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The Lost Gilded Age Mansions of New York (Documentary)

Old Money Documentaries2023-12-10
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💫 Short Summary

The video explores the true story of the Charles M. Schwab Mansion, also known as the Triple Palace, in New York City. It showcases the mansion's construction, opulence, and eventual demolition, highlighting the role of Charles M. Schwab, his wife Emma Urana Schwab, and the changing dynamics of the Gilded Age. The mansion, once a symbol of wealth and architectural grandeur, stood abandoned and was replaced by modern apartments, reflecting the ephemeral nature of riches and the relentless march of time.The video explores the stories behind the demolition of the Lou Comfort Tiffany mansion and the Waldorf and Astoria hotels in New York City, highlighting their significant impact on architectural history and the city's evolving identity. The mansions' demolitions served as catalysts for architectural preservation movements, sparking a renewed interest in historical buildings and their cultural influence.The video explores the rich history of the Dakota building in New York City, its cultural prominence, the influential role of Yoko Ono in shaping its narrative, and the factors contributing to its enduring allure. It also delves into the opulent mansions that inspired The Great Gatsby, including Beacon Towers, Lands End, and Pembrook, showcasing their extravagant features and historical significance. Additionally, the video discusses the construction and unfortunate downfall of the old Pennsylvania Station in New York, highlighting the station's role in transforming the city's transportation landscape.The segment discusses the architectural wonder of the old New York Penn Station, its tragic demise, and the subsequent modern historic preservation movement it ignited. The station's construction, scale, and design are highlighted, as well as the factors that led to its neglect and eventual demolition. The role of William Zindorf in claiming the station's air rights and the public outcry and establishment of the landmarks preservation commission are also covered. The section concludes by emphasizing the station's legacy as a catalyst for the preservation of other historic structures across the United States.

✨ Highlights
📊 Transcript
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The video investigates why the Charles M Schwab Mansion, a prized architectural gem in New York City, was destroyed.
00:00
The mansion was a crown jewel of the Manhattan skyline, completed in 1906 in the bow art style.
It was a symbol of Gilded Age opulence, with 75 rooms showcasing exquisite artisan craftsmanship.
Charles M Schwab, born in 1862, became a titan of the steel industry, starting his career at Edgar Thompson steelworks.
Schwab married Emma Urana Dinkl, who played an active role in their financial decisions.
Schwab built a modern mansion on Riverside Drive, which was a cutting-edge sanctuary in defiance of traditional grandeur.
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The Charles M Schwab Mansion was a groundbreaking beacon of modernity, with luxuries unheard of in elite homes of the era.
07:49
Over $6 million, or $200 million in today's currency, was spent on the house and its furnishings.
The mansion had marble pillars, a custom chapel, a bowling alley, a glazed brick pool, a home gym, and an art gallery with $50 million worth of art.
Schwab's collection of tapestries took a detour to the 1904 World's Fair before adorning his residence.
The mansion's former glory was replaced by a large red brick apartment complex named the Schwab House.
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The video explores the rags to riches to rags story of the Charles M Schwab Mansion, detailing its construction, opulence, and eventual demolition.
13:02
Introduction to Charles M Schwab, a symbol of a time when the clang of metal and the glow of molten steel were the beating heart of America.
Schwab's modest beginnings in Pennsylvania.
His climb to the top of the steel industry and the construction of the Charles M Schwab Mansion.
The role of his wife, Urana Schwab, in their marital dynamic and business decisions.
The opulent features of the mansion, including its bozart inspired design and modern amenities.
Schwab's personal life began to unravel due to his extravagant expenditures and the mansion's upkeep became insurmountable.
The mansion, once the pinnacle of luxury, stood abandoned and was eventually dismantled and replaced by a red brick apartment complex.
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The southern half of the Vanderbilt Mansion was sold and later demolished, while the northern section saw grand events but eventually succumbed to financial pressures and was auctioned off.
25:03
The southern half of the mansion was sold to the William Waldorf Aster estate, which sought to repurpose the site due to the growth of commercial enterprises in the area.
Public events were held in the mansion, including an American Red Cross benefit, but the death of Cornelius III marked the end of its era of grandeur.
The widow of Cornelius III auctioned off the Vanderbilt art collection, and the demolition of the mansion's southern section began in 1947, with the complete raising of the structure by March 1949.
The mansion's downfall was met with media lamentation, and its replacement by modern commercial buildings signified a pivotal alteration in the city's architectural and socioeconomic fabric.
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The "Old Money Mansions" video explores the stories behind the demolition of two iconic New York City buildings, the Lou Comfort Tiffany mansion and the Waldorf and Astoria hotels, and their significant impact on architectural history.
00:00
Introduction to the video's focus on the demolition of the Lou Comfort Tiffany mansion and the Waldorf and Astoria hotels.
