Episode 119: Iceberg and Torpedo
A big birthday arrives with a large inheritance and thus the ability to finally control one’s life or so it seems.
#DorisDuke, #Astor, #Titanic, #Vanderbilt, #birthday, #inheritance, #LouiseVanAlen, #Titanicbaby, #Lusitania
August 1933, Jakey Astor finally turns 21 and comes into his fortune. Only other troubles complicate his rise into Society. Meanwhile several debutantes are lining up to be the future young Mrs. Astor.
Other people and subjects include: Doris Duke, Barbara Hutton, Prince Alexis Mdivani, Louise Van Alen, James HR Cromwell aka “Jimmy,” Cobina Wright, James “Henry” Van Alen aka Jimmy, Huntington Hartford, Henrietta Harford, Mary Lee Epling Hartford, Frank Shields, Rebecca “Billie” Tenney Shields, Franklyn Hutton, Grace Wilson Vanderbilt, Cornelius Vanderbilt III aka Neily, Countess Gladys Vanderbilt Szechenyi, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, Jr., Alice Vanderbilt, Alfred Vanderbilt, George Vanderbilt, Caroline Astor, Vincent Astor, John Jacob Astor VI aka Jakey, John Jacob Astor IV aka Jack or Colonel, Helen Dinsmore Astor, Alice Ava Muriel Astor Obolensky von Hofmannsthal, Madeleine Talmage Force Astor Dick, Katherine Emmons Force Spencer, Lorillard Spencer, William Dick, Enzo Fiermonte, James “Jeem” Donahue aka Jimmy, LeBrun “Brunie” Rhinelander, Princess Donna Cristina Torlonia (Christina, Christiana, Cristiana), Viscount Duncannon, Eileen Gillespie, Ellen Tuck “Tucky” French, Betty Morris, Mary de Mumm, Leta Morris, Phyllis Gillespie, Rose Winslow, Penelope Winslow, Virginia French, Francis Ormond French – Frankie, Marrying Frenches, Marrying Wilsons, Divorcing Mdivanis, Gold Dust Twins, Sea Victims, iceberg, torpedo, Mrs. Marguerite Skirvin Adams, Perle Reid Skirvin – Mrs. George Mesta, Katherine Howard, Charles Townsend, Social Register, sand castle design, treasure hunt, aviation exhibition, Tennis Week, mating game, marital proposals, dances, debutantes, World War I, Titanic, Lusitania, New York, Washington, D.C., Bar Harbor, Saratoga, Naragansett, Newport, Rhode Island, Rough Point, Seaverge, Beaulieu, Breakers, Chastellux, Beachmound, Mid-Cliff, Malbone, Cliff’s Walk, Bailey’s Beach, Muenchinger-King Hotel, Thames Street, St. Georges school, Harvard University, BehindtheName.com, Census charts, familiarizing unknown people, popular names, repeating names, origin, lineage, clarity, Byzantine history, Arab history, John Palaiologos (Paleologos), Michael Palaiologos (Paleologos), John the Climax, John the Impotent, Robert Adams, Jenny Marston, Lawrence Tibbett, Benjamin Shaw, Sr., Harry Thaw, Stanford White, Evelyn Nesbit, Madison Square Garden rooftop, sexual scandal, special dates, anticipation, let down, setback, finding positives, self-delusion,…
Archival Music provided by Past Perfect Vintage Music, www.pastperfect.com.
Extra Notes / Call to Action:
New York Adventure Club www.nyadventureclub.com
Friday, November 1st, 2024 5:30pm EST / 2:30pm PST – Waldorf Astoria Hotel Part 1: A New Standard of Luxury (pre-1929), Come learn more
about the Astor family dispute behind the famous hotel and its construction as well as the hotel’s influence on luxury travel and fine dining.
Connections to the Titanic as well as other events and famous people will also be explored. But all good things come to and end.
Friday, November 8th, 2024 5:30pm
EST / 2:30pm PST – Waldorf Astoria Hotel New York Part 2: Manhattan’s Grandest Hotel (1931-present), The second version of this fine luxury hotel
comes during the dawn of new era which will bring new challenges and excitement. A lingering Astor family connection adds to the saga until a
new family the Hilton dynasty rises and takes over. More celebrities and events will add to allure of this hotel. Finally, updates reveal the
recent renovations, an auction, and the future for the third incarnation.
