In november 28, 1966 Truman Capote celebrated the sucess of his masterwork In Cold Blood by throwing himself a huge party: the Black & White Masked Ball at the Plaza Hotel in New York. Only 540 guests were carefully chosen – a mix of socialites, artists, writers, politicians and even Capote’s own doorman, and elevator operator. To get an invitation was the ultimate social validation.

A few other famous guests:

Mr and Mrs Walter Cronkite, Mr and Mrs Sammy Davis Jr, Oscar de la Renta, Marlene Dietrich, Mr and Mrs Henry Fonda, Mr and Mrs Henry Ford 2nd, Greta Garbo, Mr and Mrs William Randolph Hearst Jr, Senator and Mrs Edward M Kennedy, Mrs John F Kennedy, Mrs Joseph P Kennedy, Senator and Mrs Robert F Kennedy, Harper Lee, Vivien Leigh, Mr and Mrs Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Mr and Mrs Norman Mailer, Mr and Mrs Walter Matthau, Mr and Mrs Arthur Miller, Mr and Mrs Gregory Peck, Governor and Mrs Nelson A Rockefeller, Philip Roth, Baroness Cecile de Rothschild, Baron and Baroness Guy de Rothschild, Theodore Rousseau, Mr and Mrs John Steinbeck, Andy Warhol, Mr and Mrs Billy Wilder, Tennessee Williams, Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

♥

Read more about the Masked Ball in this great article from The Independent.

♥ ♥

Love you Truman!