HARVEY SCHMIDT

The Life and Death
of Wilma Winn

TOM JONES: “When Harvey and I (along with two other roommates) rented an apartment on West 74th Street, we had the third floor of the old townhouse.  The fourth floor was occupied by an ancient crone who looked like Bette Davis in WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE.  She was right above the area where Harvey's grand piano was placed in our apartment, and she complained bitterly (and understandably) about the constant sound of Harvey composing and playing just beneath her.  Eventually, after all of the rest of us had left and Harvey had the big apartment all to himself, the strange old lady died and our landlady (since there were no known relatives) was throwing out everything from the apartment.  Among the items was a shopping bag filled with ancient photos and newspaper clippings about Wilma Winn, the young, beautiful actress who became the gorgon on the 4th floor. The landlady asked Harvey if he would like to have it and he eagerly accepted.  Then, perhaps in penitence for all the years of piano pounding, but also with a real sense of compassion, Harvey put together a whole show of paintings. It is yet another reminder of Harvey's fascination with (and compassion for) the fading beauties from the past.”