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Vanity Fair has canceled its Oscar party -- Given that the party had gotten so big and had become such a big production, taking a year off must come as a relief to many, certainly at Vanity Fair.
The stated reason is the writer's strike -- a feeling that regardless of the outcome, even if the strike has ended and the Oscars go on as planned, the strike will color the festive mood. Canceling the party was made to seem to be an act of solidarity with the writers. And I'm sure that's true.
However, given the late date and the fact that Morton's, where the party was traditionally held, is now under renovation to become the LA branch of Soho House -- I'm sure there were all sorts of logistical issues Vanity Fair is happy not to deal with. Also I'm sure people will be relieved not to have to sweat whether they are in or out, invited to dinner or not, invited at 10 or 11 --
At the same time photographers and gossip/ celebrity journalists will be sorry -- The Vanity Fair party was like shooting fish in a barrel. And of course the attendees will miss it too -- there are less social opportunities for so many stars to mix and for others to see them than you might think. And although it has been several years since I attended (and several since I was invited to attend), I will miss it too.
The Vanity Fair party was launched in the Tina Brown era and it was an extension of Brown's concept of the magazine as a great dinner party. mixing the subjects of articles with their Vanity Fair writers, Hollywood stars and executives, and letting power brokers and advertisers bask in the relflected glory of bold face names.
I was invited to the early Vanity Fair parties in great part thanks to the kindness of Jane Sarkin.
Jane and I had worked together at Interview -- a bonding experience if ever there was one. She left Interview for Vanity Fair early in the Tina Brown administration and rose to become supreme talent booker, arranger of photo shoots, keeper of the Vanity Fair Oscar party invite list -- and a thousand other tasks that were, or are, on balance, critical to Vanity Fair's success. So much so that you may notice that the recent cover stories/interviews with Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts were by Jane Sarkin. Not bad for a Jersey girl!
In time the party grew in importance as the event that you had to visit on Oscar night. Like RIck's Cafe, everyone came by at some point. In the years I attended, I saw, as the old the expression goes, more stars than in the heavens at night, You may be surprised to hear this, but Brad Pitt is a good looking guy; Demi Moore looks younger than her actual years; Nicole Kidman is tall, and pretty but seems somewhat cold; Penelope Cruz is not tall, in fact she has a taller and prettier sister, but she is more attractive; Audrey Tatou is tiny. And so goes the night -- matching reality to the pictures in the magazine and on the screen.
For my part, I was happy to hang out with other writers I knew, gossip columnists of all stripes, my other fellow former Interview staffers, cosmetic and advertising execs -- we would commandeer a booth, enjoy the cocktails and sit back and enjoy the show.
Getting to shake the hands of Muhammad Ali and Stevie Wonder were memorable moments. Hanging out with Dominick Dunne and hearing his stories of Hollywood in the day was great fun.
And yes, I was there the night that Ellen met Anne. Although they had just met, boy, they seemed friendly.
Some years my friends and I would close out the place and then go over to the Miramax after party -
Eventually, and understandably, I dropped off the list.
Which was just as well because I had come to a point, where, as much as I enjoyed being there -- I had lost the belief I once had that attending such evenings was transformative. That way of thinking belongs to a different stage of the game. So I let it go.
I have no idea whether the Vanity Fair party will, in fact, return next year and if it does whether it will still be as much fun. I can't even tell you whether I will wish I was there.
The stated reason is the writer's strike -- a feeling that regardless of the outcome, even if the strike has ended and the Oscars go on as planned, the strike will color the festive mood. Canceling the party was made to seem to be an act of solidarity with the writers. And I'm sure that's true.
However, given the late date and the fact that Morton's, where the party was traditionally held, is now under renovation to become the LA branch of Soho House -- I'm sure there were all sorts of logistical issues Vanity Fair is happy not to deal with. Also I'm sure people will be relieved not to have to sweat whether they are in or out, invited to dinner or not, invited at 10 or 11 --
At the same time photographers and gossip/ celebrity journalists will be sorry -- The Vanity Fair party was like shooting fish in a barrel. And of course the attendees will miss it too -- there are less social opportunities for so many stars to mix and for others to see them than you might think. And although it has been several years since I attended (and several since I was invited to attend), I will miss it too.
The Vanity Fair party was launched in the Tina Brown era and it was an extension of Brown's concept of the magazine as a great dinner party. mixing the subjects of articles with their Vanity Fair writers, Hollywood stars and executives, and letting power brokers and advertisers bask in the relflected glory of bold face names.
I was invited to the early Vanity Fair parties in great part thanks to the kindness of Jane Sarkin.
Jane and I had worked together at Interview -- a bonding experience if ever there was one. She left Interview for Vanity Fair early in the Tina Brown administration and rose to become supreme talent booker, arranger of photo shoots, keeper of the Vanity Fair Oscar party invite list -- and a thousand other tasks that were, or are, on balance, critical to Vanity Fair's success. So much so that you may notice that the recent cover stories/interviews with Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts were by Jane Sarkin. Not bad for a Jersey girl!
In time the party grew in importance as the event that you had to visit on Oscar night. Like RIck's Cafe, everyone came by at some point. In the years I attended, I saw, as the old the expression goes, more stars than in the heavens at night, You may be surprised to hear this, but Brad Pitt is a good looking guy; Demi Moore looks younger than her actual years; Nicole Kidman is tall, and pretty but seems somewhat cold; Penelope Cruz is not tall, in fact she has a taller and prettier sister, but she is more attractive; Audrey Tatou is tiny. And so goes the night -- matching reality to the pictures in the magazine and on the screen.
For my part, I was happy to hang out with other writers I knew, gossip columnists of all stripes, my other fellow former Interview staffers, cosmetic and advertising execs -- we would commandeer a booth, enjoy the cocktails and sit back and enjoy the show.
Getting to shake the hands of Muhammad Ali and Stevie Wonder were memorable moments. Hanging out with Dominick Dunne and hearing his stories of Hollywood in the day was great fun.
And yes, I was there the night that Ellen met Anne. Although they had just met, boy, they seemed friendly.
Some years my friends and I would close out the place and then go over to the Miramax after party -
Eventually, and understandably, I dropped off the list.
Which was just as well because I had come to a point, where, as much as I enjoyed being there -- I had lost the belief I once had that attending such evenings was transformative. That way of thinking belongs to a different stage of the game. So I let it go.
I have no idea whether the Vanity Fair party will, in fact, return next year and if it does whether it will still be as much fun. I can't even tell you whether I will wish I was there.
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