I read Mark Helprin's "Winter's Tale", and I always imagined Beverly Penn's house looking like the Vanderbilt townhouse. Even if most likely I'd be a poor or middle class person if I lived back in the 1890's, I'd still love to time-travel! NYC had more magnificent, more human architecture back then. Even the brick buildings where the not-so rich lived looked more pleasant than the glass towers of today.
I would love to eventually visit all of the Vanderbilt mansions. But I'm very lucky the Biltmore Estate is about an hour from me. I have visited many times and find something new every time I visit
Jim Elliott..the last family member moved out in 1956. But the family still owns it. The owners great grandson is CEO and a very nice guy. I was there on a travel agent tour and he came in just to give us a tour. Many members of the family work there. It's the only one of the Vanderbilt mansions still owned by the family.
No.. no one lives there anymore. But the family owns it and runs the very profitable Biltmore company. It is truly a pleasure to visit especially in the spring during the flower festival or at Christmas during the candlelight tours. Every time I visit I find something new. I would recommend it to everyone.
I regret not taking my children when we took our vacations in Gatlinburg/Maggie Valley. I do not think that it is very far away from there. God willing, I plan to take my grandchildren soon. Christmas would be amazing, however I would love to go just to see the gardens/vineyards. We live a couple of hours from Pigeon Forge.
Hey Jim - Susan is most definitely correct - no one still lives in the main estate house. However, the Vanderbilts do still own the property (hence the title of the largest "private" house in the US) and occasionally will hold family events within the main house through the year. Further, they do still live on the property in private homes. While the main house and gardens are huge, please understand the house occupies a small piece of the whole property - the total estate is about 8000 acres today. The locations of their actual homes on the estate are never revealed, other than the fact that they "live there." Originally, the estate was like 120,000 acres + (absolutely inconceivable how large that is!), but it was sold off since Vanderbilt went broke building and running it for several years - chunks of it were sold off (mainly forestland to the US Government) until it's present size today. The estate is truly spectacular any time of the year (although I wouldn't go in mid-June until about October) however, you are correct: Christmas is a very special time due to the decorations and activities around the estate. There is so much to do and see during Christmas, it is very likely you will spend multiple days there to experience it all. Visiting Biltmore is not cheap - the last time I was there was last early June, and for I and a friend, it was $80+ each just to get in the door for the "General" tour, another $20 each for the audio-tour (*highly* recommended if you want to understand what you are viewing, the astounding history and challenges of design), and another (if I remember correctly) $20+ dollars each for the "Upstairs/Downstairs tour (behind the scenes through the servants areas - a big must!) - all in all with the tours and a souvenir book each, we spent over $300 and that was excluding food, drinks, etc. Truly a once in a lifetime experience - but it does come with a cost...
I read that book too. Wonderfully insightful book that I still have. I bought it at an antique store in the 90s. It wasn't even for sale as it was merely being used for display purposes as a prop to sell a cabinet. The cashier made up a price ($2) and I took it home. Great read. She was very intelligent and wise and knew all about her world.
Christy Teaster, It is sad; but a lot of the fancy woodwork, etc. was repurposed. At least from the mansions that were torn down earlier than other mansions (before styles changed). Don't forget, when those places were built; there was no income tax. So, even moderately wealthy and "comfortable" middle class people put their money into their houses. It was expected to be your "refuge" in your old age. (Property taxes were low) And, often-times, the least ambitious son or the spinster daughter(s) stayed in the house after the parents had passed on. Also, one took in relatives who needed a place to stay. One's family was one's social safety net. I mention the above because labor was cheap before WW1 and finding staff to maintain the house was do-able.
To be fair it would look a bit ridiculous to have an old mansion squeezed in between all of those skyscrapers. But yes the loss of Millionaire Row on 5th Ave. is historically devastating.
Yes, that really struck me, the fact that the party didn’t start until 11 PM! Who’s ever heard of that?! Really late! Fun and interesting to get a glimpse of this from years past! Very well done short film! Thank you to any and all that were involved!
I don' know what the habits are in the US but people as old as 40 in Europe don't often go out till after 11:00. Of course they usually have dinner first and some actually nap before going out. Perhaps they were just following European habits back then since many had either travelled to Europe or had relatvely recent ties.
@@milliemouse6525 Finally, someone who recognizes other Country’s social trends. However in the 19th century 11 p.m especially for the extremely wealthy, the party would start , dinner commenced usually one or two a.m. and end around 6 or 7 that morning.
@@basedpatriotLT well, I often went to parties in Europe after 10.30 - granted they were not 'sit down' dinners but we often had a hot midnight 'snack'. And remember a good part of Sicilians don't start dinner till 9ish and let's not even get started on the Spanish.
@@milliemouse6525 you went at 10:30 or the official start time was announced as 10:30? Also there are millions of people so maybe somebody starts that late, but if we take analogy- lets say some famous person in your town will make a house party for the elite of the town. It is very very very unlikely the start time would be 11 or 10:30. It is unheard of for that kind of party. Not some random - i finish work late on friday, so lets everybody come at 10:30 :)
Oh, me too! I am a Russian royalty nut and have several books of Imperial fashions....So interesting to see how styles changed over the years and the types of fabrics, linens, over-fabrics were used.....
The Cornelius Vanderbilt mansion at 57th Street was much larger and more impressive than this one. I believe it was the largest house to ever exist in NYC
@Barndancer61 Yep, never done that. I'm starting to turn into a pumpkin by like 9:45. But I also have to be at work by 6:30 am so I'm up early. I guess it's all about the schedule you get used to.
dragonboy718 AC seems to identify with the Cooper side of the family due to the damage that his mother, Gloria endured when she was ripped away from her mother.