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Publish Date: October 10, 2024
Length: 26:45
Opening Music: My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands
Section 1 Music: From the Top of Your Head by Carroll Gibbons & The Savoy Orpheans, Album The Great British Dance Bands
Section 2 Music: I Guess I Will Have To Change My Plan by Ambrose & His Orchestra, Album The Great British Dance Bands
Section 3 Music: The Younger Generation by Ray Noble, Album The Great Dance Bands Play Hits of the 30s
End Music: My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands
AS THE MONEY BURNS
Podcast by Nicki Woodard
Episode 119 – Iceberg and Torpedo
Outline
Birthday boy
Inheritance
00:00
[Music – My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands]
AS THE MONEY BURNS is an original podcast by Nicki Woodard. Based on historical research, this is a deep exploration into what happened to a set of actual heirs and heiresses to some of America’s most famous fortunes when the Great Depression hits.
Each episode has three primary sections. Section 1 is a narrative story. Section 2 goes deeper into the historical facts. Section 3 focuses on contemporary, emotional, and personal connections.
00:29
Story Recap
While many seek love and marriage, Doris Duke, Evalyn Walsh McLean, and Cobina Wright face threats to fortune and life.
Now back to AS THE MONEY BURNS
Title
00:46
Iceberg and Torpedo
[Music Fade Out]
Episode Tag
A big birthday arrives with a large inheritance and thus the ability to finally control one’s life or so it seems.
01:03
[Music – From the Top of Your Head by Carroll Gibbons & The Savoy Orpheans, Album The Great British Dance Bands]
Section 1 – Story
[Music Fade Out]
01:20
When it comes to birthdays, many focus on blowing out candles. But for the uber wealthy, people and the press wonder how many millions might get blown.
Oh, summer always comes with lots of possibilities, and for the elites that means gathering in favorite spots. And anyone on the inside knows this is when engagements are made. More buzz escalates as several heirs and heiresses reach their majority and hence will be coming into sizable fortunes this year, making them even more attractive as potential mates. The biggest sport and activity is the mating game.
01:56
Plenty of sub-debutante activities are planned – a pre-introduction of the year’s newly eligible debutantes before their large winter debuts. Amongst this year’s crop with dances and teas planned are the newest It Girl Eileen Gillespie, the ever popular Ellen Tuck French aka “Tucky,” the attractive Betty Morris, and Mary de Mumm, formerly of Paris.
02:20
Out of the new crop of debutantes, one particular young lady gets a little more attention due to her colorful and somewhat scandalous family history. Tucky’s own press mentions her rebellious father Francis Ormond French, aka “Frankie,” brief stint as a taxi driver back in the 1920s among other attempted professions. Tucky’s family has the unfortunate moniker of the “Divorcing Frenches” for her father, his siblings, and other relatives’ multiple divorces, since they are already born part of the elite set in contrast to the ambitious social climbing of the “Marrying Wilsons” as in Grace Wilson Vanderbilt and the “Marrying Mdivanis” whose more illustrious marriages have included Louise Van Alen and now Barbara Hutton.
03:08
After more recent security issues, everyone is ready to focus on fun, and thus this 1933 Tennis Week, which lasts well over a week, will be the gayest since 1929. Movie star handsome, tennis sensation Frank Shields along with his wife Rebecca “Billie” Tenney Shields stays with babyface richest boy Huntington Harford, his bright wife Mary Lee Epling Hartford, and his smothering mother Henrietta Harford at their Seaverge estate.
03:39
Saturday, August 5th, 1933, Newport, Rhode Island
As tennis activities kicks off, Eileen and her sister Phyllis Gillespie advance in girls doubles after defeating Tucky’s sister Virginia French and Rose Winslow then onto finals after playing against Betty Morris and Penelope Winslow.
Earlier this week on Tuesday August 1st, 1933, sisters Betty and Leta Morris hosted a treasure hunt for 60 youths at their parents’ cottage Malbone. This weekend, the sisters win a sand castle design for a Viking ship at Bailey’s Beach, among the judges artist Gertrude Vanderblit Whitney. Other Newport activities include a special aviation exhibition.
04:24
But the real contest for any debutante or sub-debutante is the coveted marital proposal. This year’s biggest prize and dubbed Most Eligible Bachelor is proud scion John Jacob Astor VI, aka Jakey, as he comes into his majority and fortune during the middle of this social season. A name and a fortune bring fierce competition.
The marital minded young ladies salivate over the possibility of a go at him. He has been spotted and photographed already lounging on the sandy beach waiting for his official birthday.
