The Waldorf-Astoria was born from a feud. As we explored in the discussion of New York’s Four Hundred, after the death of her father-in-law, Mrs. William B. Astor Jr (Caroline) declared herself “Mrs. Astor”, to the fury of her nephew William Waldorf Astor who felt that his wife sho[...]
Archive for April, 2009
April 14th, 2009 - 11:40 pm § in Anniversary
In Memoriam: The Sinking of the Titanic
On this day, at this very moment, 97 years ago, the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank two and a half hours later. 706 people survived, and 1,517 people perished. Encyclopedia Titanica BBC Archive: Titanic Titanic Historical Society[...]
April 13th, 2009 - 6:00 am § in New York City
The New York Social Season
During the 1870s and 1880s, the social season was divided into two: winter and summer. The winter season stretched from mid-November until the onset of Lent, and was marked by the opening of the opera season at the Academy of Music. It was here, at this grand old theatre, whose boxes were guarded je[...]
April 11th, 2009 - 3:17 am § in Literature
Pride & Prejudice, Comic Book Style
Though the bucolic world described by Jane Austen is far removed from the Edwardian era, the news of a Pride & Prejudice comic book does still count–after all, Austen’s novels were very popular at this time! Written by two-time Rita Award-Winner Nancy Butler and inked by acclaimed ar[...]
April 6th, 2009 - 6:00 am § in New York City
The Four Hundred
Boston had its Brahmins, Philadelphia its Main Line, and Virginia its First Families. However the upper class of New York, unlike those venerable cities, did not remain unassailed, with famous family names such as the Cabots or Lodges, or Fitzhughs or Drexels, unsullied by nouveaux riche. No, New Yo[...]