You people are pathetic. Anderson Cooper has made it on his own, with no inheritance bc his mother didn’t believe in it. She saw how much damage unearned massive wealth can do to a person.
@@pamelamccall5653 Comments on YT have no tone, so I don't think everyone's comment was meant in a derogatory way. But I agree with what you said. Most kids raised like this would have NO drive or motivation to succeed in life and obviously, AC did.
@@pamelamccall5653 "Made it on his own"----made what on his own?, working for a network whose ratings rival the gardening channel due to shoddy, partisan reporting and outright lies? News anchors/journalists now have a reputation lower than a criminal attorney and possess the moral turpitude of a whore while bloviating on incessantly.
Large as that house was, still don’t know how they fit 1200 people in there. And from what I read about it, despite the costumes, the flowers, the luxury of it all, it sounds stuffy. Alva Vanderbilt years later forced her daughter to marry a man she didn’t love - she sounds to me like the battle axe from hell. As far as the mansion, it was built of Indiana limestone, wonder if it wound up in the ocean off Sandy Hook N J like the original Waldorf Astoria hotel (built 1890s, demolished 1929)
The trump administration tax cut bill has almost succeeded in restoring that tax free status for those 1%. Amazon didn't have to pay taxes last time. Can't figure out why tho. Tax cut bill I guess.
@@LoveAlwaysAlwaysLove it's not that Amazon didnt have to pay taxes. The convo was about Amazon not charging its customers sales tax since it's an online retailer. They are now the largest retailer rivaling even Wal-mart so that's a load of tax revenue the federal and states are missing out on. I can assure you that Amazon the company does pay taxes, as do their shareholders.
Think of all the money spent on costumes, shoes, jewels, footmen, chauffeurs, cooks, other help, viands, horses, decoration, et cetera, for this ball. It must have represented an enormous economic boost to the bourgeoning city that was to become "New York City."
I know there was an Alva that married a British aristocrat, an earl I believe, but died penniless due to son that inherited the estate and she was sent to live in some boarding house. The parents mistreated the children when young or so didn’t give them much attention and then her son did the same to her when she was old. How tragically sad. Such lack of Godliness, honor and dignity.
jpb1231000 not his grandparents. His grandfather was Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt and his grandmother was Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt on his mother’s side.
@@lizh4933 Gloria had four children. Three are still surviving. It's not like Anderson is an only child tasked with 'keeping the bloodline going'. So, let's take a look at Gloria's obituary...oh, look...three grandchildren.
Ick...the 1% has always had media as a tool. In fact, this ball helped prop up the gilded age. At least Teddy Roosevelt and Taft decidedly were against trusts.
A very different time where it seems everyone (I'm sure not everyone) was interested in what the rich did. Now, most people could not give F what the rich do. I see the party cost $35000.00 in 1883. If interested that would be $887,447.52 in 2019.
I would have to disagree. The Kardashians are proof. People are only interested in them because they're rich. It's certainly not from talent. Same could be said of any of the Real Houswives shows.
Jim Elliott she may not have been an intellectual, but during those times, being on top of the social hierarchy and being someone whose opinion and presence mattered to people within the "elite" society provided her with the power and influence to control how their society works. even the scientists, mathematicians, engineers, inventors, etc. that you say she's not part in clamor for the support and interest of people like her to have their ideas, inventions - - basically, the core (I may or may not be exaggerating) of their existence - - become a possibility or to come into fruition. To have such an immense wealth, influence and power enough to mold, create and/or destroy the lives of the people within the society, in my book, is someone as, if not more, intelligent than the academics.
@Jim Elliott There's no Von Schermerhorn. It's just plain Schermerhorn. Nobody clamored to see Mr. Astor because he had no interest in socializing. He rarely attended any of his wife's social events. The Astors didn't actually build a house in Newport. They first rented then bought the house of Federico Berreda. Later they bought the house of Daniel Parrish, and renamed it Beechwood. Neither of these Astor houses were anywhere near as grand as the Vanderbilt homes. It is ridiculous how these people spent tons of money on impressing Society, but I give credit to Mrs. Astor for getting what she wanted. She made herself scarce and never allowed her picture to be taken, which made people want to see her all the more. She also seems to have been a good mother. Her children were absolutely devoted to her.
the sad thing is the rich Americans came from very poor beginnings to America and worked very hard for their money. they earned their right to be rich in their lifetime. yet the British aristocratic families did no hard work to get there. yet the Americans are desperate to marry royalty and the British want American money even if they would never have mingled with them had they been poor in Britain. ppl are never happy with what they have and yearn for more. it's like they needed approval from the British to feel important. at the end of the day we are all human beings and that is more important. u can't be happy by pretending.
@@scarlettbutler2873 That's because it's a fallacy that money makes people happy. Look at all the famous families that had wealth and privilege, yet lived lives of misery and sadness.
The Brits spent money on gambling ... horses and cards, and tom foolery over a few generations, so to welcome a socialite with stacks and stacks of money was ideal to the British aristocratic families. Title was given in exchange for American money a fair trade don't you think? Cheers!
