Inside Truman Capote's legendary Black and White Ball, the 'party of the century' featured in 'Feud'

Eve CrosbieFeb 8, 2024, 10:31 IST

Truman Capote held a masquerade ball on November 28, 1966, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.Bettmann/Getty Images<ul class="summary-list"><li>In November 1966, Truman Capote held a masquerade ball at New York's Plaza Hotel.</li><li>It was attended by over 500 guests, including Frank Sinatra, Andy Warhol, and Edward VIII.</li></ul>On November 28, 1966, Truman Capote threw what he called "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/21/fashion/black-and-white-ball-anniversary-truman-capote.html">a little masked ball</a>" for 540 of his closest friends.To the rest of the world, it was the "<a target="_blank" href="https://about.jstor.org/blog/the-party-of-the-century-truman-capotes-black-and-white-ball/">party of the century</a>," a moniker it earned due to its extravagant and exclusive nature.What Capote managed to achieve with the Black and White Ball remains truly singular; its opulence and envious guest list aside, thanks to Capote's connections and social standing, he was able to bring together a diverse and influential group of people in a way that hadn't ever been done before.The planning, execution, and aftermath of the ball is examined in "<a target="_blank" rel class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/feud-truman-capote-swans-real-socialites-babe-paley-lee-radziwill-2024-2">Feud: Capote vs. The Swans</a>" season two, episode three, titled "Masquerade 1966." Here's a look inside the real event.

The Black and White Ball was held at the Plaza Hotel in New York City on November 28, 1966.

The scene outside New York's Plaza Hotel.AP Images

Capote threw the party in honor of Washington Post owner Katharine “Kay” Graham.

Katharine "Kay" Graham and Truman Capote at the Black and White Ball.Harry Benson/Express/Getty Images

Many of Capote's "swans" attended the ball, including Lee Radziwill who was one of the few women he danced with during the evening.

Lee Radziwill and Truman Capote dancing at Capote's Black and White Ball.Harry Benson/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The official invite for the event requested that men wear black masks and women wear white masks.

Claudette Colbert at Truman Capote's Black and White Ball.Santi Visalli/Getty Images

Capote spent months curating the guest list, which ended up exceeding 500 people.

Mia Farrow and Frank Sinatra at Truman Capote's Black and White Ball.Bettmann/Getty Images

Still, Capote caused upset among those who weren't invited to the lavish event.

Partygoers arriving at Truman Capote's Black and White Ball.Fairchild Archive/Penske Media via Getty Images

The party is to this day remembered as one of the most iconic social events of the 20th century.

Partygoers arriving at Truman Capote's Black and White Ball.Stan Wolfson/Newsday RM via Getty Images

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