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The Gilded Age

669 replies

GreekGod · 25/01/2022 18:47

Anyone watched the first episode ? The US Downton Abbey set in New York in 1882.

Everyone keeps calling it the "US Downton" I loved it. I think possibly even more than Downton.

I would if it really was like that then in New York ie Old Money - v - New Money and the snobbery that came with that

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Raincloudsonasunnyday · 19/12/2023 21:01

The irony being that you can’t buy class. Or rather, the inverse: if you can buy it, it’s not classy.

(Revulsive terms and sentiments, but seeing as they’re the topics…!)

I think as the seasons approach the recessions and depressions of the late 19th/early 20th centuries, and as the civil rights movement gathers pace, we could see some interesting developments. Julian Fellowes isn’t the one to do justice to either, really, as he wants to make light entertainment. But he’s a clever man and often hints at things. I’m looking forward to all that.

Separately, I’m pretty sure one of the Rhode Island mansions in the series is modeled around Taylor Swift’s house up there. Dim memory of it having an interesting history (not bothered enough to check it out right now!).

Chemenger · 20/12/2023 16:47

The Rhode Island houses are all genuine Newport mansions, with some editing. I think they use The Elms for most of it. Taylor Swift’s house is not in Newport, it’s in Westerly, I think.

NeedWineNow · 21/12/2023 09:31

We were due to stop at Newport, Rhode Island and do a ‘Gilded Age’ tour on our recent USA/Canada cruise. Sadly we had to miss it because of an itinerary change due to bad weather which was disappointing as we were looking forward to it. Another time 🤞

Chemenger · 21/12/2023 10:28

The Newport mansions are absolutely jaw dropping in their splendour and excess! Well worth a visit.

LittleMrsPretty · 21/12/2023 16:43

Where is Newport, is it similar to the Hamptons now? Just a different area?

Andylion · 21/12/2023 16:47

Now that I think of it, I believe the families in The Age of Innocence, the Edith Wharton novel, had homes in Newport.

Chemenger · 21/12/2023 17:10

Newport is on the coast of Rhode Island, south of Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard (both in Massachusetts I think). Jackie Kennedy’s family had a house there and her wedding was there. There are still a lot of nice houses there but the Gilded Age mansions are run by a charity. My feeling is that the super-rich have moved on from Newport but it’s still a lovely place to visit. There is a polo club that has regular international matches - we saw the USA vs Ireland and Mexico there. They have an annual charity ball in one of the mansions which is fancy but not ultra expensive (I’ve been so it’s definitely not for just the rich, although there were some seriously wealthy people there).

Raincloudsonasunnyday · 21/12/2023 20:27

Newport has a sort of faded glory. What was fashionable some time ago, isn't now. The Hamptons of today just needs lots of money to penetrate: you can be a business-person, an actor, a chef, American, British...you just have to be able to afford a nice house there, and none of them are on the scale of the Newport Mansions. Depending on traffic, the Hamptons (which is a term encompassing villages and towns like East Hampton, South Hampton, Amagansett, Sag Harbor etc) can be anywhere between 3 and 5 hours' drive from midtown Manhattan. Newport is still, today, probably a 8-9 hour drive up the coast. There are regular private helicopter shuttles.

Martha's Vineyard (an island off of Cape Cod, which is a spit of land jutting into the Atlantic from the Boston region of Massachusettes) is arguably more exclusive than Newport. People don't value stone mansions with manicured gardens and staff quarters, as much as they value private beach access from a sprawling glass and wood house with stunning sunsets (which is difficult to reach). The Kennedy family was (is?) based in Hyannis, which is the mainland port (it's not really a port as such, just a large dock really) for shuttle boats to/from Hyannis and Nantucket / Martha's Vineyard (Nantucket is the island next to MV, it has a more conservative, preppy reputation and is for serious sailors). MV has a tiny airport, with lots of parking spots for private jets.

There's not really an equivalent of these places in the UK. I suppose you could say that Newport is a bit like Biarritz: its heyday definitely behind it, but still got good bones. The Hamptons are like very expensive and exclusive towns and villages dotted along the French Riviera, or the Amalfi coast. But that's not really accurate. It's difficult to compare.

