Imagine a time before the internet, camera phones, or Instagram. Imagine a time when you would open Billboard Magazine to read about your favorite movie star, circus performer or athlete. Imagine a time when Marilyn Monroe rode a pink elephant into Madison Square Garden for Ringling Brothers Circus.
Hollywood, the world of sports and the circus. Intertwined. Alot. One example that caught my eye was the circus themed Hollywood party thrown by ice skating champion Sonja Henie. OH to be a fly on the wall.
On February 5th, 1955, over 300 of the silver screen's biggest stars made their way to Ciro's Nightclub on the Sunset Strip. The A-listers were invited by one of LA's most popular hostesses...THREE time Olympic Gold Medalist and TEN time World Champion Sonja Henie. From all accounts and photos, the Norwegian ice skater threw one heck of a party!
Guests at the circus themed costume party were greeted at the entrance of Ciro's by mounds of sawdust, sideshow posters, snake charmers with live reptiles, a calliope playing Big Top music...and a 3.5 ton hippopotamus who "sat with a bored expression outside the front door". (SO GREAT) As hostess, Sonja made her grand entrance riding atop a baby elephant borrowed from the Moulin Rouge, wearing a revealing spangled pink leotard because that is what hostesses do.
Inside, guests sipped champagne served from giant bottles while watching acrobats and clowns. Adding to the atmosphere was a station with popcorn, soda and cotton candy. After the cocktail hour ended, a curtain opened to the main room and Sonja's guests marched in for dinner under a circus tent. But of course aerialists swung overhead while dogs and ponies aimlessly wandering. "I wanted to have other animals but they smell," Sonja told a UPI reporter.
The supper menu consisted of turtle soup, filet mignon and baked Alaska. Tiny merry-go-rounds adorned each table. After dinner the dancing began featuring three live bands. Well-stocked buffet tables serving caviar, crab, lobster and shrimp were set up. The party was over the top!
The atmosphere was highlighted by the imaginative costumes of Sonja's guests. Zsa Zsa Gabor came dressed as Vampira, the TV character; Cesar Romero, a gaucho; June Allyson was a clown; Jeanne Crain, a Balinese woman; Jane Powell came as a scantily clad Valentine and Jack Rau, a panda.
Peggy Lee was a tattooed lady; Susan Hayward, an elephant trainer. Not one or two but three bearded ladies were in attendance. Virginia Warren, the daughter of Chief Justice Earl Warren, arrived with Ed Pauley Jr, the son of Democratic leader, was dressed as a harem girl. James Mason partied as a clown, sporting a bulbous prosthetic nose that lit up. James' wife came in drag, sporting a moustache and goatee.
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Liberace drew the most attention (and why NOT), arriving with his TV producer's wife Tido Fedderson, sporting a tuxedo with ruffled shirt and a gold sequined tie. When questioned who he was dressed as, he cheekily told reporters "Liberace".
Sonja Henie, Liberace, Susan Hayward
Among the other famous party-goers were Cary Grant, Lana Turner, Lex Barker, Joan Crawford, Van Heflin and Bob Cummings. Judy Garland, who was almost eight months pregnant with her son Joey, made a fashionably late entrance out of costume.
Liberace, Sonja Henie, Judy Garland
Sonja awarded the prize for Best Costume to Esther Williams (there were PRIZES!). The swimming sensation came as a Persian mind reader with a goldfish bowl advertising "underwater fortunes".
Esther Williams
The top shelf scotch was flowing freely and Sonja worked the room in a diamond tiara and collar estimated to be worth over $100,000! Shut up! Her guests made merry at Ciro's until the wee hours of the morning...and she reportedly didn't bat an eyelash when the $15,000 bill for her shindig arrived. When asked why she chose to throw such a lavish get-together, Sonja smiled and told reporters, "No reason, I just felt like having a party".
Oh to be a fly.
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