It’s time for another Tuxedo Ball with plenty of beauties, so has this year’s most eligible bachelor finally found his future wife among them? October 1933, the top 50 debutantes of this social season mix with the most eligible bachelors at the ultra exclusive Tuxedo Park’s Autumn Ball. Will “Jakey” John Jacob Astor VI, “Alfy” Alfred Vanderbilt, Jr., Atwater “Atty” Kent, Jr., Pierre Barbey, Jr., or David Rockefeller find their future brides among these beauties? Amongst the best buds, prized debutantes include Virginia “Ginnie” Kent, Eileen Gillespie, Ellen “Tucky” French, Beatrice “Bea” Wagstaff, and Margaret “Peggy” Dorrance. Other people and subjects include: Doris Duke, James H.R. Cromwell aka “Jimmy,” Eva Stotesbury, “Jakey” John Jacob Astor VI, William “Sam” Van Alen, Elizabeth “Betty” Kent, “Alfy” Alfred Vanderbilt, Jr., Atwater “Atty” Kent, Jr., Virginia “Ginnie” Kent, Eileen Gillespie, Ellen “Tucky” French, Dorothy “Dolly” de Milhau, Pierre Barbey, Jr., David Rockefeller, Beatrice “Bea” Wagstaff, and Margaret “Peggy” Dorrance, Leta Morris, Antonio “Toni” Frissell, Alice Andre, Alida Liviningston, Mary Schuyler Schieffelin, Emily Winslow, Joan Blair, Cornelia Blakely, Gilbert Keech, Atwater Kent, Mabel Lucas Kent, Jonathan Kent, John Rockefeller, Jr., Caroline Astor, Caroline “Carrie” Astor Wilson, British King George V, British Queen Mary, Cholly Knickerbocker, George Washington, Standard Oil heirs, Campbell Soup heiress, Brinton family, Pennsylvania Society for Sons of the American Revolution, Vogue feature, bow at Court of St. James, colonial, Gilded Age, new money, radio pioneer, industrialist, Wall Street, debutante goals, dance card, stag line, wallflowers, cutting in, debutantes, buds, bounders, bachelors, heirs, heiresses, society hostess, Junior League, junior assemblies, charity, horsey set, yachting, finishing school, sculpture, social standing, weddings, engagements, Tuxedo Club, Tuxedo Park, NY, Long Island, Newport, New York City, Philadelphia, Montecito, CA, Paris, Africa big game trip, trends, manners, Ward McAllister, Pierre Lorillard, William Waldorf Astor, Bruce Price, Emily Price Post, Edwin Post, Prince Edward – Prince of Wales – King Edward VII, James Potter, Griswold “Grizzy” Lorillard, tuxedo coat, men’s fashion, military mess jacket, Marlene Dietrich, Fred Astaire, Sean Connery, James Bond – Dr. No, Rat Pack, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Etiquette: In Society, In Business, In Politics and At Home According to Emily Post, Vanity Fair, Collier’s, McCall’s, Cotillion, Easter eggs, seeds and plotlines, George R.R. Martin, gardener, architect, writer’s block, teasers, hints, dating wasteland, dating apocalypse, New York Times – “The Trouble With Wanting Men.” MGTOW (men going their own way), incels, porn, women’s financial demands, Manolo Blahniks, A.I. sex robots & chatbots, virtual partners, human – A.I. wedding in Japan, sex robots, AI chatbots, liberal women dating boycott of Republic and conservative men, 100 years of dating, courtship, fatigue, changing rules, Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sanchez, Amazon, Venice wedding, public spectacle, HBO’s The Gilded Age, Apple TV’s The Buccaneers, weddings, scandals, engagements,… Archival Music provided by Past Perfect Vintage Music, www.pastperfect.com.
It’s time for another Tuxedo Ball with plenty of beauties, so has this year’s most eligible bachelor finally found his future wife among them?