American ostentation was all about power and prestige. To marry a daughter to a Duke, as Alva had Consuelo marry a Duke at age 18, was the quickest, most fabulous way to increase her social power and prestige among other nouveau riche Americans like the Astors, who, let's be real, came up from nothing as early fur traders in the colonial backwoods. Alva was a really nasty mother; Consuelo was shielded from real life, and while she was taught all about culture, languages, travel to Paris and so on, but it was all with the aim of marrying off Consuelo to royalty. Alva totally controlled Consuelo, who was not allowed to have friends, make any decisions even about her marriage trousseau -- what more personal decision can there be for a young bride -- and so when Consuelo arrived at the stodgy, gloomy Blenheim she was completely at sea, having to figure out the positions of all the help from head housekeeper to maid, butler to chauffeur -- imagine coming into a very LARGE Downton Abbey with three times as many staff, and having to figure it all out on the fly making decisions about meals, entertainment, purchases, etc. And at age 19. The one good thing she did was that she had such a nice personality that she befriended the tenants at Blenheim, got to know them, made sure leftover food from the Blenheim tables were sent to ill or poor tenants, made sure they had clothes and winter blankets, and so on. The other royals around her thought this was rather beneath her and that she should not take such a personal interest in the lowly, but she did. She also learned not to take mean-spirited cracks about her Americanism from the Duke's dowager grandmother or a particularly nasty aunt of the Duke's who had been the chatelaine of Blenheim and served as hostess before the Duke's marriage. This aunt was jealous of this young American interloper and Consuelo managed to put her in her place which must have felt good to Consuelo who was gaining in confidence as she figured things out. Other cracks she simply ignored. The Duke was a persnickety, particular, stodgy little man and the marriage went sour and they eventually divorced. Anyone with a grain of sense could see that that would happen with a couple who knew so little about each other and were so ill-suited. The Duke married her for her money plain and simple. Alva forced her to marry the Duke so Alva could have the prestige of having a daughter marry into the nobility. Alva should have married into the nobility herself if she was that desperate for prestige, why force her daughter? But she infantilized Consuelo and being this was 1900, Consuelo was never allowed to go to college, have a job, live on her own, make her own decisions. Alva treated Consuelo like a little doll-child. It's really sickening, but Consuelo became a feminist suffragette, and so did Alva, and one has to wonder what she thought of forcing a daughter to marry, once she herself was divorced and free of William K. I hope she regretted it mightily. She was a real piece of work. I would have hated her for my mother. I wonder what would have happened if Consuelo had been a more forceful person as Alva herself had been as a teen and young woman. Boy, the sparks would have flown! I think by that time Alva and William K. fought alot at home, and Consuelo probably didn't want to add to the bickering by annoying her mother, who would even pretend to be having heart palpitations if Consuelo defied her in even a small way. Nasty woman. The doctor would be called and blah, blah, blah...Alva would get her own way.
You are correct. I visited the Tenement Museum in NYC showing the conditions immigrants lived in. Plus they often did piecework at home. Dark all year round, cold in winter, broiling hot all summer, little insulation between walls and floors, hence you heard every argument and knew everyone's business. Filthy latrine out back. Kids worked too as soon as they could construct part of a paper flower. The ONE thing they did not have to face was death squads. My husband's Jewish family came to the US from Ukraine in 1906, because of tsarist pogroms. It's good they left, because SS squads mass murdered Jews in their village in 1941 (a mass grave Jewish cemetery exists). And then Chernobyl in the same area. So even if they lived in tenements it was a step up, they were safe from death squads and could aspire. From Ellis Island, his forebears went by train to Ohio where relatives lived, and got established there. Then their children eventually moved to NJ and Los Angeles. They did quite well with the next generation attending Ivy League colleges, becoming professors, doctors and successful business people. That is still the American dream and why people still flock here.
@@ed743-m4t There are still wealthy Vanderbilt and Astor family members today. Alva certainly didn't go broke herself. After she divorced Willy K, she married Oliver Perry Belmont,who was also rich and died young..
@@carowells1607 I mean to an extent. I know the Astors in UK are still prominent and some Vanderbilts in NY married well but for the most part they're done.
The new TV shows depict a different style about this age. But in reality they weren't blonde haired, had frizzy unkept sometimes oily hair with ugly outfits. Even the richest ppl in that era looked sick and unkempt. The clothes were not as glamorous as they r in the new TV show. The hair is so straight but in reality even the most elite of them had natural frizzy black hair. These shows glamourize an era that was not as glamorous as we thought.
When I first learned about the Vanderbilts, I had heard of their wealth but was quite surprised to learn about the families like the Astor family and the power and prestige they possessed. Old money often trumps new money in the long run
the Stock Market Crash/Great Depression is what destroyed a number of these families. Those that could held on. Eventually the houses are sold and then raised to the ground for sky-scraper apartment and office space use.
The death of passenger trains killed off the Vanderbilt fortune. Remember that they made their money from the NY Central Railroad and the millions of passengers who rode it every day. After WWII planes, cars, and the national highway system put passenger trains in steep decline. They should have reinvested in airlines.
This is incorrect. Mrs Vanderbilt could not send an invite to Mrs Astor because Mrs Astor was of old money and the hierarchy says that Mrs Astor had to leave her card with Mrs Vanderbilt first. Mrs Vanderbilt said I'm sorry I couldn't invite them because they have not left a card. Then Mrs Astor left a card so that she and her daughter could attend and not be left out of the ball. Her daughter had already been taking dance lessons and had her costume ready when she realized she wasn't getting an invite and why. Mrs asked her had to suck up.
