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The Complicated History of the Waldorf-Astoria

PODCAST The surprisingly complex history of one of the world’s most famous hotels.

You might think you know this tale, but do we have some surprises for you.

The Waldorf-Astoria — or the Waldorf=Astoria or even the Waldorf Astoria — has been a premier name in hotel accommodations since the opening of the very first edition on 34th Street and Fifth Avenue (the location of today’s Empire State Building).

But the history of the current incarnation on Park Avenue contains the twists and turns of world events, from World War II to recent diplomatic dramas. In essence, the Waldorf Astoria has become the world’s convention center.

Step past the extraordinary Art Deco trappings, and you’ll find rooms which have hosted a plethora of important gatherings, not to mention the frequent homes to Hollywood movie stars. But its those very trappings — some of it well over a century old — that finds itself in danger today as recent changes threaten to wipe away its glamorous interiors entirely.


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The original Waldorf-Astoria which once sat at 34th Street and Fifth Avenue. The first hotel, the Waldorf, is the shorter one facing 33rd Street.

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Park Avenue at nighttime, 1937. Seen here: 515 Mad. Ave, Gen. Electric, the Waldorf Astoria, the Chrysler Building, the Chanin Building, and the New York Central Building.

Museum of the City of New York
Museum of the City of New York

A 1931 postcard announcing the debut of the Waldorf Astoria with the Chrysler in the background.

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Courtesy MCNY
Courtesy MCNY

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MCNY
MCNY

Marilyn Monroe at the Waldorf, her home in 1955. Here she is at the April In Paris ball with her then-husband Arthur Miller.

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Courtesy New York Daily News

And at another function, this time chatting with Eartha Kitt.

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From our Instagram page:

 

An extraordinary relic — the Waldorf-Astoria clock from the 1893 Worlds Fair. #boweryboys

A photo posted by Gregory Young (@boweryboysnyc) on

 

Interior of the Waldorf-Astoria, still in Art Deco glamour. #boweryboys

A photo posted by Gregory Young (@boweryboysnyc) on

 

Tom at Cole Porter’s piano at the Waldorf-Astoria. #boweryboys

A photo posted by Gregory Young (@boweryboysnyc) on

More information here on the Historic District Council’s efforts to help save the interior decor of the Waldorf Astoria.

CORRECTION: There are a few classic photographs of Marilyn Monroe at the Waldorf-Astoria; however the one that Greg described on the show is actually taken at the Ambassador Hotel, a couple blocks north of the Waldorf. (It was torn down in the 1960s.)

6 replies on “The Complicated History of the Waldorf-Astoria”

Hi,
Yet another great podcast! Um…the link for the Historic District Council is working. I have my fingers crossed that those interiors can get landmarked! I’m a New Yorker and I’m getting really sick of glass hi rises and luxury condos (a sentiment unsurprising I know.)

While I’m here, Thank you so much for this show. It helps me get through my boring office job!

A great read. I was pleasantly reminded of an old family friend, George Guinzer – who once worked as a chef at the Waldorf. He an his wife Margie rented summer cottages to us up in Michigan for a few years, and one year, (I think 1966) we enjoyed a surprise visit between Thanksgiving and New Years. George brought my mother some wine glasses and wine, and I got a tin of Belgian chocolates. I can still taste the Chicken Cacciatore George cooked for dinner; my mother was very happy to hand over her kitchen to him!

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