Both present and yet elusive, Jakey skipped the 1932 social season heading off on an extensive world tour after graduating from Newport’s St. Georges. Upon his return, he has currently opted not to immediately enroll in Harvard University as previously planned.
05:15
Jakey has already been seemingly attached to Italian Princess Donna Cristina Torlonia (Christina – Christiana – Cristiana) and LeBrun “Brunie” Rhinelander. Alas no official engagements have been set.
Though many speculate Jakey will soon place a sparkler on Brunie’s finger. Only Jakey has his own competition for her by the visiting British Viscount Duncannon who has also been seen escorting Brunie along Thames Street. The Viscount is guest of Grace Wilson Vanderbilt and Brigadier General Cornelius Vanderbilt III, aka “Neily,” at their Beaulieu cottage.
05:50
Monday, August 7th, 1933, Bar Harbor, Maine
Breaking away from the prying eyes of Newport, several have gathered for an important document signing. Here Jakey will finally come into control of the estate began long before his birth.
06:07
A rather small pittance compared to his eldest half-brother the stiff and rather sour Vincent Astor and still a little *less more than a third of the amount given to their ethereal bohemian sister Alice Ava Muriel Astor Obolensky von Hofmannsthal. Their father John Jacob Astor IV, aka “Jack,” was the richest man to die during the Titanic tragedy. Jack’s second wife and Jakey’s mother Madeleine Talmage Force Astor survived in a rowboat while pregnant with Jakey. Jakey would be born 4 months later therefore he only receives a *significantly smaller portion of the Astor estate set aside for any potential unborn heir.
06:49
Since financial matters are fairly hidden, much guessing occurs in the press. There is endless speculation surrounding Jakey’s estate – will it be $3 million, possibly $10 million (in other words anywhere from $72.6 to $242 million in 2024). It might have risen considerably over the years or have been decimated by the 1929 Wall Street Crash. Many originally thought Jakey might inherit the equivalent of Vincent’s nearly $67 million in 1912 (eh-hem in 2024 that would make about $2.1 billion) or at least get a portion divided from that. But alas, Vincent never approved of Madeleine nor Jakey. However, together Vincent and Madeleine have managed the trust well, surely increasing it in size. Madeleine would fight for her son’s fortune, but not so much for herself. She gave up most of her widow’s inheritance by 1916 to marry her childhood sweetheart William Dick, whom she *has just divorced this summer in Reno.
07:50
Only now Jakey is so scandalized by his mother’s flagrant relationship with the young Italian boxer Enzo Fiermonte that Jakey refuses to talk with Madeleine. Instead, Jakey has gone to his mother’s older sister Katherine Emmons Force Spencer to have his estate settled. Vincent gathers there as well to sign the papers.
But once and for all, no matter the final amount, it will all be Jakey’s. No longer needing consent from either Vincent or Madeleine. Vincent too is more than willing to be rid of the nuisance, though his wife Helen Dinsmore Astor previously attempted to get them to adopt Jakey as their heir to no luck. Neither Vincent nor Jakey considered that a feasible option.
08:36
It’s been hard watching Vincent live in absolute luxury – all the Astor properties in Manhattan, Beechwood in Newport, and the luxury yacht Nourmahal automatically went to him. Jakey pretty much only has the illustrious eponymous name of their original wealthy ancestor as well as their father. Still a small fortune is better than no fortune, and independence can be oh so delicious.
09:02
After the signing, Jakey returns to Newport, Rhode Island, in celebration of his actual upcoming birthday. With his fortune, Jakey is determined to restore the Astor name in high society much like his grandmother the esteemed Gilded Age queen bee Caroline Astor would have wanted and Vincent himself abhors.
Instead of staying at Beechwood as Jakey had been forced to visit over the years to continue somewhat relations with Vincent, Jakey will again join his maternal Aunt Katherine at her husband Lorillard Spencer’s cottage Chastellux (Chaste – de – Lou).
Already back on July 30th, Jakey held a dinner for 50 at Chastellux then took his guests dancing at the Muenchinger-King Hotel. His future society king role well on its way.
Now, the press awaits for the potential forthcoming details of what should be the biggest bash during Tennis Week. Only Jakey is not the only focus of the press.
09:57
After serious recent kidnapping threats, the tall but no longer awkward heiress Doris Duke has temporarily left her Rough Point cottage for New York. Doris too will turn 21 later in November this year as well another heiress, the fashionista and a rapidly slimming down Barbara Hutton, who remains on her European honeymoon with her no longer impoverished Russian Prince Alexis Mdivani, who himself is the ex-husband to Jakey’s cousin Louise Van Alen, whose whereabouts are constantly being tracked in the press.
