The Vanderbilts, notorious new money arrivistes, leveraged their immense wealth to construct opulent mansions and establish themselves as prominent figures in New York society. Season two of HBO’s popular series, The Gilded Age, delves into the dramatic portrayal of the Vanderbilts’ journey to establish the Metropolitan Opera after being rejected by the Academy of Music. The show also depicts the story of Ward McAllister, a charismatic Southern socialite who immersed himself in Gilded Age society alongside the influential Caroline Astor. This upcoming season of The Gilded Age offers a captivating look into the scandalous lives of America’s wealthiest dynasties, brimming with unparalleled creativity and intrigue.
Created by Julian Fellowes, the show brilliantly captures the ongoing struggle between established old money families like Agnes van Rhijn (played by Christine Baranski) and Caroline Astor (played by Donna Murphy), who are desperate to preserve their exclusive circle and keep out the newly wealthy interlopers George and Bertha Russell. Set in 1880s New York, the series is based on true events and takes on a vibrant and colorful portrayal of the clash between money and manners, particularly through the intriguing story of dueling opera houses.
During the flourishing Gilded Age in New York City, having a box seat at the prestigious Academy of Music was the ultimate status symbol, reflecting a person’s wealth, breeding, and societal standing. These highly coveted boxes were fiercely guarded by esteemed families such as the Astors, Livingstons, Schermerhorns, and Roosevelts. However, the nouveau riche individuals including the Vanderbilts, Carnegies, and Rockefellers were strictly barred from these exclusive privileges. When William Henry Vanderbilt, one of the wealthiest men at that time, attempted to purchase a box at the Academy with a lavish sum of $30,000, he was promptly rejected.
Deeply resentful of this exclusionary culture, the newly rich families united to construct the Metropolitan Opera House on Broadway and 39th Street, surpassing the old Academy in all aspects of magnificence and splendor. Today, the Met remains a cherished institution within the New York City performing arts scene at Lincoln Center. Without this lesser-known feud among American aristocrats, the renowned music box would not have come into existence. The forthcoming season of The Gilded Age unveils the captivating clashes, scandalous secrets, and compelling American dynasties that have inspired this extraordinary HBO series, premiering on October 29.
The second season of The Gilded Age intensifies the clash between Caroline Astor and Bertha Russell (a fictionalized version of Alva Vanderbilt) as they vie for prominence in New York society. The battleground for this social war lies within the Academy of Music, where the Vanderbilts and other industrialists of new money are denied box seats. William Vanderbilt spearheads the construction of a grand opera house that outshines the Academy in size, influence, and magnificence. When it comes to displaying societal status, according to Bertha in season two of the show, “The opera is where society puts itself on display, where the elite meet each other and their children court each other, and where the wheels of society turn.”
The Academy of Music, situated on the corner of 14th Street and Irving Place, epitomized social life for the affluent gentry of America. It was the sole venue for grand opera performances in the city and hosted numerous extravagant balls, including a reception for the Prince of Wales in 1860. Access to private boxes within the theater represented an emblem of social prominence passed down through generations. Edith Wharton aptly encapsulated the sentiment in her novel, “The Age of Innocence,” as she wrote, “Conservatives cherished it [the Academy] for being small and inconvenient, and thus keeping out the ‘new people’ whom New York was beginning to dread and yet be drawn to.”
Following their exclusion from the Academy, William Vanderbilt and his fellow industrialists pooled their resources to erect a new opera house that surpassed the Academy in influence, relevance, and grandeur. The Metropolitan Opera opened in October 1883 to resounding acclaim. Located on the corner of Broadway and 39th Street to ensure proximity to their uptown residences on Fifth Avenue, the magnificent building boasted lavish gas-lit crystal chandeliers and sumptuous red velvet décor, instantly eclipsing the outdated Academy of Music. The three levels of box seats catered to individuals of varying financial means, with the exclusive “Diamond Horseshoe” reserved for the wealthiest elites, showcasing their opulent lifestyles adorned with diamonds and the latest European fashion.
William Vanderbilt acquired three boxes, one for himself and the remaining two for his sons. While considered a triumph, one newspaper critique compared the Met to a menagerie of monopolists, emanating the scent of crisp greenbacks from visitors like the Goulds and Vanderbilts. Notably, Caroline Astor conveniently avoided attending the Met’s opening day, preferring to wait and gauge the social landscape. However, it did not take long for her old money associates to gravitate towards the Met. Within two years of its establishment, the Academy of Music permanently closed its doors. Alva Vanderbilt’s early victory in the battle for social supremacy set the stage for her eventual dethroning of Caroline Astor as the Queen of New York society. Presently, the Metropolitan Opera thrives at its new location in Lincoln Center, while the original Gilded Age building was demolished in 1966.
Season one of The Gilded Age traces the journey of Bertha Russell (based on Alva Vanderbilt) as she tenaciously infiltrates New York society. While facing a personal power struggle with Caroline Astor, the influential matriarch of the established elite, Bertha seeks to disrupt the status quo. Caroline Astor, portrayed by Donna Murphy, epitomizes the reigning queen of New York Society, harboring disdain for nouveau riche families like the Vanderbilts and Morgans. The Astors, known for their prominence in the fur and real estate industries, represent the epitome of “old money” during the Gilded Age. Caroline Astor’s control over the city’s exclusive “Four Hundred” firmly establishes her as the primary gatekeeper of New York society. Carrie Astor, Caroline’s beautiful daughter portrayed by Amy Forsyth, also plays a significant role in season one.
Similar to the real-life Vanderbilts, the Russells in The Gilded Age are an up-and-coming family that amasses their fortune through railroads. Season one showcases Bertha Russell’s endeavors to emulate the established elite by constructing a Fifth Avenue mansion resembling a French chateau. She endeavors to adopt their refined habits by employing liveried servants and a French chef, and acquiring furniture, tapestries, and carpets sourced from European castles. The third generation of the Vanderbilt family is determined to use their inherited wealth to infiltrate the exclusive world of New York society. Previously considered vulgar nouveau riche by the old guard, it is their extravagant and excessive lifestyles that ultimately captivate the public’s attention.
The series recounts how Willie Kissam Vanderbilt, grandson of the famed “Commodore,” and his ambitious wife, Alva, utilize their vast fortune to challenge the cloistered parlor rooms of old money. Their pursuit of dominance involves navigating a personal power struggle with Caroline Astor, the embodiment of landed aristocracy in America at that time. Prior to this, no one dared to confront Caroline Astor, until Mrs. Astor indicated her willingness to accept Alva Vanderbilt into the upper echelons of New York society. Through captivating storytelling and vibrant characters, The Gilded Age offers a compelling narrative steeped in power struggles, personal rivalries, and the quest for social dominance.
