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Podcasts The Gilded Gentleman True Crime

The Scandalous Hamiltons: A Shocking Tale of Sex, Lies, and Blackmail During the Gilded Age

In 1889, Robert Ray Hamilton, great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton, became ensnared in a sensational web of deceit — forged identities, attempted murder, and brazen fraud that captured headlines across the country. Although this gripping saga played out over a two-year period, it has largely faded from public memory.  In his book The Scandalous Hamiltons, author Bill Shaffer… Read More

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Gilded Age New York The Gilded Gentleman Women's History

Queen of the Gilded Age: The Iron Will and Determined Rise of Alva Vanderbilt

Ever since the premiere episode of HBO’s “The Gilded Age”, viewers and historians have discussed just how close the fictitious character of Bertha Russell (played by Carrie Coon) may be to the real-life socialite steamroller Alva Vanderbilt.   She’s the subject of this week’s episode of The Gilded Gentleman podcast. There certainly seems to be similarities from Bertha and Alva’s mutual unrelenting drive to claw a place in… Read More

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Brooklyn History Gilded Age New York

The Terrible Brooklyn Theater Fire: The Forgotten Gilded Age Tragedy

On the evening of December 5, 1876, the glorious Brooklyn Theatre caught fire, trapping its audience in a nightmare of flame and smoke. The theater sat near Brooklyn City Hall (today’s Brooklyn Borough Hall), and the blaze which destroyed it could be seen as far away as Prospect Park. The horrible truth was revealed in… Read More

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Food History Gilded Age New York The Gilded Gentleman

How Ward McAllister Helped Engineer Gilded Age High Society

On the latest episode of The Gilded Gentleman, meet the man who helped create New York’s Gilded Age high society, a fussy and imperious Southerner who eventually found himself on the receiving end of snobbish scorn. The famous Mrs. Caroline Astor was credited with building and shaping the Gilded Age elite. But at her side and… Read More

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Gilded Age New York The Gilded Gentleman Women's History

Who was Mamie Fish? The story behind The Gilded Age’s wildest party hostess

Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish, known to all as just Mamie Fish, was one of the more larger-than-life personalities of the Gilded Age, a hostess who thrived within the confines of high society. Who was this enigma of the Newport set? Carl Raymond is joined by historian and writer Keith Taillon, a returning listener favorite, as well as actor Ashlie… Read More

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Events Gilded Age New York Podcasts

Gilded Age Golden Girls: Bowery Boys History Live at City Winery

A special presentation of our live show Bowery Boys History Live, recorded at City Winery, July 2, 2025, with a very unusual theme — Gilded Age Golden Girls. Whatever could it mean? *cue the song Thank You For Being A Friend* Bowery Boys History Live is a storytelling cabaret of all-true tales and spellbinding secrets from the past,… Read More

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Gilded Age New York ON TELEVISION

Listen To These Podcasts After You Watch HBO’s The Gilded Age

The third season of The Gilded Age is finally here! The HBO Julian Fellowes prestige television drama, that is, in the vein of his lavish signature series Downton Abbey. It’s been awhile since New York City history has been depicted on screen; The Alienist, The Deuce and The Knick themselves seem like ancient history. The… Read More

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Gilded Age New York Podcasts

The Gilded Age Mansions of Fifth Avenue: At Home with the Astors and Vanderbilts

So we don’t know if you’ve heard, but New York City is an expensive place to live these days. So we thought it might be time to revisit the tale of the city’s most famous district of luxury — Fifth Avenue.   For about a hundred years, this avenue was mostly residential— but residences of the most… Read More

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Podcasts The Gilded Gentleman Writers and Artists

The World of Tiffany Glass: Lighting the Gilded Age

Lets start the new year with something beautiful shall we? The latest in the Bowery Boys podcast feed — join Carl Raymond, host of The Gilded Gentleman podcast, and Lindsy Parrott of the Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass at the Queens Museum, as the luxury and elegant behind the name — Tiffany.  Just the name… Read More

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Events Gilded Age New York The Gilded Gentleman Uncategorized

The Gilded Age Unplugged: A Special Event at the Montauk Club in Brooklyn

Are you a fan of HBO’s The Gilded Age, created by Julian Fellowes? Are you emotionally invested in the lives of Agnes van Rhijn, Bertha and George Russell, Peggy Scott and Marian Brook? Then we have a special event for you! Greg Young of the Bowery Boys podcast and Carl Raymond of the Gilded Gentleman… Read More

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Gilded Age New York The Gilded Gentleman Women's History

What did Mrs. Astor Wear (Under There)? The Story of Gilded Age Undergarments

Fashion historian and author, Dr. Elizabeth L. Block returns to The Gilded Gentleman podcast for a truly “undercover” investigation. This time, Liz joins Carl to take a look at the world of corsets, bustles, straps and stockings all of which comprised the undergarment engineering to make the glorious gowns by Worth and other designers appear as glamorous as they did. … Read More

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Gilded Age New York Parks and Recreation Podcasts Skyscrapers

It Happened at Madison Square Park: The Heart of New York During the Gilded Age

So much has happened in and around Madison Square Park — the leafy retreat at the intersections of Broadway, Fifth Avenue and 23rd Street — that telling its entire story requires an extra-sized show, in honor of the Bowery Boys 425th episode. Madison Square Park was the epicenter of New York culture from the years… Read More

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Gilded Age New York Holidays Podcasts Religious History

Grace Church: Heavenly Style and High Society in Gilded Age New York

Manhattan’s Grace Church sits at a unique bend on Broadway and East Tenth Street, making it seem that the historic house of worship is rising out of the street itself.  But Grace is also at another important intersection — where religion and high society greeted one another during the Gilded Age. Grace is one of… Read More

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Landmarks The Gilded Gentleman

The Secrets of Lyndhurst Mansion, Jay Gould’s Gilded Age Escape

Lyndhurst Mansion may be familiar to viewers of the HBO series The Gilded Age since a number of this historic house’s rooms served as filming locations for the show.  And its former owner was one of the most notorious figures of the Gilded Age — Jay Gould. He was known as the one of the era’s most ruthless robber barons. He tangled with the… Read More

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Food History Gilded Age New York

Caviar on Horseback: The Most Outrageous Dinner Party of the Gilded Age

Louis Sherry was one of New York’s great restauranteurs of the Gilded Age, repackaging the luxury dining experience in New York with supurb attention to detail and truly clever marketing. And one outrageous dinner party in 1903 showcased his sense of extravagance and absurdity. Carl Raymond from the Gilded Gentleman podcast explains it in his… Read More