10:28
Doris and Louise’s ongoing singlehood have them mentioned constantly with Jakey, along with another upcoming heir Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, Jr., who shall turn 21 this upcoming September. Oh yes even with increased security concerns, all 4 of these lucky – maybe unlucky depending on the angle, single heirs and heiresses have their faces and speculated fortune amounts splashed in newspapers across the nation and even around the world.
10:57
In particular, the two lads Jakey and Alfred are intertwined in all the press mentions. Their mutual age, fortunes, and tragedies make them a fascinating read. Both are also described as rather sullen and morose, which is often attributed to the loss of their eponymous fathers at such young ages. Before his birth, Jakey lost Jack when the iceberg scraped the Titanic, while a couple years later Alfred at barely age 3 loses his father Alfred Vanderbilt when a torpedo sinks the Lusitania during World War I.
While Barbara and Doris shared the moniker Gold Dust Twins, Jakey and Alfred are labeled “Sea Victims” marked by iceberg and torpedo.
11:38
It might not be too bad to share some of the limelight, however other comparisons might be a little more irritating. Especially as the press speculate that Alfred shall outshine Jakey more brilliantly with a more fairly sizeable inheritance. A Vanderbilt trust set up for Alfred and his brother George Vanderbilt is estimated that when evenly split in half will be possibly $17 million each (that’s $411 million in 2024), almost twice as much if not far more than Jakey’s.
12:12
Currently, Alfred is also a little better at evading press scrutiny in the romantic department. Alfred is skipping most of Newport’s Tennis Week to focus on the horse racing in Saratoga with his widowed Aunt Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. He will likely make his way to Newport. Alfred too is grandson to dowager widow and another Gilded Age society queen bee Alice Vanderbilt of the Breakers, which she now shares with her daughter and his Aunt Countess Gladys Vanderbilt Szechenyi. Thus Alfred is also related to Uncle Neily Vanderbilt and Aunt Grace Wilson Vanderbilt.
12:46
Saturday, August 12th, 1933, Newport, Rhode Island
At Beachmound cottage, a dinner and dancing party is given by newcomer Mrs. Marguerite Skirvin Adams to honor Tucky French and Betty Morris. For the debutante party, juniors from Newport, Bar Harbor, Narragansett, and Southampton are invited. Japanese lanterns and colored lights hang from oak boughs on the supper room terrace where a small group of young guests gather for dinner and are joined by later guests expanding to 300 for dancing while the Meyer Davis orchestra plays in the ballroom.
13:23
Mrs. Adams recently purchased Beachmound from the Thaw estate, ending the rentals such as done in prior summers by Barbara Hutton’s father Franklyn Hutton. The divorced Mrs. Adams joins her widowed sister Mrs. George Mesta – born Perle Reid Skirvin who since 1929 has had her own Newport cottage Mid-Cliff along Cliff’s Walk near Rough Point and Seaverge. Over the years, both sisters have entertained as popular hostesses in Washington, D.C. Their father made millions in Oklahoma oil, and Perle later married and then was widowed as the sole heir of a steel magnate.
A former silver screen actress Mrs. Adams probably could teach lessons on joining the Social Register. She plans on hostessing several parties and luncheons. All well attended and proving that she has been readily accepted into capital “S” Society so far. This weekend not only is the debutante party but Friday the night before, Mrs. Adams hosted a post bridal party for the Katherine Howard and Charles Townsend wedding.
14:25
Monday, August 14th, 1933
When the date finally arrives, still no birthday preparations are noted. In fact, there will be no birthday celebration at all. From Chastellux, Aunt Katherine informs the press that Jakey is no longer even in Newport and will not reveal as to where he disappeared only noting that it is as a better precautionary measure from any current potentially dangerous situation.
Yes, dangerous, regarding his fortune, his life, and quite possibly his heart.
15:03
One of the most foreboding press comments and speculation on Jakey’s birthday…
“What he is going to do with his life remains to be written into the story. The important fact of his today is his background.” – from the Transcript Telegram from Mount Holyoke, Massachusetts
Now it remains to be seen among the bevy of beauties mentioned, who will become the future young Mrs. Astor.
