I was 'scolded' by Salvador Dali! Eyes Wide Shut . . .

 Salvador Dali Rebuked Me...Gently.

When I first met Salvador Dali in 1973, in the King Cole Bar of the beautiful St. Regis Hotel in New York City, where Dali and Gala wintered, I asked him if I could take his picture. He eagerly consented, stood up, and walked over to another table.

Dali sat down and closed his eyes. I promptly snapped the picture (it was a very dark room and my shot was available-light only; no flash, making it underexposed).

But Dali opened his eyes and rebuked me: "No, no! Dali ees not ready yet!" He was obviously preparing himself for that signature wide-eyed look we so typically saw on him. I had no idea, of course, that that was his intention, so I snapped the photo you see here: eyes wide shut. We never did do a (proper) second take . . .



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