasure to introduce you to David
Wills….. And don’t forget to pick up one of his books and get lost in the
history of it all!!
1-What is the most
treasured possession in your wardrobe?
I have an early 70s
Edwardian inspired shirt by Mr. Fish that I would probably run into a burning
building to save. It has ruffles !!! I don't wear it often, but when I do I
feel very After Dark magazine.
2-What is your most
sterling trait and what trait do you treasure most in your friendships?
I think I'm a simple
person who still appreciates simple things. I look for that trait in friends as
well. If people become too complicated I usually withdraw.
3-What is your bliss?
Playing with my dogs
and watching old movies with my partner, Jeffrey McCall.
4-What is your guilty
secret?
I have too many
unfortunately - still waters run deep.
5-Where is your ideal
home?
Split three ways
between Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and The Sunshine Coast in Australia.
6-If you could not be
a designer/retailer/etc:, what would you be
I would like to be a
traveling food critic, or run a Traci Lords theme park.
7-What is on your
bedside table right now?
Well, I could give
you the "James Franco" answer and say a copy of Notes from
Underground by Dostoyevsky, but I will be honest and say Frebreze (I'm
obsessed with it), a bottle of Tums, and a blu-ray of the original 1978 version
of "The Toolbox Murders".
8-What do you wear to
bed?
Chanel No. 5 - no,
just kidding. Mostly a t-shirt and boxers.
9-What, if any, book
are you reading now or last read?
I'm a big re-reader.
The last book was Patricia Bosworth's biography of Montgomery Clift. I read it
when I was ten and keep going back every five years or so.
10-What’s your advice
to the “newcomer?”
You get more with
sugar than you do with vinegar, and never underestimate the power of saying
"no".
11-Who or what is
your inspiration/style icon?
Gary Cooper, Fred
Hughes, Sterling Saint Jacques, Helmut Berger (in The Picture of Dorian Gray),
David Croland (during his modeling days when he was professionally known as
"The Crow"), Tommy Nutter.
12-What is the best
advice you ever received?
Never let your outer
show your inner.
13-In 3 words or
less, describe the current state of fashion.
"Retrocentric"
(if that's even a word). I live my life for yesterday, but there is a danger in
that. The fashion world should take heed. For many years in fashion (on the
street at least) I saw a dedication to the casual that I found repellent -
everyone looked like they were going camping. I must say that finally seems to
be changing.
14-If you were a
retailer, would you wear your own designs or shop in your own store ? or where
would you shop?
This question doesn't
really pertain to me, but I always wanted to have a store that was based on the
color yellow. They used to do color-coding a lot in the 60s. The boutiques
would have really great names like "My Mother Lives in Cincinnati" or
"Mr. Asparagus". Unfortunately, few people look good in yellow - it's
also supposed to be the favorite color of psychotics - so I will probably never
open a store.
15-If you won a
$200,000,000 power ball (lottery), what is the first thing you would buy or do?
Set up a foundation
to make sure my money was going to the most deserving charities.
16-If you could
invite up to 4 people for dinner, who would they be…dead or alive?
My Uncle Arthur who
was killed in WW2, my mother's mother, Marilyn Monroe (circa. 1962), and The
Black Dahlia.
17-What is your
favorite movie /or movie star?
Movie - "The
Naked Kiss" / Movie star - Marilyn Monroe.
18-What is the one
thing you would change about yourself?
I wish I was more
relaxed. I also wish I had a better "tuxedo" body.
19-Whose opinion do
you value most and why?
My parents - amazing
people who have always steered me in the right direction.
20-What store or
which designer do you most like to shop in or wear ?
I am much more
conservative now. As I get older I buy less and less clothing. I keep it simple
at places like Thomas Pink, Calvin Klein and Trina Turk. I have a lot of
vintage designer - "The Frippery" in Palm Springs is great for that.
I like to have dress shirts custom made in China, but I rarely do that these
days. I also have a weakness for Belgian shoes.
21-What’s your take
on magazines, books versus the internet?
Well, this question
is very personal to me as there is a constant battle in publishing between
e-books and the traditional printed book. We are still finding our way. I am
often appalled at the idea of a photo book being viewed on a screen. I am all
for exposure and bringing new ideas to a different audience, but there is a
loss of tactility that I find unfortunate. Photo books will never be replaced
as they are ultimately seen by a majority of people as decorative items and
coffee table embellishments. Many will buy a book for its cover appeal and
never even look at the interior. I also think the internet must certainly be
keeping the optometrists in business. Our love affair with screens has become
quite disturbing.
22-Do you have a
dream collaborator?
I'm not sure I want
to collaborate on any future projects - though everything is a collaboration to
some extent.
23-What is your
crowning achievement thus far in your career?
I was very proud of
my book on Veruschka.
24-What’s your music
library like?
Pretty much rotting
in boxes in a storage unit. My tastes constantly change, but I always go back
to The Cocteau Twins. I just bought one of those portable record player (from
about 1962 I guess). The top half is green and the bottom half is blue (one of
my favorite color combos). It's the kind Annette Funicello and her friends
would have used. I've been wearing out the needle with a lot of Glen Campbell
and Wayne Newton.
25-What and where is
your favorite meal?
My mother makes a
great lamb baked dinner, but second would have to be Zankou Chicken in Los
Angeles.
www.nyjournalofbooks.com/reviewer/jeffrey-felner
www.nyjournalofbooks.com/reviewer/jeffrey-felner
