The Party of the Century – Truman Capote’s Black & White Ball, NYC, 1966

The Party of the Century

Nearly 60 Years Ago & Harry Benson Was There

Harry Benson, Christina Ford, Capote Ball, NYC, 1966, Archival pigment photograph
Harry Benson, Christina Ford, Capote Ball, NYC, 1966, Archival pigment photograph

We remember the time when photography was BLACK & WHITE

We remember when a ball was a THRILLING EVENT

Harry Benson remembers Truman Capote’s BLACK & WHITE BALL

Harry Benson, Truman and Lee Radziwill, 1966, Archival pigment photograph
Harry Benson, Truman and Lee Radziwill, Capote Ball, NYC, 1966, Archival pigment photograph
Harry Benson, Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow at Truman Capote's Black and White Ball, 1966, Archival pigment photograph
Harry Benson, Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow at Truman Capote’s Black and White Ball, 1966, Archival pigment photograph
Harry Benson, Cecil Beaton Getting Off Elevator, 1966, Archival pigment photograph
Harry Benson, Cecil Beaton Getting Off Elevator, Capote Ball, NYC, 1966, Archival pigment photograph
Harry Benson, Susan Stein at Mirror, Capote Ball, NYC, 1966, Archival pigment photograph
Harry Benson, Susan Stein at Mirror, Capote Ball, NYC, 1966, Archival pigment photograph
Harry Benson, Truman and Guest of Honor Kay Graham, Editor of Washington Post Newspaper, Capote Ball, NYC, 1966, Archival pigment photograph
Harry Benson, Truman and Guest of Honor Kay Graham, Editor of Washington Post Newspaper, Capote Ball, NYC, 1966, Archival pigment photograph
Lauren Bacall & Jerome Robbins Still Dancing as the Party Winds Down, Capote Ball, NYC, 1966, Archival pigment photograph
Lauren Bacall & Jerome Robbins Still Dancing as the Party Winds Down, Capote Ball, NYC, 1966, Archival pigment photograph

Truman Capote’s Black & White Ball, The Plaza Hotel NYC, 1966

“Everyone wanted to be invited to what is still being called “the party of the century.” It was the hottest ticket in town. It is said that those who were excluded lied, saying they were out of town, rather than admit they weren’t invited. It seemed everyone who was there was famous for one reason or another.  The party was given in honor of Kay Graham, owner of the Washington Post, and for the detectives who broke the murder case Capote wrote about in his groundbreaking non-fiction novel, In Cold Blood. Truman was on top of the world.” – Harry Benson