The Plaza
The first-ever New York City taxicabs line up along the Fifth Avenue side of the Plaza, awaiting their first passengers.
Vanderbilt Mansion. Wedding day of Gladys Vanderbilt and Count Laszlo Szechenyi, Jan. 28, 1908
BLACK AND WHITE BALL: THE PARTY OF THE CENTURY
In 1966 Truman Capote gave the party of the 20th Century - the Black-and-White Ball which took place at the Plaza Hotel's Grand Ballroom. All guests were required to wear masks, and the ladies to carry fans. The masks, according to his scenario, would free guests to dance and mingle as they pleased. At midnight the disguises would be removed.
Tiffany's
Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) Photo courtesy of Jurow-Shepherd
St. Regis
A postcard of The St. Regis New York, then the tallest hotel in the world
John Jacob Astor IV
the Petit Chateau, aka William K. Vanderbilt House
In 1883 Alva Vanderbilt gave party of the century - the Masked Ball. As the housewarming for her new super opulent residence at 660 Fifth Avenue at 52nd street she invited 1200 masked members of the gilded age society. The cost of the ball was estimated at $250,000 (nearly 6 million dollars in today’s money), including $65,000 for champagne and $11,000 for flowers.