15:31
[Music – I Guess I Will Have To Change My Plan by Ambrose & His Orchestra, Album The Great British Dance Bands]
Section 2 – History & Historiography
[Music Fade Out]
15:46
What is in a name? It seems like something simple, defining, specific, and yet it can come as confusing and frankly non-specific and a challenge.
As anyone obsessed with names can see through Census charts the rise and popularity of certain first names over the years. I love Behind the Name website for both first name and surname descriptions. But the evolution of names both proper and surnames have always been primarily to note family and potentially location of origin to distinguish from all the other similarly and/or aptly named monikers. And this is further exacerbated in families with money or power as repeated names are bestowed for those wishing *and/or ensuring favoritism in inheritance or other privileges.
16:38
It might seem to be hard to keep straight today people from a past with even more generations afterwards, but it seems to be problematic even for those back then. Biggest case in point, John Jacob Astor VI, aka Jakey, the press constantly refers to him as the 3rd. However his father Titanic casualty is John Jacob Astor IV, who also went by Jack and Colonel. Jakey too went by Jack but earlier in his life also went by Jakey, and due to his youthful period the youthful era in our story and to keep straight from his father I chose Jakey. They have a cousin in London who is actually the Fifth and also goes by Jakie with an “i-e”. In one 1933 birthday article, that Jakie’s sister-in-law is dubbed the flashiest Astor – as in Lady Nancy Astor, the first female to serve in Parliament from 1919 to 1945. The same article places Nancy amongst her American in-law cousins and also notes that Vincent Astor at 42 is twice the age of his brother Jakey at 21.
17:48
Now that above is just lineage, then there are the names that come up frequently without familial ties. Frank or Franklyn – as in Frank Shields, Franklyn Hutton, and now Francis Ormond French aka “Frankie.” But that isn’t nearly as complicated or confusing as it is with the name – “Jimmy / Jimmie” being the most prevalent, where there could be easily at least 6 in our series and when they show up or referenced within the same episode it gets even messier. Hence the biggest in plots gets the actual name who is James “Jimmy” H.R. Cromwell due to his association with Doris Duke, and the others when lucky get their alternative nickname as in “Jeem” for James “Jimmy” Donahue, Barbara’s flamboyant and gay companionate cousin. Sometimes another alternate is needed possibly a middle name as in for James “Jimmy” Henry Van Alen, who has become became far more prevalent than when I originally conceived the story. Each James / Jimmy has a large enough storyline to merit inclusion, but the need for clarity persists.
18:56
Luckily, I learned long ago how to tell stories about people others never met with repetitive details to keep continuity. In those early cases from my school years, it was often with foreign names, while my best friend went to a separate school and never met my classmates. In reverse, I had to mentally keep track of the people in her “other” world.
19:16
For this podcast, the names are far more similar so that makes it even harder to prevent blending. This reminds me of studying Byzantine history after Arabic history. The latter had endless small names strung together similar, different, and unfamiliar – al, ibn, bint… which by the way are actually variants of “son of” and/or “from.” In preparation for tests and exams, I would make up naming conventions to keep them straight. The names were often foreign and unfamiliar and at times exhausting. Then I finally get to Byzantine history with the much simpler John and Michael which felt easier until there came 9 Michaels and 8 Johns Palaiologos (Paleologos) in almost a row and with very, very short reigns. Oy, and even they had monikers and epithets, the best being John the Climax and John the Impotent. Yeah, not really wanting to classify our characters in such a manner. Thus I stick with easier and repeating descriptions to situate and remind the connections.
20:24
Yeah, it’s a lot of work, and friends and family often wonder how I keep everyone straight. Lots and lots and lots of ongoing practice.
Due to the heavy factual story over the last few episodes, I am trying to keep the other sections smaller to not get too bloated in time. But for history buffs especially for this era and people, there are few associations I cannot overlook within this episode.
20:49
Mrs. Skirvin Adams met her first husband (his second marriage) Robert Adams via a New York dinner party in 1919 hosted by Marjorie Merriweather Post, and in near future Hutton. The Adams divorce in 1931, which explains why the news articles on Beachmound leave any mention of him out. Another side note, Robert Adams’ first wife Jennie Marston marries in 1932 her 3rd husband opera singer Lawrence Tibbett who regularly appears in our tales mostly in relation to Cobina Wright.
21:22
By the way, Beachmound is originally built in 1897 for Benjamin Thaw, Sr. His half-brother, the mentally unstable Harry Thaw will shoot and kill famed architect Stanford White on the rooftop of Madison Square Garden in 1906 after learning Stanford had earlier abused Harry’s new wife actress Evelyn Nesbit. That is a whole large sordid sex scandal, and a good forewarning that marrying into wealth isn’t always as pleasant as one might hope.