October 1933, the top 50 debutantes of this social season mix with the most eligible bachelors at the ultra exclusive Tuxedo Park’s Autumn Ball. Will “Jakey” John Jacob Astor VI, “Alfy” Alfred Vanderbilt, Jr., Atwater “Atty” Kent, Jr., Pierre Barbey, Jr., or David Rockefeller find their future brides among these beauties? Amongst the best buds, prized debutantes include Virginia “Ginnie” Kent, Eileen Gillespie, Ellen “Tucky” French, Beatrice “Bea” Wagstaff, and Margaret “Peggy” Dorrance.
Other people and subjects include:
Doris Duke, James H.R. Cromwell aka “Jimmy,” Eva Stotesbury, “Jakey” John Jacob Astor VI, William “Sam” Van Alen, Elizabeth “Betty” Kent, “Alfy” Alfred Vanderbilt, Jr., Atwater “Atty” Kent, Jr., Virginia “Ginnie” Kent, Eileen Gillespie, Ellen “Tucky” French, Dorothy “Dolly” de Milhau, Pierre Barbey, Jr., David Rockefeller, Beatrice “Bea” Wagstaff, and Margaret “Peggy” Dorrance, Leta Morris, Antonio “Toni” Frissell, Alice Andre, Alida Liviningston, Mary Schuyler Schieffelin, Emily Winslow, Joan Blair, Cornelia Blakely, Gilbert Keech, Atwater Kent, Mabel Lucas Kent, Jonathan Kent, John Rockefeller, Jr., Caroline Astor, Caroline “Carrie” Astor Wilson, British King George V, British Queen Mary, Cholly Knickerbocker, George Washington, Standard Oil heirs, Campbell Soup heiress, Brinton family, Pennsylvania Society for Sons of the American Revolution, Vogue feature, bow at Court of St. James, colonial, Gilded Age, new money, radio pioneer, industrialist, Wall Street, debutante goals, dance card, stag line, wallflowers, cutting in, debutantes, buds, bounders, bachelors, heirs, heiresses, society hostess, Junior League, junior assemblies, charity, horsey set, yachting, finishing school, sculpture, social standing, weddings, engagements, Tuxedo Club, Tuxedo Park, NY, Long Island, Newport, New York City, Philadelphia, Montecito, CA, Paris, Africa big game trip, trends, manners, Ward McAllister, Pierre Lorillard, William Waldorf Astor, Bruce Price, Emily Price Post, Edwin Post, Prince Edward – Prince of Wales – King Edward VII, James Potter, Griswold “Grizzy” Lorillard, tuxedo coat, men’s fashion, military mess jacket, Marlene Dietrich, Fred Astaire, Sean Connery, James Bond – Dr. No, Rat Pack, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Etiquette: In Society, In Business, In Politics and At Home According to Emily Post, Vanity Fair, Collier’s, McCall’s, Cotillion, Easter eggs, seeds and plotlines, George R.R. Martin, gardener, architect, writer’s block, teasers, hints, dating wasteland, dating apocalypse, New York Times – “The Trouble With Wanting Men.” MGTOW (men going their own way), incels, porn, women’s financial demands, Manolo Blahniks, A.I. sex robots & chatbots, virtual partners, human – A.I. wedding in Japan, sex robots, AI chatbots, liberal women dating boycott of Republic and conservative men, 100 years of dating, courtship, fatigue, changing rules, Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sanchez, Amazon, Venice wedding, public spectacle, HBO’s The Gilded Age, Apple TV’s The Buccaneers, weddings, scandals, engagements,…
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Archival Music provided by Past Perfect Vintage Music, www.pastperfect.com.
