Marina Schiano

Marina Schiano’s appearances in Andy Warhol’s diary connect the city’s all-night social scene with the more intimate rituals of food and conversation. Across a night at Studio 54 and visits to her home around New Year’s, she emerges as a companion who extends hospitality and takes Warhol’s candor as the beginning of a friendship, even as he remains unsure how to define their connection.

After-hours at Studio 54

At Studio 54, Warhol tried to introduce Ron Duguay and another hockey player to Marina, but they said their girlfriends were present and declined to pursue anything. At six in the morning, Marina and Warhol left while a crowd still pressed outside the club, hoping to get in. Jack Hofsiss gave them a ride in a limousine carrying about twenty boys. Warhol got out at Marina’s home rather than remain with the group: he expected that staying might lead to another invitation, and he wanted to get up for work.

Pizza, food, and a possible friendship

Marina invited Warhol upstairs for pizza while they waited for daylight. He had heard that she obtained food from around the city through people who worked for her, including salami from Brooklyn and pizza from Queens, and wanted to see what it was like. The pizza he tried was inexpensive and mostly dough, with little ketchup and cheese. Their conversation turned to the cost of maintaining his house. Marina felt that he was being genuine and that she had learned something from him; she took that exchange to mean they were friends, or perhaps that they were becoming friends. Warhol recorded the interpretation with uncertainty rather than certainty.

New Year’s hospitality

Marina’s hospitality continued the next day. She had explained that the large quantity of food piled on her stove was there for good luck on New Year’s, and later invited Warhol back to eat it. He walked over and found parsnips, leeks, and other food in abundance—the sort of meal he said he wanted. The return visit gives their earlier conversation a practical sequel: after sharing personal details over a modest late-night pizza, they met again over the New Year’s food Marina had saved and offered him.