THE DAKODA....1 W 72nd st NYC NY
C Z GUEST
Flip through the "inspiration" file that every designer keeps, and at some point you will find a picture of C.Z. Guest. Debutante, showgirl (briefly), model (painted nude by Diego Rivera), socialite, gardener, intimate of artists and writers; Guest had the kind of life that seems fiction, and the perfect patrician looks to illustrate it. She wore her designer clothes with thoroughbred elegance, keeping to simple lines, rich fabrics, and soft colors to suit her cool complexion. But perhaps what drew creative types to her most was Guest's down-to-earth personality, exemplified by her recent advice to would-be gardeners visiting her web site, "The most important thing is to enjoy yourself and have a good time."
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Archival photograph of the South entrance
Well-known residents of the Dakota building have included:
actress Lauren Bacall
composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein
newscaster Connie Chung and husband and talk-show host Maury Povich
sportsman F. Ambrose Clark who was also grandson of the original builder
songwriter/producer Bob Crewe
actor José Ferrer
singer Roberta Flack
author Charles Henri Ford
actress Judy Garland
actor Steve Guttenberg
actress Judy Holliday
playwright William Inge
actor Boris Karloff
composer/singer John Lennon
singer Sean Lennon, son of John and Yoko
football player, coach, and announcer John Madden
interior decorator Syrie Maugham
author Carson McCullers
filmmaker Albert Maysles
musician Ian McDonald
dancer Rudolf Nureyev
artist Yoko Ono
comedienne Gilda Radner
critic Rex Reed
film and television producer Edgar J. Scherick
singer Neil Sedaka
actor Jason Robards
actor Robert Ryan
actor Zachary Scott
Although historically home to many creative or artistic people, the building and its board were criticized in 2005 by former resident Albert Maysles, who attempted to sell his ownership to actors Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas, who were rejected by the board. Maysles expressed his "disappointment with the way the building seems to be changing" by telling the New York Times: "What's so shocking is that the building is losing its touch with interesting people. More and more, they're moving away from creative people and going toward people who just have the money."[8] Even prior to this, both Gene Simmons and Billy Joel were denied residency by the board in the 1970s.[citation needed] In 2002 The Dakota rejected corrugated-cardboard magnate and Democratic nominee for Governor of New York Dennis Mehiel.