Opening Music: My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands
Section 1 Music: Top Hat, White Tie and Tails by Carroll Gibbons & Boy Friends, Album Sophistication – Songs of the Thirties
Section 2 Music: I Only Have Eyes for You by Freddy Gardner, Album Elegance
Section 3 Music: From the Top of Your Head by Carroll Gibbons & The Savoy Orpheans, Album The Great British Dance Bands
End Music: My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands
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AS THE MONEY BURNS
Podcast by Nicki Woodard
Episode 130 – Social Marathon
Outline
Tuxedo Ball
Debutantes and heirs
Series Tag
00:00
[Music – My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands]
AS THE MONEY BURNS is an original podcast by Nicki Woodard. Based on historical research, this is a deep exploration into what happened to a set of actual heirs and heiresses to some of America’s most famous fortunes when the Great Depression hits.
Each episode has three primary sections. Section 1 is a narrative story. Section 2 goes deeper into the historical facts. Section 3 focuses on contemporary, emotional, and personal connections.
00:31
Story Recap
Prince David Mdivani and Mae Murray finally divorce, while Doris Duke seeks travel and adventure until she becomes exposed.
Now back to AS THE MONEY BURNS
Title
00:45
Social Marathon
[Music Fade Out]
Episode Tag
It’s time for another Tuxedo Ball with plenty of beauties, so has this year’s most eligible bachelor finally found his future wife among them?
01:04
[Music – Top Hat, White Tie and Tails by Carroll Gibbons & Boy Friends, Album Sophistication – Songs of the Thirties]
Section 1 – Story
[Music Fade Out]
01:24
The time has come for another social season as a new crop of debutantes prepare to come out during balls, teas, and luncheons which will hopefully end with big announcements and wedding bells.
Kicking off this season, in his syndicated column from October 1st, 1933, Cholly Knickerbocker reminds everyone that there are 3 goals for the elite debutante. First, to attend the super exclusive junior assemblies. Second, to become provisional members of the Junior League, which comes with a lot of charity work – something not every deb finds that interesting or thrilling. Third, secure a coveted bid to the annual Autumn Ball at Tuxedo Park. Tuxedo Park is the getaway for Wall Street and longtime members of capital “S” Society. This ball with the most important and distinctive group of debutantes marks the beginning of the 3 month social marathon of coming out of the best buds of the social season.
02:24
The wire-pulling and social maneuvering more symbolize the deb’s parents’ social position rather than her own sole merits. The Mayfair ranks heavily, and the committees have to decide who simply might not belong.
This year’s buds of 1933 are likely the daughters of the buds of 1913.
In his column, Cholly notes a former Gilded Age prized debutante now widow Caroline “Carrie” Astor Wilson has decided to take a more lonely social role by choice, so unlike her mother former Society queen bee Caroline Astor. Still the Mayfair heiress could be reigning and supervising all these activities, but her absence is unusual when there many others vying for that chance.
03:12
Mid-October while many await to see the invitees to the most coveted event, Cholly announces a change in protocol for the very proper and elite Autumn Ball at Tuxedo Park.
This year the stag line is abolished. Instead of the long dances where many cut ins would occur hence the need of a long stag line, there will be shorter numbers with a higher rotation. During the occasional encore or a modern contemporary dance, cut ins will be allowed. This will hopefully prevent popular debs spinning dizzily on the floor while the less desirable wallflowers wilt on the side.
Further to keep things under control, the dance card returns. Dance partners may reserve a slot, and the debutante will have a record and keepsake of her evening’s prospects. Thus being able to enjoy the best of both, and having a higher and more selective caliber of potential mates, which is the true point of the evening.
04:10
The prettiest, the smartest, the richest, or the funniest always seem to be the top categories of choice. Sometimes it might be the most agreeable or eh-hem controllable. Who knows whatever floats the boat and matches up complementarily is what will matter most.
Oh, who’s kidding. This is the elite. Other considerations must be checked for compatibility: heir today or in the near or distant future, whose trust fund to rely on, colonial vs Gilded Age vs newer money bloodlines, industrialist vs banking, financing vs commerce,… Will the husband work or be of leisure? Does the wife have artistic dreams, possibly fashion tastemaker, or society hostess ambitions? Is the male interested in fast cars, fast boats, and fast women on the side? Will activities include yachting or horses? Is winter in Palm Beach or Bermuda? What about travel – exotic locales or European shopping trips? So many important lifestyle decisions to make.
