The Gilded Gentleman

Returning guest historian and author Connor Williams returns to The Gilded Gentleman table for the in-depth and insightful discussion of the Civil War's influence on the following age of extraordinary wealth and structural advancement for the country.   Connor discusses how America's economic power centers reversed themselves following Emancipation and how the manipulation of wealth...

Victoria Woodhull was one of the Gilded Age's most challenging, revolutionary, outspoken, and certainly fascinating figures. Often called the first woman to run for president of the United States, Woodhull worked as a spiritualist and newspaper publisher. She and her sister also became the first female Wall Street stockbrokers.   But Woodhull's life, as biographers have st...

The Gilded Age was not limited to New York. Other cities developed differently during the 19th century and responded uniquely to this period of great technological and economic growth.  Boston , Massachusetts, the heart of New England, had a very different story than that of New York. Boston had wealth and a sharp social divide; the Boston elite, known as the "Brahmins," were q...

Join The Gilded Gentleman and Michael Morganthal , a veteran journalist and professional tour guide, for this journey through the news process in late 19th-century New York.    Michael shares how the Gilded Age gave rise to a nearly 24-hour news cycle and how news was reported and transmitted.  In addition, he discusses the rise of sensational "yellow journalism" and...

In 1894, Madeline Pollard was the most famous woman in America. Her name was splashed across newspaper headlines, and the public hung on every word she said and waited to see and discuss every article of clothing she wore.   Pollard was suing a well-known Kentucky Congressman, William Breckenridge, for breach of promise. He had promised to marry her upon his wife's death - but chose another woman...

An isolated house, creaky staircases, hidden passages and often a dead body in the Library. These are the elements of the classic British murder mystery, particularly those written by the queen of all mysteries, Agatha Christie .    Returning guest and English country house expert Curt DiCamillo joins the Gilded Gentleman table to discuss the origin of the British fascination with murder, some of...

Louis Comfort Tiffany truly gave the Gilded Age a new way to see the world, showing a talent for innovation, extraordinary artistic vision and the empowerment of those with whom he collaborated and hired.  He was also known for employing and developing opportunities for women as not only creators but also as skilled managers.  This episode focuses on the work of the women of Tiffany, highlighting...

As Netflix launches a new adaptation of the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder series " Little House on the Prairie " this summer, fans new and old cannot help be enchanted by the iconic 1970s television adaptation as well—written, directed, and produced by Michael Landon , who played the role of "Pa".   Joining The Gilded Gentleman table for a look back at the series is original cast member Alison Arng...

It's easy to conjure images of the high Gilded Age when seeing the great mansions of Newport or elsewhere, but the origins of that grand, flamboyant style began elsewhere.   The idea of a modern French-inspired mansion with Renaissance influences was new when LeGrand Lockwood commissioned his estate in Norwalk, Connecticut, in the mid-1860s. For a time, it was the grandest home in America, exceedi...

As grand mansions and country houses were built during America's Gilded Age, an integral part of any estate design was an equally grand and impressive garden. Drawing on European traditions, great Gilded Age gardens ranged from the very formal to a more natural style that incorporated the surrounding countryside.  The most successful garden designer of the late 19th century was the extraordinary ...

Historian and academic Nancy Unger joins The Gilded Gentleman to delve into the social politics of divorce in the Gilded Age.  She discusses several high-profile cases of the 19th century; even the Astors and Vanderbilts were not immune.  Throughout history, marriage has functioned as a prerequisite for one's role in an accepted society and have also served as business deals, empire-building, and,...

Have you ever wondered how many of the famous Gilded Age families kept cats as pets? The answer may surprise you. Cats were a constant presence in the lives of New Yorkers of the era and often served very specific, even professional roles. Author and “cat historian” Peggy Gavan joins the Gilded Gentleman for a delightful exploration of some of the Gilded Age’s most notable felines — from Nicodemus...

Founded in Milan in 1913 by the Italian brothers Mario and Martino Prada , the original business focused on producing and selling luxury leather goods to an aristocratic and royal elite.   With the advent of ready-to-wear and the expansion of fashion retail in the 1970s, Prada entered the global market under the direction of the founder's granddaughter, Miuccia Prada . The now iconic black nylon b...