Tiny details thrown out here or there. One never knows what becomes larger later in our carefully interwoven tales.
22:04
[Music – The Younger Generation by Ray Noble, Album The Great Dance Bands Play Hits of the 30s]
Section 3 – Contemporary & Personal Relevance
[Music Fade Out]
22:20
The pressure of big days happen as big dreams meet reality, when expectations are either fulfilled or fallen soon thereafter. Whether a birthday, a work project deadline, a social engagement, or some other distinct mark, these are dates that come and go in which we hope that somehow our lives will then take a major leap forward. And when it doesn’t, then what…
Maybe we had set certain goals that don’t get achieved, or the whatever does happen doesn’t carry the same elation as anticipated. They say planning a vacation is usually the most pleasant part of the actual experience.
23:00
Right now, I think most of us are waiting for this year 2024 to end and hopefully get positive stability as things feel to be perpetually out of control. That a larger world schema is occurring much like what was happening during the Great Depression. The situation like our current circumstances has gone on long enough to understand reversal is not immediately around the corner and worry that this is the new norm.
23:26
Recently, I myself have hit a few relatively important date markers (personal, private, and professional) and not quite satisfied with the immediate outcomes or benchmarks not achieved but still feel positive because I see the direction and path more clearly to where I want to go. It might be harder and more challenging than anticipated, but then again I never liked things all that simple. This might be optimistic self-delusion, but oh well it helps me push forward when I might otherwise drown in apathy or bitterness. Something I am refusing to get sucked into. I can’t waste my life that way. I have always had a cardinal magnetic pull that forces me in a certain direction. While it may not be exactly how I originally planned or dreamed, I feel exhilarated that I am on this journey. The struggles, the doubts, the setbacks,… well it’s part of the process too.
24:24
I am going to try and make a few shorter episodes and will hopefully catch up and get back to the rhythm I prefer. Despite several setbacks in technical and personal matters, I have crossed the point in this story where I feel a strong momentum towards the story’s ultimate resolution.
I want to thank all who join me on this journey and discovery, and I hope you will travel with me further to the end.
Our heirs and heiresses have plenty more twists and turns in the battles between love and fortune.
24:56
They’re back… My two webinars on the original first two Waldorf-Astoria hotels. Come explore the family dispute that led to the creation of the original hotel, and how the second hotel evolves with the times. Both cover events and people with a ton of photos documenting and verifying the stories told. Come check out Part 1 on Friday, November 1st, 2024 and Part 2 on Friday, November 8th, 2024 both at 5:30pm EST / 2:30pm PST. $12 each, live with access one week afterwards. Available via New York Adventure Club, www.nyadventureclub.com.. Links also posted via the News & Events section at asthemoneyburns.com and all social media.
Friday, November 1st, 2024 5:30pm EST / 2:30pm PST – Waldorf Astoria Hotel Part 1: A New Standard of Luxury (pre-1929), Come learn more about the Astor family dispute behind the famous hotel and its construction as well as the hotel’s influence on luxury travel and fine dining. Connections to the Titanic as well as other events and famous people will also be explored. But all good things come to and end.
Friday, November 8th, 2024 5:30pm EST / 2:30pm PST – Waldorf Astoria Hotel New York Part 2: Manhattan’s Grandest Hotel (1931-present), The second version of this fine luxury hotel comes during the dawn of new era which will bring new challenges and excitement. A lingering Astor family connection adds to the saga until a new family the Hilton dynasty rises and takes over. More celebrities and events will add to allure of this hotel. Finally, updates reveal the recent renovations, an auction, and the future for the third incarnation.
Links available in the notes and transcript sections.
If you enjoy As The Money Burns, then please share, like, & subscribe.
Hook
25:56
[Music – My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands]
Next when we return to AS THE MONEY BURNS…
As Tennis Week ends, the real competition is over the three best finale parties, with one hostess playing with all her might.
Until then…
Credits
26:15
AS THE MONEY BURNS is an original podcast written, produced, and voiced by Nicki Woodard, based on historical research. Archival music has been provided by Past Perfect Vintage Music, check out their website at www.pastperfect.com.
Please come visit us at As The Money Burns via Goodpods, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook (now Meta), or Instagram. Transcripts, timeline, episode guide, and character bios are available at asthemoneyburns.com.
26:45
THE END.