05:20
The debs have got to make their mark and choose / win a mate by the end of the season or it will only get harder. And no one wants to miss getting the prime available husband.
Will it be a power play, a love match, thick wallet, or a social checkmate?
Time will tell, because if things go right there will soon be engagement announcements, weddings, and even babies in the very near future. That is the point of the debutante season after all.
05:50
Friday October 27th, 1933, Tuxedo Park, NY
Many gather ahead of the big event for the round of endless festivities of dinners and pre-parties. Several will stay in blocks at select homes. To start off the weekend activities, a dinner in honor of Standard Oil heiress and famed beauty Beatrice “Bea” Wagstaff (who also bowed at the Court of St. James in Spring, only 1 of 2 in this batch). Then a dance hosted by Gilbert Keech.
06:28
Saturday October 28th, 1933
An afternoon tea dance is held in honor of local debutante Joan Blair by her parents.
Then that evening is the real event – Tuxedo Park’s annual Autumn Ball. This year has 50 prized debutantes and 500 guests, the largest in years. This Halloween party is not costumed or spooky themed but filled with the bright red, gold, and orange colors characteristic of the northeastern fall foliage.
07:02
From various locations, familiar names appear as some have been getting more recent press. The de Luxe debs include:
-September Long Island hostess, Montecito, California resident, and singer Alice Andre
-Close friend to Doris Duke and a sister of another popular debutante, Newport Tennis Casino tournament participant Leta Morris
-New York based and from one of the oldest families, the ever popular Alida Livingston
-Colonial descendant and music lover, 1932 debutante Mary Schuyler Schieffelin
Among Tuxedo locals are Emily Winslow, Joan Blair, and Cornelia Bailey.
07:42
Two Newport beauties Eileen Gillespie and Ellen “Tucky” French are among the top gals selected. In October 1933, Vogue featured them with photographs taken by another former debutante turned photographer *Antonia “Toni” Frissell.
The pretty and vivacious blonde Eileen oozes the refinement of her colonial ancestry combined with a more relaxed Newport demeanor. The proper and always collected but warm Eileen knows the rules and will avoid any scandal. She is very astute and confident in her role as one of the primary belles of the season.
08:19
Tucky is a vibrant redhead who also has a pleasant, slightly mischievous personality. She’s the more enthusiastic and positive girl in the group. Her family once had a more illustrious standing but the fall in riches and numerous divorces have left a mark. At minimum, Tucky is the side bestie who cheers on the number one girl and all the guys. She is really excited to see who fills up her dance card and who will cut in. She has her eye on one particular bachelor but is more than open to other possibilities.
08:52
The debutantes try to seem composed as they excitedly pick up their dance cards. Little chain booklets with a pencil attached. A tantalizing feature that will hint at their future happiness. Will they be the popular girl on the floor this evening? In previous balls, the amount of cut ins would be a measure. Tonight, they get a little slower pace and better chance to catch the attention of an eligible bachelor. Sort of like speed dating on their feet.
09:19
And like the debs, the bachelors are the crème de la crème. The pretty buds whisper the names of whom they hope will ask them to dance. They likely may already know each other, but interactions before tonight have been quite limited.
Among this set, several debutantes and bachelors are associated with Standard Oil executives. But none more illustrious than the youngest son of John Rockefeller, Jr. – the well studied David Rockefeller, who has been focusing on his education before entering the banking and finance sector.
09:50
Two other heirs have recently come into their fortunes. The proud scion and Titanic survivor John Jacob Astor VI, aka “Jakey,” must be looking for a wife as he buys a fleet of automobiles and eyes Newport real estate. While Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, Jr., aka “Alfy,” seems more interested in his newly acquired horse farm and is planning a November big game trip in Africa.
