Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
#1Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Posted: 9/19/08 at 9:59pm
Does anyone know if there is a DVD or a documentary on this event? I have become obsessed with it over the past few days. I just bought a book called, 'Party of the Century: The Fabulous Story of Truman Capote and His Black and White Ball' I was hoping to find some actual footage and all I could find was a very brief clip from A&E's biography of Truman where they mention it.
#2re: Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Posted: 9/19/08 at 10:01pmOh, it's a dance. I thought you were talking about a testicle.
JohnBoy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/06
#2re: Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Posted: 9/19/08 at 10:49pmShe's no longer a gypsy. No more Equity calls. She's gonna get those crazy invitations now to Truman Capote's Balls!
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#3re: Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Posted: 9/20/08 at 12:03amI remember reading a fascinating account of it in the David Merrick biography the Abomnible Showman.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#4re: Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Posted: 9/20/08 at 12:17amOh it was DIVINE. Yes, yes, people were dying in Viet Nam and all that unpleasantness, but nothing says Happy Days Are Here Again quite like shellacked beehive hairdos and not being excluded by Truman!
#5re: Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Posted: 9/20/08 at 8:59am
Not saying that it's a good thing, but people are always killing each other in one part of the world while putting on a party hat in another.
Has it ever been different in the entire history of the world?
I'm not sure I see your point.
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#6re: Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Posted: 9/20/08 at 9:54amI love black and white balls. More than all white or all black ones!
JohnBoy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/06
#7re: Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Posted: 9/20/08 at 10:01amDoes he ever have a point? Most of his posts are belittling, snide and what he thinks are fabulously glib. He fancies himself to be exactly the type of person who would be all giddy to go to a Truman Capote's Ball.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#8re: Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Posted: 9/20/08 at 10:57am
Wrong, wrong, wrong, and of course, wrong. But then, you're JohnBoy2, and we're used to that.
B12B, I was just echoing Candace Bergin's comments about the party. She was there and she was struck by how anachronistic the party was and how Nero fiddling it all felt.
TxTwoStep
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/24/03
#9re: Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Posted: 9/20/08 at 3:10pmi think there's an account of it, fictionalized and from Capote's point of view, in ANSWERED PRAYERS, but it's been a while since i read it. Yeah, the ABOMINABLE SHOWMAN really makes you feel like you were there.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#10re: Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Posted: 9/20/08 at 4:21pmI can't totally disagree with Namo/Candace. I remember when I first read about it thinking- Capote finally triumphs in his field- has wealth, respect, acclaim- and his reaction is to throw an over-the-top bitch fest party? There is definitely some food for thought in the whole thing.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#11re: Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Posted: 9/20/08 at 5:17pm
"There is definitely some food for thought in the whole thing."
Which is where we lost JohnBoy. And I thought it was a worthwhile parallel to the times we're living through now.
#12re: Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Posted: 9/20/08 at 6:02pm
You lost me too, guys.
It is very possible to be concerned with strife, maybe to the point of devoting most of your time to end it, yet still go out and have a good time. We humans can be involved in many things at the same time.
In fact, I think that the best time to go out and have a blast is when things are the roughest.
So pick up that persimmons and throw it at me! 
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#13re: Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Posted: 9/20/08 at 6:52pmI agree in the "we're all in this together so let's have a blast to recharge and reenergize" kind of good time. Not the "let's put our heads in the sand and feel better about ourselves because the host didn't invite a lot of people who would like to be here" kind.
#14re: Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Posted: 9/20/08 at 7:47pm
Was it really such a snob-fest?
Do people even throw those anymore?
I've been to parties at huge houses with Geffen and George Clooney, but they didn't feel like elitist bashes. Is there still such a thing today?
I'm sure there are "certain circles" I don't even know about... or care to know about.
Okay, forget I asked.
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#15re: Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Posted: 9/20/08 at 7:55pmYes, it was a snob fest and anachronistic evev in its time. It was the beginning of the end for Buddy, and I say that as a lifelong fan of his work.
#16re: Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Posted: 9/20/08 at 8:35pmWell, did you evah...
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
TxTwoStep
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/24/03
#17re: Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Posted: 9/21/08 at 10:09pm
"Buddy"? don't you mean "Dill"?
chances are everyone who attended, like most parties, came for different reasons. To analyze they were all there to stick heads in the sand, snub noses at the current issues, and be elitist might be a tad general. As to why Capote threw it, it was likely a whim that grew out of control with hype (like that never happens today, or anything). Somehow, despite his great writing, i doubt he put the thought into making some kind of statement with it. He did it because he felt like it, much like writing ANSWERED PRAYERS. All the Monday morning quarterbacking, or post-analyzing, can't get you any closer to understanding it (IMHO).
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