The "Champagne King"

George Kessler hosted a crazy party in the old courtyard of the Savoy Hotel in London in July 1905

I was listening to the audiobook of Erik Larson's book "Dead Wake", about the sinking of Lusitania, when in one of the chapters he mentioned the name and went briefly over the crazy story of George Kessler, an American city planner, architect, wine importer and millionaire who survived the ship’s sinking. His most impressive feat, however, was probably the spectacularly luxurious and ludicrous party he hosted in the old courtyard of the Savoy Hotel in London, in 1905, in honor of King Edward VII’s birthday, reported as the Gondola Party. At that time, the Savoy was the most modern and sophisticated hotel in London. Among its features were 200 rooms, 67 marble bathrooms, and the first electric lifts.

Known as the "Champagne King”, George Kessler was already famous for throwing huge, extravagant parties. Nonetheless, when the doors around the courtyard of the Savoy were sealed, the courtyard was filled with water - which was taken taken over by fishes and swans - to recreate a Venetian canal scene, and two dozen guests were invited to dine while riding a huge gondola, it was evident that he knew no bounds. Waiters were dressed as gondoliers, white doves hovered above people, and lions carved out of ice carried trays of peaches.

Unfortunately, there are no photos of the event, but this painting made by Fortunino Matania depicts the scene.

Guests were entertained by renowned operatic tenor Enrico Caruso, a free flow of champagne, and dead fish poisoned by the coloring used to turn the water blue.

If that wasn't bizarre enough for you, here's one last bit of information: the five-foot birthday cake was brought over by a baby elephant, Jumbo Jr.

Kessler's extravagant parties were cut short in 1915 when the ship he was on, the RMS Lusitania, was torpedoed by a German Uboat. Kessler, who at that time was in the first class smoking room, survived the incident. As he realized what he had just gone through, Kessler made his mind and decided that from that moment on he would stand up for war victims. He went on to establish in November 1915 the British, French and Belgian Permanent Blind Relief War fund, seeking to support soldiers who were blind from combat injuries. Establishing an office in Paris in 1918, followed by another one in New York, the business grew to become the world's largest distributor of Braille.

George Kessler died in 1920, aged 57. His organization became the American Braille Press for War and Civilian Blind, known today as Helen Keller International.