@samantha ssmith you’re calling me gross on a 3 year old comment LOL. Whatever is going on in your life to make you say that to me, I’m sorry. I hope that tomorrow is better for you and for what it’s worth, you didn’t deserve any of it. Cheerio, m’lady xo
You read too much conspiracy material. The men were ruthless businessmen; but 90% of them led lives that reflected morality, charity and they sought to improve the cities, towns and villages where they lived.. The so-called "robber-barons"/monopolists just so happened to have huge incomes. Therefore, they could afford to live like the nobles of Europe *and elsewhere in the world* (who had spend hundreds/thousands of years building up their wealth. ….. *The industrial revolution, like the current IT* *revolution made a lot of millionaires.* Examples: Carnegie funded libraries all over the world; after his retirement. JD Rockefeller, Sr. and his wife funded hospitals and colleges -- Spelman college (for Blacks, in Atlanta, GA) was one of her favorites (this was back in the day when some people believed that Blacks were not capable of learning) Stanford (Railroads in CA) endowed Stanford University. So many others did the same. These (most of them) were forward-looking people.
@@here_we_go_again3300 Good point. I don't know how much the wealthy give to charity nowadays , but the 19th century plutocrats did do a lot to make society better, giving to hospitals and museums, etc. J.P. Morgan gave away an enormous amount of money but did almost all of it quietly or anonymously. When they were talking about building a prison around here, Edward and Mary Harriman donated 20 square miles of their own property and created a trust to buy more so that a state park could be built rather than a prison.
Party started at 11pm, they were deffo planning an all nighter. I like the sound of this party
The party after 11:00 consisted of terrible acts of humanity. Just a FYI. Dig and research the vanderbilt pool
The decadent elite did not "party" like normal people.....they were/are perverts....These are Anderson Cooper's great grandparents!!!! Hello!!!
@@brigittebeltran6701 and your point is?
@@gra-emed3617 HE IS THE DESENDANT OF AN UNGODLY DYNASTY AND FOLLOWING SUIT.
What's wrong with that? I would have been there however long it lasted & anyone who says any different is lying to themselves and no-one else
I read Mark Helprin's "Winter's Tale", and I always imagined Beverly Penn's house looking like the Vanderbilt townhouse. Even if most likely I'd be a poor or middle class person if I lived back in the 1890's, I'd still love to time-travel! NYC had more magnificent, more human architecture back then. Even the brick buildings where the not-so rich lived looked more pleasant than the glass towers of today.
I would love to eventually visit all of the Vanderbilt mansions. But I'm very lucky the Biltmore Estate is about an hour from me. I have visited many times and find something new every time I visit
Jim Elliott..the last family member moved out in 1956. But the family still owns it. The owners great grandson is CEO and a very nice guy. I was there on a travel agent tour and he came in just to give us a tour. Many members of the family work there. It's the only one of the Vanderbilt mansions still owned by the family.
No.. no one lives there anymore. But the family owns it and runs the very profitable Biltmore company.
It is truly a pleasure to visit especially in the spring during the flower festival or at Christmas during the candlelight tours. Every time I visit I find something new. I would recommend it to everyone.
I regret not taking my children when we took our vacations in Gatlinburg/Maggie Valley. I do not think that it is very far away from there. God willing, I plan to take my grandchildren soon. Christmas would be amazing, however I would love to go just to see the gardens/vineyards. We live a couple of hours from Pigeon Forge.
Susan Burris he went broke building it, he "only" inherited 5 mil; william (this video) got 45, cornelius-55
Hey Jim - Susan is most definitely correct - no one still lives in the main estate house. However, the Vanderbilts do still own the property (hence the title of the largest "private" house in the US) and occasionally will hold family events within the main house through the year. Further, they do still live on the property in private homes. While the main house and gardens are huge, please understand the house occupies a small piece of the whole property - the total estate is about 8000 acres today. The locations of their actual homes on the estate are never revealed, other than the fact that they "live there." Originally, the estate was like 120,000 acres + (absolutely inconceivable how large that is!), but it was sold off since Vanderbilt went broke building and running it for several years - chunks of it were sold off (mainly forestland to the US Government) until it's present size today.
The estate is truly spectacular any time of the year (although I wouldn't go in mid-June until about October) however, you are correct: Christmas is a very special time due to the decorations and activities around the estate. There is so much to do and see during Christmas, it is very likely you will spend multiple days there to experience it all.
Visiting Biltmore is not cheap - the last time I was there was last early June, and for I and a friend, it was $80+ each just to get in the door for the "General" tour, another $20 each for the audio-tour (*highly* recommended if you want to understand what you are viewing, the astounding history and challenges of design), and another (if I remember correctly) $20+ dollars each for the "Upstairs/Downstairs tour (behind the scenes through the servants areas - a big must!) - all in all with the tours and a souvenir book each, we spent over $300 and that was excluding food, drinks, etc.
Truly a once in a lifetime experience - but it does come with a cost...
All the mouth watering details of this amazing party in the book FORTUNE'S CHILDREN: THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF VANDERBILT. A great read!
Thanks! That sounds like a fun read
This man has such a nice voice, like it’s soothing
I think it's amazing to be able to see this today. It's like going back in time.
Alva's daughter Consuelo wrote her autobiography in later life. Titled "The Glitter and the Gold," it's a fascinating glimpse of a by-gone age.
I read that book too. Wonderfully insightful book that I still have. I bought it at an antique store in the 90s. It wasn't even for sale as it was merely being used for display purposes as a prop to sell a cabinet. The cashier made up a price ($2) and I took it home. Great read. She was very intelligent and wise and knew all about her world.
I find it so terrible that they destroyed these beautiful and historical mansions (Millionaires Row).
Christy Teaster,
It is sad; but a lot of
the fancy woodwork,
etc. was repurposed.
At least from the
mansions that were
torn down earlier than
other mansions (before
styles changed).
Don't forget, when those
places were built; there
was no income tax. So,
even moderately wealthy
and "comfortable" middle
class people put their
money into their houses.
It was expected to be your
"refuge" in your old age.