Everydaydayisaschoolday · 22/12/2023 10:46

Young American heiresses being married off to British aristocracy was very common at the time. Winston Churchill's American mum was only 20 when she married Lord Randolph Churchill who was 24 years older than her.

It wasnt just Americans either. Back then wealthy people and the aristocracy mostly married for position and money. They were effectively arranged marriages struck to protect fortunes and dynasties rather than love matches. That's why adultery was so common amongst the upper classes -for many people there was no sense of betrayal because the relationship wasn't based on love.

DollieBantrysPantry · 22/12/2023 13:32

Season 3 has been announced 😊

dastidlydaschel · 22/12/2023 13:43

DollieBantrysPantry · 22/12/2023 13:32

Season 3 has been announced 😊

Excellent news! Does it give a date?

DollieBantrysPantry · 22/12/2023 13:58

Sadly not but hope we aren’t waiting too long!

App13 · 22/12/2023 15:13

DollieBantrysPantry · 22/12/2023 13:58

Sadly not but hope we aren’t waiting too long!

Snap

SenecaFallsRedux · 22/12/2023 15:17

So happy it's been renewed!

NeedWineNow · 22/12/2023 15:47

That’s great news!

AcrossthePond55 · 22/12/2023 16:12

Season 3, hurry up!

But I expect we won't see anything until very late 2024 or early 2025.

Assuming no new labour problems.

GreenClock · 22/12/2023 17:06

Brilliant news! I bet the cast members are thrilled.

LittleMrsPretty · 25/12/2023 00:06

I just finished watching the Buccaneers, it was really good. A really Modern twist on the guided age era.

Merry Christmas all, Im going to bed.

KatherineJaneway · 01/01/2024 19:05

I think next season is all about power struggles. Agnes and Ada due to the change in fortunes. George and Bertha as George has said Gladys can marry for love but Bertha wants her to marry the Duke. I also suspect that Marion and Larry will form as a couple which is not what George maybe wants.

LittleMrsPretty · 01/01/2024 20:34

Im interested to see how the Marion and Larry story plays out as obviously Bertha wants a high ranking marriage for Gladys but will they want the same for Larry? George will want both his children to marry for Love but Bertha may want more for Larry also?

Raincloudsonasunnyday · 01/01/2024 22:25

Well, presumably Marion will inherit from Ada, maybe making her an interesting prospect for Larry depending on the size of Luke’s fortune.

AcrossthePond55 · 01/01/2024 23:26

I think George would actually be happy about Larry and Marion. He seems to like and approve of her. And since he married for love he'd be happy to know that Larry is doing the same. I think Ada will feel the same way about Larry for Marion.

Bertha will hate it because she knows Agnes considers her a parvenu and she wants her children to 'marry up' in order to increase her social status and opportunities. Agnes will hate it because Bertha IS a parvenu and she doesn't want Marion to 'marry down'. Although I think Agnes will be mollified since Marion will definitely be financially secure and after Oscar 'ruining' the Van Rhijns I think she realizes the importance of financial security and how easily it can disappear.

AcrossthePond55 · 01/01/2024 23:32

Raincloudsonasunnyday · 01/01/2024 22:25

Well, presumably Marion will inherit from Ada, maybe making her an interesting prospect for Larry depending on the size of Luke’s fortune.

I think Ada's heirs would be Agnes, Marion, and Oscar. I can't see her cutting any of them out. Although she may establish some sort of family trust like quite a few of the Gilded Age families did. So each of them would get a share of the interest, but never be able to touch the principle. That might not make either Marion or Oscar 'blue chip' marital prospects.

Wytchy · 05/01/2024 14:57

Just finished the second series. Delighted for Ada and her newly found wealth Grin

I think in the third series Gladys will rage and show her teeth when she discovers her mother has hatched a plan to sell her off to the Duke, and Bertha will be shocked to discover her daughter isn't the pliable little miss she's been up until now. And George will defy his wife and support his daughter.

George is so hot. Who could blame Turner for trying.