The Gilded Gentleman

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...

The new revival of the musical Ragtime , by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (book by Terrence McNally, based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow), is one of the big hits of the new Broadway season. Lincoln Center Theater has produced the latest rendition, and times have certainly changed since the musical's original Broadway production in 1998.  The new revival makes the show's characters and issues ev...

During the 19th century celebrations began to evolve from the once more popular New Year's Day to the beginnings of the Christmas celebrations we know today.   In author Becky Diamond's new book " The Gilded Age Christmas Cookbook ", Becky shares recipes, stories and historical notes to add glitter and sparkle to today's Christmas festivities. Becky discusses the origins of many of our favorite tr...

Willa Cather, the beloved American novelist who lived during the height of America's Gilded Age, is perhaps best known for her insightful passionate writing about life on the Nebraska Plains where she spent her childhood.  But Cather's writing and life included much more than that. She spent a significant part of her adult life in Pittsburgh before coming to New York and establishing her life with...

As New York grew throughout the 19th century so too did crime grow within the burgeoning population. In the early years, there was little in the way of law enforcement except some constables and night watchmen.   By mid-century, the city saw the evolution of TWO police forces, a later the force grew from a loose organization dictated by corruption and cronyism to a professional force led by Theodo...

On October 19, 2025, the world was shocked to learn of a brazen daylight heist of precious jewels from the Louvre .  But this was not the first ambitious heist carried off in broad daylight at the Louvre. In fact, in 1911, another heist took place - and this time the stolen property was none other than the world-famous "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo Da Vinci.  Join the Gilded Gentleman for the tale of th...

The height of the Gilded Age also brought about the rise of tabloid journalism . Newspapers competed with one another to see who could expose the most sensational headlines and scandalous stories.  In 1889, Robert Ray Hamilton , the great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton , found himself in a tangle of lies, deceit, forged identity, attempted murder, and fraud that made headlines all over the country...

In 2013, John Cooper , an expert on Oscar Wilde , made a surprising discovery. While researching aspects of Wilde's famous 1882 American lecture tour, he came upon a lengthy article written and copyrighted by Wilde in 1885 on his philosophies of dress.   What made this unique was that this significant piece of writing by Oscar had seemingly been forgotten or lost to history.   This episode marks t...