(Property taxes were low)
And, often-times, the least
ambitious son or the spinster
daughter(s) stayed in the house
after the parents had passed on.
Also, one took in relatives who
needed a place to stay. One's
family was one's social safety
net.
I mention the above because
labor was cheap before WW1
and finding staff to maintain
the house was do-able.
Yes, uncaring vandals
To be fair it would look a bit ridiculous to have an old mansion squeezed in between all of those skyscrapers. But yes the loss of Millionaire Row on 5th Ave. is historically devastating.
We don't need redundant privileges here in America.
Alex Shuysky it’s about cultural heritage but again what an American know about that!
Yes, that really struck me, the fact that the party didn’t start until 11 PM! Who’s ever heard of that?! Really late! Fun and interesting to get a glimpse of this from years past! Very well done short film! Thank you to any and all that were involved!
I don' know what the habits are in the US but people as old as 40 in Europe don't often go out till after 11:00. Of course they usually have dinner first and some actually nap before going out. Perhaps they were just following European habits back then since many had either travelled to Europe or had relatvely recent ties.
@@milliemouse6525 Finally, someone who recognizes other Country’s social trends. However in the 19th century 11 p.m especially for the extremely wealthy, the party would start , dinner commenced usually one or two a.m. and end around 6 or 7 that morning.
@@milliemouse6525 going oit to clubs or bars is another thing. Nobody in Europe starts their HOME parties that late.
@@basedpatriotLT well, I often went to parties in Europe after 10.30 - granted they were not 'sit down' dinners but we often had a hot midnight 'snack'. And remember a good part of Sicilians don't start dinner till 9ish and let's not even get started on the Spanish.
@@milliemouse6525 you went at 10:30 or the official start time was announced as 10:30? Also there are millions of people so maybe somebody starts that late, but if we take analogy- lets say some famous person in your town will make a house party for the elite of the town. It is very very very unlikely the start time would be 11 or 10:30. It is unheard of for that kind of party. Not some random - i finish work late on friday, so lets everybody come at 10:30 :)
In my city, they tore down a beautiful old building complex, gorgeous architecture, to put in an overflow parking lot for the courthouse.
I really love to see the old clothing.
I love the linen
The gowns.
Oh, me too! I am a Russian royalty nut and have several books of Imperial fashions....So interesting to see how styles changed over the years and the types of fabrics, linens, over-fabrics were used.....
fun fact - Bertha Russel from The Gilded Age HBO series is losely based off of Alva Vanderbilt.
The Cornelius Vanderbilt mansion at 57th Street was much larger and more impressive than this one. I believe it was the largest house to ever exist in NYC
CV the 2nd.
You don’t see that kind of lifestyle anymore, that was elegance. Loved it
You and I don't. But it is still happening around the world
@@jesseleeward2359 yeah ugly tacky monstrosities 🥴
@@acastrohowell What do you mean?
That Was interesting, some of these 3 min videos feel like they'll never end!
Am I the only one that thought “it started at 11 at night!?!?! Oh hell no, I’d be in bed.”
@Barndancer61 Yep, never done that. I'm starting to turn into a pumpkin by like 9:45. But I also have to be at work by 6:30 am so I'm up early. I guess it's all about the schedule you get used to.
7pm is late to me to go to a party. Better be starting that at 5pm 😆
I love this. Wow. To think that people lived like this. Amazing.
anderson coopers ancestors
dragonboy718 AC seems to identify with the Cooper side of the family due to the damage that his mother, Gloria endured when she was ripped away from her mother.
You beat me to it!!!
You people are pathetic. Anderson Cooper has made it on his own, with no inheritance bc his mother didn’t believe in it. She saw how much damage unearned massive wealth can do to a person.
@@pamelamccall5653 Comments on YT have no tone, so I don't think everyone's comment was meant in a derogatory way. But I agree with what you said. Most kids raised like this would have NO drive or motivation to succeed in life and obviously, AC did.
@@pamelamccall5653 "Made it on his own"----made what on his own?, working for a network whose ratings rival the gardening channel due
to shoddy, partisan reporting and outright lies? News anchors/journalists now have a reputation lower than a criminal attorney and possess
the moral turpitude of a whore while bloviating on incessantly.
My mother and uncle used to visit astor's in rhinebeck my grandmother was friends with the astors driver and wife
This is so bloody interesting!
Chosen inheriters of what was already here. Lucky.
In Europe party started at 11, food at 1:00 am, lasted until wee hours.
The party didn't start until 11:00 pm!
MsRhuby too late if you ask me. :/
Past my bedtime :)
That's because these people didn't do shit back in the day. They could sleep in until noon.
before the witching hour
@@badferritbadferrit5526 👍
A lot more on Alva's Ball in the book "Fortune's Children: The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt"
Interesting. It's now on my Christmas list. Thanks.
I read that book! It's excellent.
Excellent book
❤️ Thank you ❤️
Large as that house was, still don’t know how they fit 1200 people in there. And from what I read about it, despite the costumes, the flowers, the luxury of it all, it sounds stuffy. Alva Vanderbilt years later forced her daughter to marry a man she didn’t love - she sounds to me like the battle axe from hell. As far as the mansion, it was built of Indiana limestone, wonder if it wound up in the ocean off Sandy Hook N J like the original Waldorf Astoria hotel (built 1890s, demolished 1929)
No income tax.
No income tax and
low property taxes.
The trump administration tax cut bill has almost succeeded in restoring that tax free status for those 1%.
Amazon didn't have to pay taxes last time. Can't figure out why tho.
Tax cut bill I guess.
