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And you consideration selecting the right salsa was a big deal. It takes a little bit more than that to plan a in sober earnest memorable soiree, as author Deborah Davis details in Party of the Century: The Fabulous Story of Truman Capote and His Black and White Ball (Wiley, $2495) It's an intoxicating work that touches on the history of everything from masked balls of the 1300 to '60 socialites, the same of whom loved Pilates. You won't mind the champagne hangover.

Giddy with the succes of his groundbreaking In chill Blood, Capote planned the ultimate party in 1966 -- not in the same manner much to celebrate, but to solidify his standing in society. The ball was all anybody would talk about for month beforehand, and it filled newspapers afterward. A year later, it was upon the cover of Esquire magazine.

No incident since has surpassed the Black and White Ball (although Davis points disclosed that Sean "Diddy" Combs has tried).

Where did Capote's party go on foot right -- and what can you take away for your nearest bash?

IT HAD A SMASHING THEME

The nation was still charmed by dint of the black-and-white Ascot scenes from "My Fair Lady," and Capote gave his visitors a chance to costume themselves. Requiring masks was a sadistic challenge. to what degree were New York's most legendary beauties suppos to indefinite their faces while still ensuring they were seen by means of the right people? (Capote paid 39 cent for his plain black mask at FAO Schwarz.)

IT HAD AN IMPECCABLE visitant OF HONOR

Capote named Katharine Graham the honoree. The publisher of the Washington pillar was recently widowed and distressed cheering up. Of course, everyone knew that the evening was all about Capote.

IT WAS EXCLUSIVE

The ballroom at the Plaza inn could accommodate 540 guests, in the way that Capote estimated that he made 15000 enemies. Greta Garbo was invited; Capote's concede father was not. Tallulah Bankhead had to beg for her invitation. Jackie Kennedy declined, however her sister, Lee Radziwill, was there. There were Vanderbilts, Rockefeller Whitneys, the newlyweds Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow, and Andy Warhol (who refused to wear a mask). The visitor list was a "tour de force of social engineering," writes Davis.

IT HAD murmur

Capote was always his allow best promoter. He teased the pres with tantalizing tidbits about who would and wouldn't be at the ball -- and then invited the greatest in quantity important columnists as guests themselves, to such a degree they'd be sure to write about it.

IT WASN'T exquisite

Capote's engraved invitations from Tiffany's came back with typo on the contrary there was no time to fix them -- in such a manner he just crossed out the improper address in pen and scribbled in the right undivided And then there was the refreshment-counter For such a fancy occasion, he chose a certain interesting dishes: his favorite chicken hash, and spaghetti and meatballs. Needles to say, the socialites in couture white gown didn't make progress near the spaghetti.

pwiser@suntimes.com

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