The Tiffany mansion, once the "Jewel of Fifth Avenue," was the home of Lou Comfort Tiffany, a prominent jeweler and designer.
The mansion was a masterpiece of American architecture and design, symbolizing Tiffany's success and love for art.
The Waldorf and Astoria hotels were the pinnacle of American extravagance, built in the bustling urban landscape of Gilded Age New York City.
The hotels emerged as monuments to grandeur and one-upmanship in a family rivalry between William Waldorf Astor and John Jacob Astor IV.
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The Luxurious Waldorf and Astoria hotels faced an unforeseeable destiny as they eroded, crumbled, and ultimately raised to the ground due to economic downturns, ownership transitions, and societal evolution.
05:57
The hotels faced skepticism and condemnation in their inaugural years but successfully attracted elite guests and generated significant revenue.
New luxurious establishments and the Great Depression further diminished the hotels' role in the city, leading to their eventual demolition.
The original Waldorf Astoria was raised to make room for the Empire State Building in 1928, but a new Waldorf Astoria was resurrected in 1931 on Park Avenue.
The ASter family sold their remaining interests in the hotel empire to the developers of the Empire State Building in 1929.
The Waldorf Astoria name lived on as an iconic symbol in New York City's rich history.
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The Dakota building, an emblem of cultural sophistication and architectural brilliance, was designed by Edward Clark to be a sanctuary for intellectual and creative fellowship.
11:56
The Dakota was a luxurious and technologically innovative residential building, a symbol of the art of living well.
It attracted high-caliber tenants, including renowned artists, authors, and musicians, and transformed the Upper West Side into a flourishing enclave.
The name "Dakota" was humorously coined due to the remote location of the Upper West Side at the time of the building's construction.
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The Dakota building's allure as a sanctuary for the stars reached celestial heights, attracting luminaries from the stage and screen who found their haven within its storied walls.
17:24
Glittering personalities were enticed by its opulent suites and sweeping park views, as well as the privacy and security it offered.
Even during the Great Depression, the Dakota remained a siren call to wealthy New Yorkers, becoming a refuge for cultural titans.
The grim era of the Great Depression failed to dim the Dakota's luster, and it remained a luxury residence for the city's well-heeled denizens.
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The Dakota became a city landmark in 1957, cementing its place as a historical and cultural epicenter.
01:01:15
The building's designation as a city landmark safeguarded its architectural grandeur for future generations.
The Dakota soared to new cultural prominence in the 1960s, becoming a backdrop in films and an inseparable part of American pop culture.
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Yoko Ono has shaped the Dakota's narrative and atmosphere, making it a beacon for creators and advocates.
01:02:29
She placed a 'Imagine' sign on the rooftop as a memorial to John Lennon.
She sanctified Strawberry Fields as a memorial to Lennon.
Ono's artistic endeavors and activism have elevated the building's cultural prominence and enriched its atmosphere.
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The Dakota has been fortified with security measures but also criticized for its exclusionary policies.
01:03:59
Cameras and guards patrol the corridors, and gates stand at the entrance.
Allegations of wrongful eviction and anti-Semitic sentiments rattled the building's foundations in 1984.
The tarnish on the Dakota's reputation remained despite out-of-court resolutions.
The building's security architecture had been elevated to fortress-like levels by 1988.
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The Dakota's location in the Upper West Side and its co-op structure offer residents communal control and stability in the volatile real estate market.
01:05:22
The co-op structure gives residents control over finances and decision-making processes.
The location in the Upper West Side adds another layer of immunity to market volatility.
The escalating median sale prices demonstrate the building's enduring allure and magnetism.
A constellation of celebrities has been captivated by the building's amalgamation of historical allure and security.
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The Dakota is an exceptional dwelling that offers the best of both epochs, with physical attributes and an indelible cultural imprint.
01:07:42
Residents find the Dakota's position irresistibly captivating.
The mansion is both anachronistic and avant-garde.
It has indelibly imprinted itself on the American cultural psyche.
The mansion's frequent cinematic and televisual features make it more than just a structure.
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Beacon Towers at Sands Point, New York, is believed to have inspired the creation of Jay Gatsby's mansion.
01:10:09
Beacon Towers was the brainchild of Alva Vanderbilt Belmont, known for her insatiable appetite for building.
The mansion had a remarkable blend of architectural influences, including Gothic and historical styles.
The interior had numerous rooms, with the total count exceeding 140.
Beacon Towers was demolished in the early 1940s, but it remains a direct inspiration for one of the greatest novels in American history.
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Land's End at Sands Point, New York, is an iconic Gold Coast mansion that stood for over a century, inspiring the home of Tom and Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby.
01:13:29
The mansion's construction is attributed to the esteemed architect Stanford White, but some claims remain unverified.