@@LoveAlwaysAlwaysLove it's not that Amazon didnt have to pay taxes. The convo was about Amazon not charging its customers sales tax since it's an online retailer. They are now the largest retailer rivaling even Wal-mart so that's a load of tax revenue the federal and states are missing out on. I can assure you that Amazon the company does pay taxes, as do their shareholders.
where is the full documentary?
Think of all the money spent on costumes, shoes, jewels, footmen, chauffeurs, cooks, other help, viands, horses, decoration, et cetera, for this ball. It must have represented an enormous economic boost to the bourgeoning city that was to become "New York City."
This is "THE GILDED AGE" ! HBO got it right !
I know there was an Alva that married a British aristocrat, an earl I believe, but died penniless due to son that inherited the estate and she was sent to live in some boarding house. The parents mistreated the children when young or so didn’t give them much attention and then her son did the same to her when she was old. How tragically sad. Such lack of Godliness, honor and dignity.
Sadly, your final sentence perfectly describes my father...
"Their husbands visited hairdressers then rushed home to put on tights and their sword" 💀😂🤣
Great music…I am excited for the ball. Lol
Yea, big money, that's the way to go, the high life baby, yep. I'm going out for a Wopper.
This is ANDERSON COOPER'S Grandparents... Imagine him/her being CIA.... I mean CNN in 2018!!!!
jpb1231000 not his grandparents. His grandfather was Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt and his grandmother was Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt on his mother’s side.
And all he had to do was keep the bloodline going. Alas, he drifted and used his sword in other places where ovaries do not roam.
Liz H his brother has children and grandchildren. Leopoldo Stankowski jr. Gloria’s first born.
@@lizh4933 Gloria had four children. Three are still surviving. It's not like Anderson is an only child tasked with 'keeping the bloodline going'. So, let's take a look at Gloria's obituary...oh, look...three grandchildren.
shammy dammy even a great grandchild!
Alva,the original social climber.
True, as Mrs. Astor was first on the pinnacle branch of society.
Ick...the 1% has always had media as a tool. In fact, this ball helped prop up the gilded age.
At least Teddy Roosevelt and Taft decidedly were against trusts.
is this where the HBO show "the gilded age" based the story from?
Man flexing was different back then lol
A very different time where it seems everyone (I'm sure not everyone) was interested in what the rich did. Now, most people could not give F what the rich do.
I see the party cost $35000.00 in 1883. If interested that would be $887,447.52 in 2019.
I would have to disagree. The Kardashians are proof. People are only interested in them because they're rich. It's certainly not from talent. Same could be said of any of the Real Houswives shows.
Is the narrator here the same in The Age of Adaline?
Their mansion was right on the street?
Right there for everyone to see.
Uh, it was in Manhattan.
Yes?
Almost all NYC houses are right on the street.
Caroline only recognized Alva because her daughter wanted to go to the party. Otherwise the Vanderbilts would still be on the outside looking in.
Jim Elliott Maybe so, or not, but hers was the only opinion that mattered back then, so calm down.
Jim Elliott she may not have been an intellectual, but during those times, being on top of the social hierarchy and being someone whose opinion and presence mattered to people within the "elite" society provided her with the power and influence to control how their society works. even the scientists, mathematicians, engineers, inventors, etc. that you say she's not part in clamor for the support and interest of people like her to have their ideas, inventions - - basically, the core (I may or may not be exaggerating) of their existence - - become a possibility or to come into fruition.
To have such an immense wealth, influence and power enough to mold, create and/or destroy the lives of the people within the society, in my book, is someone as, if not more, intelligent than the academics.
Jim Elliot hating on a dead woman.
@Jim Elliott So your related how?
Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Elliott
@Jim Elliott
There's no Von Schermerhorn. It's just plain Schermerhorn. Nobody clamored to see Mr. Astor because he had no interest in socializing. He rarely attended any of his wife's social events. The Astors didn't actually build a house in Newport. They first rented then bought the house of Federico Berreda. Later they bought the house of Daniel Parrish, and renamed it Beechwood. Neither of these Astor houses were anywhere near as grand as the Vanderbilt homes.
It is ridiculous how these people spent tons of money on impressing Society, but I give credit to Mrs. Astor for getting what she wanted. She made herself scarce and never allowed her picture to be taken, which made people want to see her all the more. She also seems to have been a good mother. Her children were absolutely devoted to her.
What a time. Wow.
the sad thing is the rich Americans came from very poor beginnings to America and worked very hard for their money. they earned their right to be rich in their lifetime. yet the British aristocratic families did no hard work to get there. yet the Americans are desperate to marry royalty and the British want American money even if they would never have mingled with them had they been poor in Britain. ppl are never happy with what they have and yearn for more. it's like they needed approval from the British to feel important. at the end of the day we are all human beings and that is more important. u can't be happy by pretending.
Good point! You are correct....I think it is human nature that people are really never satisfied with what they have. So sad.
@@scarlettbutler2873 That's because it's a fallacy that money makes people happy. Look at all the famous families that had wealth and privilege, yet lived lives of misery and sadness.
The Brits spent money on gambling ... horses and cards, and tom foolery over a few generations, so to welcome a socialite with stacks and stacks of money was ideal to the British aristocratic families. Title was given in exchange for American money a fair trade don't you think? Cheers!
