Vanderbilt ball how a costume ball changed new york elite society. During the gilded age, caroline astor, also known as the mrs. Original list of mrs astors guests to her ball in february 1892 as given by mr ward mcallister to the new york times. Aug 06, 20 the best dressmakers and cobblers had spent months poring over old books making costumes which were already being breathlessly described by the new york times as historically accurate as possible. Astor as she is only tangentially related to the plot, which is the change in america during the gilded age. Hombergers the historical atlas of new york city descriptive account of aristocratic life. Caroline astor, unlike alva belmont,was not a racist. After her death, her role in society was filled by three women. Astor whose ballroom fit the 400 of new york s elite. Among the fifty projects presented with detaild descriptions. Astor was very much a part of the upper class during the gilded age, however, this book covers many more participantsmore than just mrs. Astor, reigned as the queen of new york societyand her parties were equally as famous. Caroline webster lina schermerhorn september 22, 1830 october 30, 1908 was a prominent american socialite of the second half of the 19th century who led the four hundred. Additionsmodification in brackets made by the author a classification of american wealth.
Astor whose ballroom fit the 400 of new yorks elite. Astors new york in the guilded age by jerry patterson 2000, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Even after a hundred years, new york s 400 families continue to captivate readers. He did not, as is commonly written, arrive at this number based on the limitations of mrs. The winter social season in gilded age new york, which. Astors courtier, mcallister set about molding and shaping upperclass new york society, determining who was in and who was out, what was correct and what was not, and those whom mrs astor would accept and those whom she would notbut he was no match for the newlymarried alva vanderbilt.
A season of splendor is a panoramic sweep across this sumptuous landscape, presenting the families, the wealth, the balls, the clothing, and the mansions in vivid detailas well as the shocking end of the era with the sinking of the titanic. A season of splendor journey through the splendor and the excesses of the gilded ageevery aspect of life in the gilded age took on deeper, transcendent meaning intended to prove the greatness of. The best of the best were caroline astors 400 families, and she shaped and ruled this high society with steel. Astor knew you, you were accepted in knickerbocker. The best dressmakers and cobblers had spent months poring over old books making costumes which were already being breathlessly described by the new york times as historically. Mrs astors four hundred mrs astors four hundred evocates the drama of american society at the height of the gilded age, when new yorks society was shaken by the arrival of. Small in stature, but as determined as ever to maintain the rigid social structure she established decades earlier, mrs. The press noted sarcastically that his list fell short of 400, but the name caught on, and soon every new millionaire who entered the city wanted to be on that list. In actuality, this book is a nice history book about new york citys aristocracy before and also during the gilded age. Astor s courtier, mcallister set about molding and shaping upperclass new york society, determining who was in and who was out, what was correct and what was not, and those whom mrs astor would accept and those whom she would notbut he was no match for the newlymarried alva vanderbilt. The four hundred were the 400 individuals that could fit into mrs. And it was mcallister again who came up with the notion of 400, this being, he said, the number of people who could be comfortably accommodated in mrs.
He wasnt far off the lists numbered in the upper 300s. And an invitation to her annual ball was a golden ticket into the. Caroline schermerhorn astor had made herself the gatekeeper of new york society, admitting only a select 400 people to her celebrated balls. The 400 hottest new yorkersof 1892 the daily beast. Prior to the ball, gilded age new york society had been dominated by the mrs. This book brings to life this extraordinary era, from the people and their delicious scandals to their extravagant palaces.
Ward said there are only about 400 people in new york who are comfortable in a ballroom. He was widely accepted as the authority as to which families could be classified as the cream of new york society the four hundred. This history is a rare finda book of sophisticated scholarship that also makes for entertaining reading. A portrait of mrs caroline astor with mr elisha dyer, former governor of rhode island, at the assembly ball in new york in 1902. Mrs astors four hundred mrs astors four hundred evocates the drama of american society at the height of the gilded age, when new yorks society was shaken by the arrival of ever increasing numbers of new rich, mining bonanza kings, railroad barons and industrialists, who ascended to. If the joneses werent as wealthy as the astors, edith still had a privileged upbringing, with long. Brooke russell astor followed a long procession of mrs. Among the fifty projects presented with detaild descriptions and numerous illustrations are the renovations for the new victory and new amsterdam theaters as well as radio city music hall, and the restoration plan for bryant park, all in new york city. Belmont was the daughter of an alabama cotton planter. In the spring of 1883, the solemnity of lent didnt stand a chance against the social event on the mind of all of new. A season of splendor journey through the splendor and the excesses of the gilded ageevery aspect of life in the gilded age took on deeper, transcendent meaning intended to prove the greatness of america.
Aug 03, 2006 one startling truth stands out among the accusations about the care of brooke astor in her old age. This second rizzoli monograph on one of americas eminent architectural firms spans the last five years, a period of prodigious growth for hhpa. This book brings to life this extraordinary era, from the people and their delicious scandals to their extravagant palaces and opulent balls a time when mrs. Dec 15, 2000 this book may be considered the natural sequel to mr. Prior to the gilded age, the era of industrialization from the early 1860s to the turn of the century in which a few wealthy individuals gained tremendous power and influence, there was a limited number of very rich and privileged families in the united states. Even after a hundred years, new yorks 400 families continue to captivate readers. Astor holding court in her mansion on fifth avenue. Kiernans sharpeyed biography brings back a woman who, far into her 90s, relished the dance of life. Apr 08, 2020 a portrait of mrs caroline astor with mr elisha dyer, former governor of rhode island, at the assembly ball in new york in 1902. Mrs astor s values about race became the moral standard in new york and newport high society until alva belmont reduced the standard. Mrs astors values about race became the moral standard in new york and newport high society until alva belmont reduced the standard.