10:17
Another prime bachelor is Atwater Kent Jr., aka “Atty.” He’s that rare heir combination – comes from money, an industrialist himself, skipping college, and since 1929 at age 21 has served as a vice president of his father’s radio company. Atty has also taken a liking and interest in several leisure activities some horse racing but even more yachting. Like his parents, he is community minded. The other bachelors might find chatting with Atty more appealing than many of tonight’s debs.
10:55
Debutante eyes light up when the group of most eligible bachelors arrive together. Jakey, Alfy, Atty, along with their weekend host Tuxedo Park’s own Pierre Barbey, Jr., the great nephew of both Tuxedo Park and the Autumn Ball founder Pierre Lorrilard. With these young men, in walks who must be the most envied and coveted debutante of the night – Atty’s sister Virginia “Ginnie” Kent. This lucky deb is spending the whole weekend with the boys. The only other female houseguest in this entourage is Campbell Soup heiress, water sports aficionado, horsewoman, future aviatrix, and the very fashionable Margaret “Peggy” Dorrance. Peggy fits right in more with the boys than Ginnie.
11:41
The Kent siblings are that special blend of old and new money. From their mother Mabel Lucas Kent, they have colonial bloodlines from the Brinton family enough to qualify Atty for Pennsylvania Society for Sons of the American Revolution. Their father A. Atwater Kent, Sr., is a radio pioneer and magnate as well as another middle sister and a younger adopted brother 10 year old brother Jonathan Kent. The Kents are one of the richest families in Philadelphia with Bar Harbor ties, and they know how to entertain.
12:16
Ginnie’s debut is one of the most anticipated of the season, and she will be one of the most feted this year.
Ginnie does seem to have it all. Praised for her sweet disposition, this strikingly beautiful redheaded artist first completed finishing school in France then spent a year studying sculpture in Paris. This independent experience adds an extra refined polish and worldly sophistication a touch above all the other buds. Their middle sister Elizabeth “Betty” Kent Van Alen was a successful debutante with her own 1930 bow at the Court of St. James and later marries William “Sam” Van Alen with a volcanic honeymoon in Hawaii. Ginnie just has to follow her sister’s footsteps into happily wedded bliss.
13:04
And she has successfully taken some of those steps. Like Betty before her, Ginnie joined 8 Americans on her presentation day May 17th, 1933 with 15 overall during that the Spring’s bows before the Court of St. James to British King George V and Queen Mary. For tonight’s ball, only Bea currently shares that honor.
On top of all that, Ginnie is the favored debutante being shepherded through the coming out process by the rich and extravagant family friend Eva Stotesbury. Kind of odd, that Eva’s handsome son and heir to two fortunes James H.R. Cromwell, aka “Jimmy,” has not been linked to the significantly younger heiress as he targets richest girl Doris Duke. Could the Kents possibly know the true state of the Stotesbury financial matters?...
Whatever guy gets Ginnie, will get the dream girl with the dream family. Who wouldn’t want to hang out with her dad and brother alone?
Ironically, neither Atty nor Ginnie seems too in a rush to make a marital match but are participating as expected.
14:11
Reconnecting with former classmates and friends, Ginnie gladly joins the other debutantes for a moment to breathe and get some feminine energy away from her bro-tastic entourage. A moment to discuss fashion, hairstyles, or anything that would be the furthest interest of a boy. Of course, the other debs flock to her for advice on so many things but especially guidance on the guys’ potential interests. Never forget a debutante’s ultimate goal is a desirable marriage.
14:42
Some curious ask about the nature of Alfy’s availability, but then in walks Dorothy “Dolly” de Milhau, his regular and favorite girl and a 1931 debutante at that. The sudden disappointment is more than apparent among the aspirational debutantes who shift their focus and hopes to more available males. Oh well, Alfy really isn’t that into the Society game as he definitely has his preferential areas of interest.