American ostentation was all about power and prestige. To marry a daughter to a Duke, as Alva had Consuelo marry a Duke at age 18, was the quickest, most fabulous way to increase her social power and prestige among other nouveau riche Americans like the Astors, who, let's be real, came up from nothing as early fur traders in the colonial backwoods. Alva was a really nasty mother; Consuelo was shielded from real life, and while she was taught all about culture, languages, travel to Paris and so on, but it was all with the aim of marrying off Consuelo to royalty. Alva totally controlled Consuelo, who was not allowed to have friends, make any decisions even about her marriage trousseau -- what more personal decision can there be for a young bride -- and so when Consuelo arrived at the stodgy, gloomy Blenheim she was completely at sea, having to figure out the positions of all the help from head housekeeper to maid, butler to chauffeur -- imagine coming into a very LARGE Downton Abbey with three times as many staff, and having to figure it all out on the fly making decisions about meals, entertainment, purchases, etc. And at age 19. The one good thing she did was that she had such a nice personality that she befriended the tenants at Blenheim, got to know them, made sure leftover food from the Blenheim tables were sent to ill or poor tenants, made sure they had clothes and winter blankets, and so on. The other royals around her thought this was rather beneath her and that she should not take such a personal interest in the lowly, but she did. She also learned not to take mean-spirited cracks about her Americanism from the Duke's dowager grandmother or a particularly nasty aunt of the Duke's who had been the chatelaine of Blenheim and served as hostess before the Duke's marriage. This aunt was jealous of this young American interloper and Consuelo managed to put her in her place which must have felt good to Consuelo who was gaining in confidence as she figured things out. Other cracks she simply ignored. The Duke was a persnickety, particular, stodgy little man and the marriage went sour and they eventually divorced. Anyone with a grain of sense could see that that would happen with a couple who knew so little about each other and were so ill-suited. The Duke married her for her money plain and simple. Alva forced her to marry the Duke so Alva could have the prestige of having a daughter marry into the nobility. Alva should have married into the nobility herself if she was that desperate for prestige, why force her daughter? But she infantilized Consuelo and being this was 1900, Consuelo was never allowed to go to college, have a job, live on her own, make her own decisions. Alva treated Consuelo like a little doll-child. It's really sickening, but Consuelo became a feminist suffragette, and so did Alva, and one has to wonder what she thought of forcing a daughter to marry, once she herself was divorced and free of William K. I hope she regretted it mightily. She was a real piece of work. I would have hated her for my mother. I wonder what would have happened if Consuelo had been a more forceful person as Alva herself had been as a teen and young woman. Boy, the sparks would have flown! I think by that time Alva and William K. fought alot at home, and Consuelo probably didn't want to add to the bickering by annoying her mother, who would even pretend to be having heart palpitations if Consuelo defied her in even a small way. Nasty woman. The doctor would be called and blah, blah, blah...Alva would get her own way.
excuse me. the Americans made it off of the backs if the poor
….in the mean time, people were crammed into tenements with very little to eat living hopeless lives.....
The other side of the spectrum, the wealthy just seem to ignore much like today.
Oh, that Daniel! Always looking on the sunny side.
What's your point?
How did these WEALTHY people sleep? Only a few churches helped ....lf born into a certain poverty or wealth, that's it.
You are correct. I visited the Tenement Museum in NYC showing the conditions immigrants lived in. Plus they often did piecework at home. Dark all year round, cold in winter, broiling hot all summer, little insulation between walls and floors, hence you heard every argument and knew everyone's business. Filthy latrine out back. Kids worked too as soon as they could construct part of a paper flower. The ONE thing they did not have to face was death squads. My husband's Jewish family came to the US from Ukraine in 1906, because of tsarist pogroms. It's good they left, because SS squads mass murdered Jews in their village in 1941 (a mass grave Jewish cemetery exists). And then Chernobyl in the same area. So even if they lived in tenements it was a step up, they were safe from death squads and could aspire. From Ellis Island, his forebears went by train to Ohio where relatives lived, and got established there. Then their children eventually moved to NJ and Los Angeles. They did quite well with the next generation attending Ivy League colleges, becoming professors, doctors and successful business people. That is still the American dream and why people still flock here.
Interesting. I love it.
This is great
Gloria claimed she ain't give Anderson no bread foh
@tom quigley never knew why does Gloria claim she never gave him money
tom quigley his brother “Stan” got her Manhattan townhouse. The other brother, Chris, received nothing as was his wish.
Read after her death that he did inherit from her
I paint myself zebra print and run around naked.
Looking very nice..
Why did it start so late?
when you dont wake up till 11am or later.... non morning working americans
Save Lynnewood Hall
Conencedently the Gilded Age was the Final Jeopardy answer on tournament of champions 2/2/22. 🤔
Interesting don't you agree?¿
A party that starts at 11pm, sound like SPAIN. Theatre starts at 9pm, so, parties are after!
The Vanderbilt's went broke trying to keep up with the Joneses..
mastermonarch No they didnt
Yeah they did. So did the Astors. Most Gilded families are destitute to some degree now except Rockefeller.
@@ed743-m4t
There are still wealthy Vanderbilt and Astor family members today. Alva certainly didn't go broke herself. After she divorced Willy K, she married Oliver Perry Belmont,who was also rich and died young..
@@carowells1607 I mean to an extent. I know the Astors in UK are still prominent and some Vanderbilts in NY married well but for the most part they're done.
Good grief, the people were in slums crowded.
The new TV shows depict a different style about this age. But in reality they weren't blonde haired, had frizzy unkept sometimes oily hair with ugly outfits. Even the richest ppl in that era looked sick and unkempt. The clothes were not as glamorous as they r in the new TV show. The hair is so straight but in reality even the most elite of them had natural frizzy black hair. These shows glamourize an era that was not as glamorous as we thought.
Where's the mansion?
I would have loved to attend the Vanderbilt Ball if I was invited. In that time, I’d probably be considered “New Money” as Im not Old Money rich.
that is a mud flood building
I love the customs.
