One of the important aspects of The Gilded Age has hinged on how and why the old money “Knickerbockers” such as Agnes Van Rijn bristle when “new” moneyed individuals show up and try to get into New York society. This is of course played out in Seasons 1 and 2, […]
A Day that Promised to Make or Mar the Fortunes: The Real-life History of The Gilded Age in NYC, Season 3 Episode 7
Mrs. Astor’s great arbiter of society was born as Samuel Ward McAllister in 1827 in Savannah, Georgia. His father’s family served with great distinction in various levels of local and national government, and his mother came from a long line of New Englanders. He was a cousin of writer Julia […]
In the Course of the Day’s Business: The Real-life History of The Gilded Age in NYC, Season 3 Episode 6
Delmonico’s on 5th Avenue and 44th Street. The Metropolitan Opera House was only a couple of blocks away. From The New Metropolis, Memorable Events of Three Centuries, 1600-1900 by E. Idell Zeisloft. Delmonico’s Restaurant This storied New York City institution has its origins in a small cafe on William Street run […]
Day Has Got to Break Some Time: The Real-life History of The Gilded Age in NYC, Season 3 Episode 5
Scenes among the spectators at the Polo Grounds, 1885. Baseball was becoming so popular that people would crowd around the park, sitting on carriages and climbing trees to get a view of the action. From Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper May 25, 1885, Vol 60 Iss 1548. Baseball and Black Baseball […]
What is the Use of Struggling?: The Real-life History of The Gilded Age in NYC, Season 3 Episode 4
The lavish Vanderbilt-Marlborough wedding ceremony in the Church of St. Thomas. From The Illustrated London News, November 23, 1895. Bridesmaids wearing white The bridesmaids dresses worn at the Vanderbilt-Marlborough wedding, seen on the front cover of Vogue, 1895. They were white with blue accents. The wedding of Caroline Astor to […]
We Don’t Pretend to Style: The Real-life History of The Gilded Age in NYC, Season 3 Episode 3
Much of this week’s episode involves the comings-and-goings of characters in Newport, which is both a refreshing change of scenery and a fascinating, much-needed look at Black society during the era. Back in New York City, as always, there are a few intriguing details that remind one of city history, […]
On the Contrary, I am Quite Sincere: The Real-life History of The Gilded Age in NYC, Season 3 Episode 2
Much of the joy that comes from watching The Gilded Age involves figuring out which actual historical events provide the background to the intrigue and drama that surround the characters. Sometimes this comes in the form of a pithy remark, and other times it fills up the screen, but no […]
A Vanity and a Burden: The Real-life History of The Gilded Age in NYC, Season 3 Episode 1
If you’re not yet watching the fabulous, fascinating, sometimes frivolous, and always fashion-forward The Gilded Age, please let this be your excuse to do so. Now in its third season streaming on HBO, the show features an incredible ensemble cast, and covers a lot of great real-life New York City […]
The Morris-Jumel Mansion
The oldest house still standing on Manhattan, the Morris-Jumel mansion has an illustrious history, from its earliest days as a country estate commanding the heights, to serving as General George Washington’s headquarters from mid-September to mid-October 1776. The mansion was confiscated by the Americans and transformed into a tavern after […]
We Were All in the Gravest Peril: The General Slocum Disaster
On June 15th, 1904, congregants of the St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, including many former members who loved the annual outing and used it as an excuse to return to the old neighborhood of Kleindeutschland, “Little Germany,” gathered on the pier at the end of East 3rd Street. Families and […]