As both sexes size each other up, the air fills up with a mixture of sexual tension and rivalry. Secret deals made to encourage or discourage certain matches for a select few. All others are fair game.
15:29
Ginnie’s dance card fills up quickly. First, by their close friends then by other somewhat daring young men. She sighs in apprehension. She could seemingly do all the proper steps in her sleep and is far advanced than even her most earnest and studied competition. Despite already deemed one of the best buds of the season, she isn’t truly ready for marital bliss unlike her fellow debutantes.
In contrast, Jakey revels in his popularity this season and has already had a string of pseudo fiancées, so he should start to be a little more careful in whom he is linked with next. The young ladies will eventually tire and grow weary of a playboy, and none of them want a scandal of a broken engagement when the marital market is so tight. Beyond his weekend companions of Ginnie and Peggy, he has plenty of options to consider…
16:22
The dances gear up, and the first pairs join the floor. Systematically and cordially, they switch with the songs. Ever so often an open song plays, and the cutting in begins.
This is the fun part. Who will steal, and who is stolen… It might signal a little more desirability. Definitely, adds a little electricity to the air.
Pierre wants to avoid complication with the Tuxedo girls which might result in too quick a pressure for an engagement thus drifts towards Bea, who also seems to have David’s attention. Atty makes the rounds with Peggy, Eileen, Tucky, then checks in occasionally with Ginnie.
17:02
Jakey starts off with Ginnie, then switches to Eileen. When interrupted, he turns around and snags Tucky away from her partner.
The heat in her chest makes her breathless. Before Tucky can say something, she is snagged by another. As she is whisked further and further away, her eyes always seek out Jakey. Nonchalantly, he moves on to Peggy then Bea. Tucky’s heart sinks a bit.
Until the formal dances begin again, then Jakey comes back to Tucky for his scheduled turn. When it ends, he goes back to Eileen then Ginnie.
Enjoying the steady volume of attention, Eileen remains composed as she calmly assesses who seems to be taking a shine to whom. And no one can read whom she truly favors more.
17:47
A bit more aloof, Ginnie only relaxes with her more familiar male friends. Jakey discusses art collecting, Pierre provides droll and witty commentary on all the guests, and Alfy…
Naturally, Alfy favors Dolly, when needed he will dance with Ginnie and Peggy and *those from the horsey set, avoiding most of the others.
All dance well into the early morning when they stop to go back to their respective resting places. They convene together again for a luncheon and a few more activities before breaking up and heading back to their original locales. To only reconvene again and again, here and there for more debutante events.
The three month social marathon has begun. But is everyone really still willing to play?
18:37
[Music – I Only Have Eyes for You by Freddy Gardner, Album Elegance]
Section 2 – History & Historiography
[Music Fade Out]
18:53
The passage and non-passage of time can be seen in something as simple as a trend.
A trend indicates a change of direction. Most trends are brief and rather very short lived. Then there are some trends that breakthrough and seemingly extend far beyond the imagination and become a permanent or distinct part of a tradition. Some trends expand way beyond their original domain.
19:21
The Autumn Ball in Tuxedo Park has become one of the premiere yearly seasonal events like the opening of the Metropolitan Opera or the Horse Show. The annual ball began in 1886 sponsored by the Tuxedo Club under the direction of Pierre Lorillard. Among the club members, Caroline Astor’s nephew William Waldorf Astor published a booklet detailing the historical significance of the area dating back to George Washington.
19:49
From family lands owned since 1813, Pierre Lorillard builds Tuxedo Park, an enclave for the wealthy, especially from Wall Street. Lorillard hires architect Bruce Price, the father of future etiquette doyenne Emily Post. The Tuxedo Club opens in May 1886 making it an instant go to spot for elite New Yorkers. The air is always formal and proper. The first Autumn Ball – also referred as the Tuxedo Ball is held on October 28th, 1866.