Does the house still exist?
It was demolished in 1926.
Unfortunately because of narrow-sighted morons, no. Historic preservation wasn't really a thing then. Idiots.
@@wdm5552 ....Good!
angelfirelite What an ignorant comment to make. Jealousy at its worst.
Alva looks like Rosie O’Donnell.
In a dress.
.....if Rosie were a woman.
F101403 And you sound like Donald Trump; the ugliest sound of all.
Crazy Rich Americans ! 😁😀
Thanks to Alva! They are now BROKE like the rest of us!
This kinda fake prestige is what screwed the Vanderbilts after 4 generations.
Now we know the true source of their wealth was human trafficking. Their "official" businesses were just a front. It's vile and disgusting!
When I first learned about the Vanderbilts, I had heard of their wealth but was quite surprised to learn about the families like the Astor family and the power and prestige they possessed. Old money often trumps new money in the long run
History of city bank
This kind of parties is why families like Vanderbilt lose everything after the war.
the Stock Market Crash/Great Depression is what destroyed a number of these families.
Those that could held on. Eventually the houses are sold and then raised to the ground for sky-scraper apartment and office space use.
@@moodylicious
And taxes. Taxing people's income drastically changed these socialite type's behavior.
The death of passenger trains killed off the Vanderbilt fortune. Remember that they made their money from the NY Central Railroad and the millions of passengers who rode it every day. After WWII planes, cars, and the national highway system put passenger trains in steep decline. They should have reinvested in airlines.
all those people with their poor mindset which will never allow them to be succesfull in the comments. Shaking my head.
Exactly
Then why do so many Deplorables live in trailers?
They blew through the money. Nothing left
No wonder they went broke
11PM sounds about right. Their rituals don’t start until 3 AM, so a few hours to socialize before the sacrifices start.
If I had been Astor, I would not have attended. I mean, 1,200 guests...... How thoroughly vulgar.
Start at 11 ? Late
Alva wasn't the prettiest girl
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alva_Belmont
What a disgrace Anderson would have been to the family back then.
Scott Nichols Why, because he’s a compassionate, hardworking professional who makes his own money?
Pamela McCall no...because he’s a low IQ nut case who wouldn’t have a job without mommy. Having a baby at his age. Shame on him. Selfish...
He's no Vanderbilt
Scott Nichols Yes. Thank God their hatred and homophobia died with them. Now, when will it die in you?
Snobbery at it finest in a so-called ‘classless’ society.
Jenny M
The Dollarocracy.
Andersen Cooper's family.
And building the railroads and industrial America in their spare time.
Yeah because throwing a party and enjoying it is snobby. Jealous fucking peasants.
Gilded age deception!
I'd be asleep by then!
Wonder she did not get robbed!
Such an old and tired story.
My first name before I got it dumped it was Vanderbilt
Kendra Houston, you related to these folks??
Before nightclubs Invent it for people to go there.
❤😊❤😊❤
A monday night ball ?
What a waste of money and a frivolous waste of time
Sorry your invitation was lost in the mail.
Remember there were no taxes back then.
730 out 915 return
Sounds like the ego centered Academy Awards.
Ohhhhh the lives of the rich 🙄
all they are doing is representing what was already there ny changing the decor
sick of the lies
So many jealous people out there....
This is incorrect. Mrs Vanderbilt could not send an invite to Mrs Astor because Mrs Astor was of old money and the hierarchy says that Mrs Astor had to leave her card with Mrs Vanderbilt first. Mrs Vanderbilt said I'm sorry I couldn't invite them because they have not left a card.
Then Mrs Astor left a card so that she and her daughter could attend and not be left out of the ball. Her daughter had already been taking dance lessons and had her costume ready when she realized she wasn't getting an invite and why. Mrs asked her had to suck up.
Pay to play even then.
And they were all Jewish
Viva La Revolucion! Lol😂
Gross.
@samantha ssmith you’re calling me gross on a 3 year old comment LOL. Whatever is going on in your life to make you say that to me, I’m sorry. I hope that tomorrow is better for you and for what it’s worth, you didn’t deserve any of it. Cheerio, m’lady xo
How very vulgar.
Illuminati mansion party huh....hmmm wonder who got sacrificed that night? These people are monsters
You read too much conspiracy material.
The men were ruthless businessmen;
but 90% of them led lives that reflected
morality, charity and they sought to
improve the cities, towns and villages
where they lived..
The so-called "robber-barons"/monopolists
just so happened to have huge incomes.
Therefore, they could afford to live like the
nobles of Europe *and elsewhere in the
world* (who had spend hundreds/thousands
of years building up their wealth. …..
*The industrial revolution, like the current IT*
*revolution made a lot of millionaires.*
Examples:
Carnegie funded libraries all over the
world; after his retirement.
JD Rockefeller, Sr. and his wife funded
hospitals and colleges -- Spelman college
(for Blacks, in Atlanta, GA) was one of her
favorites (this was back in the day when
some people believed that Blacks were
not capable of learning)
Stanford (Railroads in CA) endowed
Stanford University. So many others
did the same. These (most of them)
were forward-looking people.
@@here_we_go_again3300
Good point. I don't know how much the wealthy give to charity nowadays , but the 19th century plutocrats did do a lot to make society better, giving to hospitals and museums, etc. J.P. Morgan gave away an enormous amount of money but did almost all of it quietly or anonymously. When they were talking about building a prison around here, Edward and Mary Harriman donated 20 square miles of their own property and created a trust to buy more so that a state park could be built rather than a prison.
Satanic party 🙄