Astors friends and the heads of new yorks great cultural institutions, gives us back the woman so loved and admired. Astors only son, anthony marshall with elder abuse of the now frail 104yearold woman. Astors new york is artfully written, with a sly, enlivening sense of humor. Astors new york in the gilded age hardcover dec 15 2000 by jerry e.
The setting for this tale was at the heart of the former enclave of new york citys elite, a monumental address. O magazinethe fabulous life of brooke astor, a pioneer of. How better to start a history of the upper east side than with the story of how the matriarch of gilded age society herself, caroline schermerhorn astor, became the mrs. Both houses shared the ballroom, which was the scene of mrs. Starting from a humble beginning as the daughter of a marine corps lieutenant, brooke astors life is chronicled by frances kiernan in a slowpaced matteroffact way, until about the middle of the biography, when the author makes her connection to the main character, the grande dame of new york society, and the story takes off. Dec 15, 2000 caroline astor, unlike alva belmont,was not a racist. A season of splendor is a panoramic sweep across this sumptuous landscape, presenting the families, the wealth, the balls, the clothing, and the mansions in vivid detailas well as the shocking end of the era with the sinking of the. This book may be considered the natural sequel to mr. In the decades following the civil war the population of new york city grew almost. The winter social season in gilded age new york, which started in october and lasted until easter, was a whirlwind of frantic activity that featured dinner parties, luncheons, receptions, opera performances and, of course, balls. Astors four hundred was the list that she updated annually of the 400 who would receive the golden ticket to the winter ball that she and her husband would host at their fifth avenue. Astor was every inch an american queen surveying her subjects.
Starting from a humble beginning as the daughter of a marine corps lieutenant, brooke astors life is chronicled by frances kiernan in a slowpaced matteroffact way, until about the middle of the. Original list of mrs astor s guests to her ball in february 1892 as given by mr ward mcallister to the new york times. Kiernans sharpeyed biography brings back a woman who, far into her 90s, relished the dance of. She was considered the queen of society and even had a throne. This riveting history of new york society relates the efforts of americans, after independence, to create an aristocracy of their own. The book s real strength lies in its analysis of the postcivil war era, when a flood of new money forced new yorks more established families to look to the public arena as a place to assert. May 17, 2007 but vincent astor was around, of a rich and famous old new york family. Born september 22, 1830 new york, new yorkdied october 30, 1908 new york, new york socialite. Astors ballroomand, by extension, were the absolute cream of new york society at that moment. One startling truth stands out among the accusations about the care of brooke astor in her old age. He was widely accepted as the authority as to which.
In 1953 she took the reins from minnie to became the next mrs. Vanderbilt ball how a costume ball changed new york. But these were superseded a mere four years later when her grandson philip marshall filed a petition in a new york city court charging his father mrs. But vincent astor was around, of a rich and famous old new york family. Ward mcallisters patriarchs, considered to be the elite of new york society, and mrs. Additionsmodification in brackets made by the author a classification of. And major fomothe list of invitees was printed in the new york. Caroline schermerhorn astor had made herself the gatekeeper of new york society. She married william astor, jr, businessman, racehorse breederowner and yachtsman. Thats how many names are on a seating list for the funeral service of the late park avenue socialite. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
Astors famous ballroom at 350 fifth avenue, which also doubled as the art gallery. Prior to the gilded age, the era of industrialization from the early. Her second house located at 840 fifth avenue happened to be the largest ballroom in the city, capable of holding not just mrs. And an invitation to her annual ball was a golden ticket into the ranks of new yorks upper crust. The ladies and gentlemen of high society took note. Astor, undisputed queen of new york society in the decades before the first world war, created a social aristocracy of unparalleled extravagance and exclusivity.
This lively account of her life and the era over which she presided sheds new light on the origins and lifestyle of this aristocracy. A former editor at the new yorker, frances kiernan is the author of the last mrs. Astor by her family and friends, she is responsible for assembling the famous four hundred social list of families accepted into new york society. History and genealogy of the wealthy families of america. Vanderbilt ball how a costume ball changed new york elite. Tichis latest research is howto manual for gilded age. By the time the vincent astor foundation liquidated its assets in 1997, mrs. Astor, undisputed queen of new york society in the decade.
When the astors owned new york is a wonderfully concise version of a period in american history. Mcallister once stated that, amongst the vastly rich families of gilded age new york, there were only 400 people who could be counted as members of fashionable society. A season of splendor is a panoramic sweep across this sumptuous landscape. It is not meant to be a personbyperson account of the astor family, virtually. I was a natural dictator, belmont wrote of herself. Her second house located at 840 fifth avenue happened to be the largest ballroom in the city, capable of holding. Books about gilded age hotels in new york city 1 books about gilded age mansions and families 18 books. Astor held sway, the vanderbilts rebuilt society, and new york was the most glamorous, most envied, and most condemned city in america.
That makes her a member of a most exclusive club, the. The four hundred was a list of new york society during the gilded age, a group that was led by caroline schermerhorn astor, the mrs. Astors list of four hundred were the bread and butter of this eras. How the upper east side garnered its prestigious reputation.
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