When Town Topics magazine appeared in the 1880s, Gilded Age New Yorkers enjoyed its coverage of the arts, culture, and social scene of balls, opera, and grand parties. But there was another element in the mix—the often salacious, sensationalized, scandalous coverage of the drama of the gilded set in the publisher’s column “Saunterings.”

Using a network of informants across the city, the publisher, Colonel William D’Alton Mann, frequently printed implied gossip about "The Four Hundred" — unless, of course, he was paid to keep it out of his pages.

Town Topics became a blackmail and extortion scheme for Mann—until a dramatic sting operation involving the husband of future etiquette writer Emily Post exposed it all.

Journalist and author Joe Pompeo joins the Gilded Gentleman table to delve into Town Topics and all of its scandals and true crimes.

This episode was edited and produced by Kieran Gannon.

For other true-crime newspaper-themed shows, listen to the recent Bowery Boys podcasts on the disappearance of Judge Crater and the Subway Vigilante shooting.

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New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis knows about both history and mystery.

In her eight novels, Davis deftly weaves real-life historical characters and events with fiction to create fascinating tales with lots of intrigue and always a good mystery to solve along the way. And all of them are set in iconic New York City landmarks, in time periods ranging from the Gilded Age to the Jazz Age and beyond

In this show, Fiona joins the Gilded Gentleman to discuss three novels with ties to the Gilded Age,The Address, set in the fabled Dakota apartment building, The Magnolia Palace which takes place in the mansion of Henry Clay Frick (now The Frick Collection), and her most recent, The Stolen Queen set in the great Gilded Age architectural masterpiece, the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Fiona discusses the real history behind her novels as well as the craft of mystery writing to keep her readers reading until the inevitable fascinating conclusions.

This episode was edited and produced by Kieran Gannon.

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Many fans of Edith Wharton's great novels "The Age of Innocence" and "The House of Mirth" may not realize that her very first published book was not a work of fiction at all.

In 1897, in collaboration with architect and interior designer Ogden Codman Jr, Wharton published "The Decoration of Houses", at the time, a groundbreaking work on the philosophy of interior design calling for a return to the classic European principles of balance, symmetry and proportion.

In fact when she built her own great country home The Mount in Lenox, Massachusetts in 1902, she incorporated many of the French, Italian and British principles she lays out in the book.

In this episode, returning guest Dr. Emily Orlando, noted Wharton scholar and author, helps us understand just what the publication of this first book meant to Wharton and the career that was to come.

Furthermore, Dr. Orlando addresses the overriding theme of Wharton's own search for home and place that reoccurs regularly in her stories and novels. We can then understand not only Edith Wharton's concepts for classic architectural design but at least for her - what makes a house a home.

Dr. Emily Orlando is the editor of a recently published new annotated edition of "The Decoration of Houses" available wherever books are sold.

This episode was produced and edited by Kieran Gannon

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Don Spiro, a vintage beverage specialist and one of the Gilded Gentleman's most popular guests, serves up a fascinating history of cocktails in the 19th century. So many cocktails often thought to have originated in the 20th century actually had their origins in the bars and saloons of the Gilded Age.

So fill the ice bucket and join Don and The Gilded Gentleman in a toast to a great new year!

This episode was edited by Kieran Gannon

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For many New Yorkers—and visitors alike—New Year’s Eve means gathering in Times Square, patiently counting down as the crystal-studded ball descends from the top of the former New York Times Building to mark the start of a new year.

Yet the celebration’s story runs far deeper than that single iconic moment. From how Times Square became the heart of the festivities to the ways its evolving character has shaped the city’s most famous night, New York’s New Year traditions are rich with history.

Join Greg Young and Tom Meyers of The Bowery Boys Podcast as they journey back in time to explore these celebrations, including the origins of one of the city’s oldest traditions—New York’s Chinese New Year.

Pop a bottle of bubbly and ring in the New Year with the Bowery Boys!

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Bowery Boys History Live is a live-show series at City Winery hosted by Greg Young featuring a variety of historians and tour guides. The last installment this summer featured author Liz Block and tour guide Keith Taillon. As live performances, they're a bit more loose and irreverent than the regular podcast and sometimes feature references to images being projected on stage.

As a special holiday bonus, step into the season with this festive dose of “Hot Victorian” history, naughty-list edition.

Join Greg Young of the Bowery Boys Podcast as he hosts this special holiday edition of Bowery Boys History Live!, recorded before a live audience at New York’s City Winery on Dec 12, 2025.

Featuring an all-star lineup: Carl Raymond of The Gilded Gentleman Podcast, Aaron Radford-Wattley—creator and author of Hot Victorians: Meet Your Dream Man from the Past—and historian and tour guide Kyle Supley — aka the clock whisperer.

So pour yourself some eggnog, cozy up by the fire, and enjoy live shenanigans full of holiday history and vintage comedy.

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The new revival of the musical Ragtime, by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (book by Terrence McNally, based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow), is one of the big hits of the new Broadway season. Lincoln Center Theater has produced the latest rendition, and times have certainly changed since the musical's original Broadway production in 1998.

The new revival makes the show's characters and issues even more relevant for our present day. Along with the fictional character Coalhouse Walker Jr. and the archetypal characters Father, Mother, and Younger Brother, the show features several celebrities and power players from turn-of-the-century New York.

Anna Grace Barlow, who plays Broadway star Evelyn Nesbit, and Rodd Cyrus, who stars as iconic illusionist Harry Houdini, join The Gilded Gentleman for a behind-the-scenes talk about their characters and their experiences performing in the show.

This episode was produced and edited by Kieran Gannon.

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During the 19th century celebrations began to evolve from the once more popular New Year's Day to the beginnings of the Christmas celebrations we know today.

In author Becky Diamond's new book "The Gilded Age Christmas Cookbook", Becky shares recipes, stories and historical notes to add glitter and sparkle to today's Christmas festivities. Becky discusses the origins of many of our favorite traditions, which were brought to America by waves of immigrants arriving during the 19th century.

And for modern readers and cooks, she shares some easy-to-make recipes for very special dishes of the Gilded Age that will be a treat for our modern holiday celebrations.

Ths episode was produced and edited by Kieran Gannon.

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