The most scandalous New Year’s Eve party of yesteryear: The Chelsea Arts Ball
Welcome to London’s Royal Albert Hall for the annual Fancy Dress Ball Chelsea Arts Cluba private club founded in 1891 (and still in existence) that recruits its members (as the name suggests) from the ranks of artists, sculptors, architects, writers, designers, actors, musicians, photographers and filmmakers.
Maybe it’s this artistic thematic orientation, but maybe it’s just the good old British willingness to party… Fact is, the New Year’s Ball, held from 1908 to 1958, had the reputation of being the most glaring, most spectacular and most outrageous event. are on the social agenda.
Here it was served with a grand premiere, with over 100 performers, lavish decorations and up to 4,000 dancers, all celebrating in costume on the Albert Hall dance floor. With exotic party themes such as “Egyptian”, “Noah’s Ark” or “Sun Worshipers”, guests danced into the early hours, until breakfast was finally served at 5am to close out the festivities.
The event was well attended by bohemians and celebrities – as well as ordinary Londoners. Elaborate, decadent, or at least skimpy costumes were required.
The reputation of the ultimate New Year’s Eve party was bolstered by reports of public nudity, explicit displays of affection, and open homosexuality (the latter at a time when it was still illegal). When gays were jailed for up to two years and/or subjected to chemical castration, the Chelsea Arts Ball was a place where gays could be themselves – without the scrutiny and surveillance that their everyday lives entailed.
The highlight of the party was the display of huge floats designed by famous artists. Over the years, it became a bizarre tradition to then vandalize those same cars, despite the best efforts of security to prevent the inevitable, as evidenced by this 1954 Pathé newsreel.
After 1958, the event was banned because the organizers (under insurance) could not take responsibility for the outrageous behavior of their revelers at the historic Royal Albert Hall.
What remains are images for eternity:
Source: Watson
I am Ross William, a passionate and experienced news writer with more than four years of experience in the writing industry. I have been working as an author for 24 Instant News Reporters covering the Trending section. With a keen eye for detail, I am able to find stories that capture people’s interest and help them stay informed.
Ross
Related Posts
Locals demand tourist tax for Tenerife: “Like a cancer consuming the island”
class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”> 1/4 Residents of Tenerife have had enough of noisy and dirty tourists. It’s too loud, the air quality
Agreement reached: this is how much Tuchel will receive for his departure from Bayern
class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”> 1/7 Packing his things in Munich in the summer: Thomas Tuchel. After just over a year, coach Thomas
Worst earthquake in 25 years in Taiwan +++ Number of deaths increased Is Russia running out of tanks? Now ‘Chinese coffins’ are used
At least seven people have been killed and 57 injured in severe earthquakes in the East Asian island republic of
Now the moon should also have its own time (and its own clocks). These 11 photos and videos show just how intense the Taiwan earthquake was
The American space agency NASA would establish a uniform lunar time on behalf of the White House. This is of
This is how the Swiss experienced the earthquake in Taiwan: “I saw a crack in the wall”
class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”> 1/8 Bode Obwegeser was surprised by the earthquake while he was sleeping. “It was a shock,” he says.
Wild swinging and pucks disappearing: Showtime with Friborg goalkeeper Reto Berra
class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”> 1/5 Reto Berra is currently doing exciting things. Marcel AllemannIce hockey reporter It was a strange sight when
Dive into the price list: This is how much the Smart #3 costs
Share this: share app post Tweet Dive into the price list: This is how much the Smart #3 costs The
Space travel: NASA should set a uniform lunar time
class = “sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”> Establishing a uniform standard of time in space is of great importance as NASA, private companies
Locals demand tourist tax for Tenerife: “Like a cancer consuming the island”
class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”> 1/4 Residents of Tenerife have had enough of noisy and dirty tourists. It’s too loud, the air quality
Agreement reached: this is how much Tuchel will receive for his departure from Bayern
class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”> 1/7 Packing his things in Munich in the summer: Thomas Tuchel. After just over a year, coach Thomas
Worst earthquake in 25 years in Taiwan +++ Number of deaths increased Is Russia running out of tanks? Now ‘Chinese coffins’ are used
At least seven people have been killed and 57 injured in severe earthquakes in the East Asian island republic of
Now the moon should also have its own time (and its own clocks). These 11 photos and videos show just how intense the Taiwan earthquake was
The American space agency NASA would establish a uniform lunar time on behalf of the White House. This is of
This is how the Swiss experienced the earthquake in Taiwan: “I saw a crack in the wall”
class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”> 1/8 Bode Obwegeser was surprised by the earthquake while he was sleeping. “It was a shock,” he says.
Wild swinging and pucks disappearing: Showtime with Friborg goalkeeper Reto Berra
class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”> 1/5 Reto Berra is currently doing exciting things. Marcel AllemannIce hockey reporter It was a strange sight when
Dive into the price list: This is how much the Smart #3 costs
Share this: share app post Tweet Dive into the price list: This is how much the Smart #3 costs The
Space travel: NASA should set a uniform lunar time
class = “sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”> Establishing a uniform standard of time in space is of great importance as NASA, private companies