Mrs. Caroline Astor Was the Ultimate New York Socialite

On HBO’s The Gilded Age, the family rivalries might be fictional, but the hovering presence of social arbiter par excellence Caroline Astor—played on the series by Donna Murphy—comes straight out of 19th-century New York social diaries. Caroline Webster Schermerhorn Astor, known as “The Mrs. Astor,” reigned supreme in New York society to the extent that her annual social schedule was broadly publicized. In winter she entertained at her mansion on Fifth Avenue, hosting teas, receptions, and most lavishly, late-night dinners. The highlight of the season was her annual ball, always in January on a Monday night; dinner at 11 p.m…. Read Full Article