A special bonus episode from the  Bowery Boys archives!  Join Tom and Greg for an in-depth look at the architect that, as some have said,  gave the Gilded Age its look. In the years before the great firm of McKim, Mead and White with its star architect Stanford White, another American born and Paris trained architect was translating European style with uniquely American taste. Richard Morris Hunt was one of the very first to establish architecture as an art form and his work included such iconic structures as the base of the Statue of Liberty, the grand facade and entrance hall of the Metropolitan Museum of Art as well as mansions for Mrs. Astor and the Vanderbilts. Join Tom and Greg for this uniquely fascinating look at Hunt's life and influence and how he brought a refinement and sense of art into American architecture. For more images, visit the Bowery Boys website.

A look at New York's theater scene during the Gilded Age. Tim Dolan, theater historian and theater district tour guide (owner of Broadway UpClose) helps us take a look at the era's theater, including its shows, stars and theaters, some of which are still around. Through most of the 19th century New Yorkers thought of "Broadway" as a street, not a term that meant great theater or even a theater district.  This episode takes a look at what theater was like in the late 1800's and early 1900s just as Times Square was developing. This was the era of shows like Floradora and the Ziegfeld Follies. Tim discusses some famous performers, like the star Lillian Russell and the fascinating Julian Eltinge.   We look at a few theaters still playing to full houses from that time - the Hudson, the Lyceum, the New Amsterdam and the Belasco. (And a couple of those may contain a few ghosts that continue to wander their halls!) 

Take a fascinating journey back in time to visit a few British royal rulers with an intimate look at their reigns as well as at their majestic coronations.  British author and historian Tracy Borman joins The Gilded Gentleman for this unique look at history based on her book "Crown & Sceptre: A New History of the British Monarchy from William the Conqueror to King Charles III". In this second part of our coronation celebration, historian and author Tracy Borman, joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces, takes us into the world of  the Tudors to discuss just what Henry VIII and his chief minister Thomas Cromwell were really like.  We move on to the glorious rule of Elizabeth I whom Tracy says "makes us fall in love with queens".  Entering the 19th century, we look at the world of Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales who became Edward VII.  Tracy gives us a look at each of these monarch's coronations and surprisingly how they compare to that of King Charles III. If you are a royal watcher or lover of British history, don't miss this show - we end the episode with a discussion of just how the current monarchy fits into the long line of history.  

Join Carl and historian and curator, Curt DiCamillo for a fascinating look into the history of the British Crown Jewels.  Curt shares the history of the crowns and jewels, including a discussion of the oldest (and newest) pieces in the collection.  The show includes an intriguing look at how crowns likely first came to be in royal history and how they have evolved in shape and decoration from medieval times to the present day. The crowns we see today feature an extraordinary array of precious gemstones which contains stories both light and dark of how they entered the collection.   

The world of couture designers during the Gilded Age and the Belle Epoque went far beyond just the designers themselves.  Houses such as Worth, Doucet and Paquin and many others created the stunning gowns and dresses worn by both Europe's and America's moneyed elite.  But the network of milliners, hairdressers, perfumers, and even shippers and tax agents all made up the larger network that created this uniquely interdependent world.  Author Dr. Elizabeth Block (Dressing Up: The Women Who Influenced French Fashion, MIT Press) takes us deep into the Parisian fashion world of the late-19th century for a fascinating look at how these fashions were made, how much they really cost, how they were sold, and how they were shipped back to mansions on Fifth Avenue.  Discover why the House of Worth is the most well-known today, as well as some of the contributions of houses lesser known today, such as Maison Felix.