While perusing the books at Barnes and Nobles I stumbled upon a book that I thought was fascinating because it actually documents the behind the scene look at an event in 1966 at New York's lavish Plaza Hotel in the Grand Ballroom hosted by the legenday Truman Capote the pint sized author of
"In Cold Blood" and
"Breakfast at Tiffany's". The fete was dubbed
"Party of the Century"-The Fabulous Story of Truman Capote and His Black and White Ball" by Deborah Davis.
Although , Capote passed off the event as to honor Katherine Graham, publisher of The Washington Post in actuality the event was all about Capote and celebrating his recent book "
In Cold Blood" unbeknowst to alot of people.
Capote singlehandley sent New York Society into a frenzy when they found out about the exclusive guest that would grace the party with one of the prized 540 invitations. Of course his fabled "swans" -his muses and confidantes Babe Paley, C.Z. Guest, Slim Keith to name a few were already on this list.
Some of his other well known guest were Lauren Bacall, Harry Belafonte, Candice Bergen, Richard Burton, Sammy Davis, Jr., Mia Farrow, Henry Fonda, William Randolph Hearst, JR., Lynda Bird Johnson, Mr. John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Gregory Peck ,Oscar De La Renta, Frank Sinatra, Andy Warhol.
The invitation set the whole mood for the event men had to wear black tie and women-black and/ or white attire. All guest were required to wear mask and women had to carry fans.
The decorations was very simple white and black with red table linen. The cost of the entire event was $16,000.00.
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