Land's End possesses classic grandeur with its white facade and imposing columns, common features of many mansions of its kind.
Fitzgerald reimagined Sands Point as East Egg in his novel, a place where old established money resided.
The Buchanan mansion and Gatsby's house are situated on the same side of the harbor in Sands Point, according to maps of the area.
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Pembrook in Glen Cove, New York, served as the inspiration for Gatsby's mansion and was the scene of extravagant parties in the RO in 20s.
01:16:05
Fitzgerald likely attended some of the most rockus and extravagant parties at Pembrook, inspiring the Gatsby novel.
Pembrook had a key role to play in relation to other homes that inspired mansions in The Great Gatsby.
The Mansion overlooked Hemstead Harbor on Long Island's legendary Gold Coast and had some 80,000 Square ft of living space.
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Harbor Hill in Roslyn, another mansion that inspired The Great Gatsby, is believed to have been the inspiration for the opulent parties depicted in the novel.
01:19:47
The McKays were known for throwing big and lavish parties at Harbor Hill.
The mansion was likely the inspiration for the parties depicted in The Great Gatsby.
Harbor Hill was the creation of architect Stanford White.
The mansion's gardens were a veritable paradise of terraces and water features.
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Oheka Castle, the mansion that served as the key inspiration for the grandeur and excess of Leonardo DiCaprio's mansion in The Great Gatsby, is meticulously maintained and can be visited today.
01:22:24
Oheka Castle was the dream home of its owner, Otto Herman Kahn, and was designed by the renowned architectural firm Delano and Aldrich.
The castle took 3 years and over 1,000 workers to complete, boasting 127 rooms and set on over 400 acres of landscaped gardens.
The interiors of the castle were magnificent, with rich wood paneling, carvings, and chandeliers.
The castle featured a grand ballroom, a private movie theater, and a gymnasium, and had one of the greatest private art collections in America.
Oheka Castle served as the inspiration for the opulence and extravagance of The Great Gatsby.
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The video explores the story of the old Pennsylvania Station in New York, its construction, and unfortunate downfall.
01:25:13
Pennsylvania Station was built to endow the Penn Railroad with an uninterrupted conduit into Manhattan.
Alexander Cassat, the president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, commissioned the construction of Penn Station.
Cassat entrusted the architectural firm McKim, Mead, and White with the design of Penn Station.
The construction of Penn Station necessitated the creation of underwater tunnels beneath the Hudson River, revolutionizing the commute into Manhattan.
The original Penn Station was a glittering beacon of engineering innovation, with an imposing facade along 7th Avenue and a grand waiting room modeled after the bars of kacala from ancient Rome.
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The old Penn Station was an architectural wonder of its time, with a coffered ceiling made of travertine from Tivoli, inspired by the design of European train sheds, and constructed with advanced engineering.
01:31:28
The station had colossal entrances and exits.
Stairways leading to 33rd and 31st streets were well positioned.
The station had enormous clear windows allowing natural light to flood the hall.
The coffered ceiling was made of travertine quarried from Tivoli, the same stone used to build Rome's Coliseum.
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The old Penn Station's tragic demise was due to the financial predicaments of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the decline of the railroad industry, which led to its neglect and eventual demolition.
01:32:39
The station was burdensome for the Pennsylvania Railroad to maintain.
Demand for train services dramatically decreased due to the rising popularity of air travel and the advent of the jet age.
The station's neglect and eventual demolition were also fueled by the desire for alternative revenue sources and the expanding highway system.
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The dwindling interest in train travel was not only a product of the rise of air travel but also stemmed from the expanding highway system in the United States.
01:35:00
High-speed four-lane corridors facilitated road travel, further undermining passenger rail travel.
Stringent sanctions and regulations imposed by the Interstate Commerce Commission on the railroad industry also contributed to the waning fortunes of railroads.
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William Zindorf, a real estate magnate, entered into a pivotal agreement with Pennsylvania Railroad President James Simes in 1955, claiming the air rights of Penn Station.
01:36:14
Zindorf had a reputation for being a visionary in real estate development.
He conceived a plan to replace the station with a palace of progress, but the railroad decided to seed its air rights for a new Madison Square Garden and an office tower.
This led to the decision to dismantle the station and lease out its airspace to supplement their income.
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The demolition of Penn Station in 1963 sparked a public outcry and led to the establishment of the landmarks preservation commission, saving other historic structures such as New York City's Grand Central Terminal.
01:37:50
The demolition of Penn Station lasted from 1963 to 1968.
The bitter end of the old Penn Station proved to be the catalyst for the modern historic preservation movement in the United States.
The preservation movement has since been instrumental in the protection of thousands of architecturally, historically, and culturally significant buildings and sites across the country.