In last week's episode, we took a look at the world of the Gilded Ages famous balls from

what they meant on a social level to what you could expect once you made your own grand entrance.

We looked at several of the most famous society suarez from Ward McAllister's Patriarchs

Balls to Mrs. Astor's annual Opera Ball,

to Alva Vanderbilt's Society Busting Costum extravaganza, and we ended with James Hayes'

Hides evening at Versailles that unfortunately led to his financial and social downfall.

But there is one ball without which we couldn't possibly tie up our discussion of the

Gilded Ages grandest parties.

I left it out last week because I wanted to dedicate an entire show to understanding all of what went on.

And as you will see, my guest today has a very special perspective on it all.

So put on your finest evening dress and join me for one more night at the ball.

Music Hello, I'm Carl Raymond, the host of the Gilded Gentleman History podcast, where we journey into corners light and dark of America's

gilded age, France's Belle-Ipac and England's late Victorian and Edwardian eras.

Caroline Astor didn't like being jostled, but jostled she was.

Sitting in her carriage, encrusted in diamonds, swathed in velvet and fur, and

likely accompanied by her son and daughter-in-law, she looked out onto Fifth Avenue as they

approached 34th Street. Even for the Mrs. Astor, this was quite an event. Never before in her reign as Society Queen had she ever attended a ball not given in a

private home.

The streets had become filled with other carriages slowly proceeding along as they traveled

down the avenue.

They were about to join the line in front of the Waldorf Hotel, but now they

were at a near standstill. It was the night of February 10, 1897, and New York's often brutal

...