Dallas Real Estate in 1986: We’ll Never Party Like This Again. Right.

As I think I’ve made clear, I am tired of talk that luxury is dead. This happens, you see, every single time we have an economic downturn. Luxury items get blamed for the shenanigans of the few who screwed it up for all of us, as they sail on down to South America, chanting, let them drink Bud. Then we have to go on and hide all out purchases in plain brown bags just like we did when we were first married. I say luxury is very much alive, it’s just a whole lot quieter.

Well, now I have proof that this is economic cyclical BS. I have been writing a story — a print story, mind you — on the Crescent’s 25th birthday. (Happy Birthday, Dallas Crescent!) If any of you lived in Dallas in 1986, and I did, you may recall the bash to end all bashes to celebrate the Crescent’s grand opening. It was totally over the top, as you might expect. But in reading Marilyn Schwartz’s column from that night, I just had to laugh. Read it for a good chuckle at how, back then, we were putting luxury on hold, re-wearing dresses, and people were finally going to SCALE BACK for once and for all. Really.

If you cannot get in, here are a few plumb quotes:

“The party in Giant was something that Texans had never seen before. The Friday night party in Dallas was something we may never see again. This well could mark the end of an era — the last of the really big Texas parties.”

Give me a break. I was on straight Lane the other day and they were taking down a platform and sound system for a two year old’s birthday party.

“For some time now, major corporations have been notifying charity ball committees that they can no longer underwrite lavish charity events. Some balll committees are even talking about re-using last year’s decorations with a new coat of paint.”

That was called recycling. Dresses, too: some women at the party even confessed their frocks were not brand new.

And finally, the icing:

“It’s not that social observers think that Texas will never again host a party where a roller-skating extravaganza will entertain at one end while an intimate trio plays Cole Porter at another. But they won’t be doing it for 3,700 guests anymore. People are just scaling down.”

Really? Scaling down, as in houses, really? This was in 1986!

“At the party in the movie Giant, they were talking about the noveau riche. At the party at the new Crescent, they were talking about the noveau poor.”