The late 19th century in America saw the emergence of a new social phenomenon —perhaps not entirely new— a class of young men who chose not to follow a traditional path to marriage. They were the bachelors . The choice was driven by a number of reasons and the social image of many of these men ranged from "rake" to "artiste" and many variations in between. Literature and the media all attempted to...

On the morning of November 7, 1878, it was discovered that the tomb of wealthy Gilded Age merchant A. T. Stewart had been opened and his body taken.    Although this was shocking, the idea of graves being opened and bodies stolen was not new, and in fact, it became a fairly common occurrence during the 19th century and before. Bodies were snatched for a variety of reasons, including ransom, but mo...

Celebrities ranging from Oscar Wilde and Sarah Bernhardt to Mark Twain and Walt Whitman all made their way to the top-floor studio in Manhattan’s Union Square—with its tiny elevator—to have their images immortalized by Napoleon Sarony , America's most famous photographer during the Gilded Age.  Sarony’s genius lay in his ability to stage a photograph using poses, costumes, and makeshift sets, all...

In honor of Women's History Month -- a classic episode from the Bowery Boys ! Within just a few decades – between the 1880s and the 1920s – so much social change occurred within American life, upending so many cultural norms and advancing so many important social issues, that these years became known as the Progressive Era. And at the forefront of many of these changes were women. In this show, Gr...

Stanford White is one of the most recognizable figures of the Gilded Age. Known for his flamboyant style and outsized personality, he loomed large over New York society.  His private life captured headlines and fueled persistent gossip, particularly his scandalous relationships with young women—most famously the chorus girl and model Evelyn Nesbit . His sensational 1906 murder at the hands of Evel...

Dr. Carla Peterson , author of “Black Gotham: A Family History of African Americans in Nineteenth Century New York, ”  has been a pioneer in uncovering and sharing the story of New York’s wealthy Black entrepreneurial elite through the Gilded Age.  Exemplified by the storyline of Peggy Scott and her family in the HBO series “The Gilded Age,” this story adds dimension and richness to a society that...

When Town Topics magazine appeared in the 1880s, Gilded Age New Yorkers enjoyed its coverage of the arts, culture, and social scene of balls, opera, and grand parties. But there was another element in the mix—the often salacious, sensationalized, scandalous coverage of the drama of the gilded set in the publisher’s column “Saunterings.”  Using a network of informants across the city, the publisher...

New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis knows about both history and mystery. In her eight novels, Davis deftly weaves real-life historical characters and events with fiction to create fascinating tales with lots of intrigue and  always a good mystery to solve along the way. And all of them are set in iconic New York City landmarks, in time periods ranging from the Gilded Age to the Jazz Age...

Many fans of Edith Wharton's great novels "The Age of Innocence" and "The House of Mirth" may not realize that her very first published book was not a work of fiction at all.  In 1897, in collaboration with architect and interior designer Ogden Codman Jr , Wharton published "The Decoration of Houses", at the time, a groundbreaking work on the philosophy of interior design calling for a return to t...

Don Spiro , a vintage beverage specialist and one of the Gilded Gentleman's most popular guests, serves up a fascinating history of cocktails in the 19th century. So many cocktails often thought to have originated in the 20th century actually had their origins in the bars and saloons of the Gilded Age.  So fill the ice bucket and join Don and The Gilded Gentleman in a toast to a great new year! Th...

For many New Yorkers—and visitors alike— New Year’s Eve means gathering in Times Square , patiently counting down as the crystal-studded ball descends from the top of the former New York Times Building to mark the start of a new year.  Yet the celebration’s story runs far deeper than that single iconic moment. From how Times Square became the heart of the festivities to the ways its evolving chara...

Bowery Boys History Live is a live-show series at City Winery hosted by Greg Young featuring a variety of historians and tour guides. The last installment this summer featured author Liz Block and tour guide Keith Taillon. As live performances, they're a bit more loose and irreverent than the regular podcast and sometimes feature references to images being projected on stage. As a special holiday...