20:23
One should not be surprised but of course the epitome of men’s elite fashion is aptly named tuxedo. Now there are relatively few disputes that this fashion trend is initially inspired in 1865 when then long reigning Prince of Wales Edward – the future King Edward VII wore a blue evening jacket with the tails cut off. There is a question on how it arrived and debuted in America.
Upon advice given by the Prince of Wales, another Tuxedo Club member James Potter went to the same tailor and began wearing a short black jacket with black tie in contrast to the traditional black jacket with tails and white tie by 1886 and intends to wear this combination piece at the upcoming Autumn Ball.
21:13
For the same ball, Pierre’s younger son Griswold “Grizzy” Lorillard is 22 and into both clothing and practical jokes. As the story goes… At the last moment, he decides to appear in a tailless dress coat with a scarlet satin waistcoat to the shock and admiration of onlookers. Immediate reactions range from disgrace to humorous to the grandest idea ever. Within a month’s time, overall the press will claim the trend as a dazzling sensation.
However that tale seems to be a later invention in the 1936 Tuxedo Club membership book and oft quoted. An alternate tale says that Grizzy cut the jacket so short that it was more a mess jacket that would look similar to a footman as referred by Town Topics. A mess jacket is a short coat worn by military officers while dining at the mess hall.
*Sadly, Grizzy passes away from consumption in November 1888.
22:15
Regardless, this new fashion trend quickly takes off and makes it way around the world.
In 1930, Marlene Dietrich wears a sensual tuxedo for her role as a cabaret singer. Fred Astaire would waltz in tuxedo and top hat. By 1962, Sean Connery adds an air of suave to the tuxedo in *James Bond – Dr. No, and the Rat Pack with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr., regularly perform in the formal attire.
22:43
Now the tuxedo will not be the only trend set by this annual Autumn Ball. Lorillard does much to make it a main Society event. During his reign, the high point of the evening was the Cotillion led by the most beautiful debutante of the season.
During her own debutante season in New York, Emily Price meets her future husband Edwin Post. In 1892, they marry and have a somewhat miserable relationship, with him cheating on her frequently. They divorce in 1905 due to his affairs with actresses and chorus girls. When her sons went off to boarding school, she begins to write romantic stories of European and American societies and became a traveling correspondent across the United States by car as well Europe on the eve of World War I. Her work appears in Vanity Fair, Collier’s, and McCall’s. In 1922, she publishes her most famous work the advice book Etiquette: In Society, In Business, In Politics and At Home with the phrase “according to Emily Post” based on the manners she learned in Tuxedo Park. Caroline Astor’s 400 list co-founder Ward McAllister named Emily Post one of only 10 ladies who could gracefully cross a ballroom floor alone.
24:01
The tradition of the dance card long aided in keeping a night’s activities in check. A young lady would carry a small booklet with a chain and pencil to write in her prospective dance partners. Once a male signs his name, it is expected that he fulfill his role. The dance card also acted as a keepsake and a reminder of the evening’s activities. The phrases “pencil me in”, “full dance card”, and “save the last dance” come from this tradition.
24:28
Replacing the dance card routine, the stag line became a more dominant trend in 1915 to 1920, where males were expected to wait to be invited to dance by the females. This would replace the more formal system of the dance card. This is meant to prevent a wallflower from being unable to dance, however within a season or two it became quite clear that too many available males could cause other issues. One became the trend of cutting in, where a young lady might barely have a few steps before the next lad takes over. It could be a whirling event and a mess.
25:03
Cutting in required a long line of bachelors constantly available and resembled an octopus with multiple tentacles as more and more males are invited to keep the dances active. With the need of many more males, few would know the hostess or featured debutantes prior to the event. Those not interested in dancing, often focus on the bar line and getting drunk and other mischievous trouble and turning an otherwise distinguishable function into a rowdy affair... Plus with this high demand of males meant many will be bounders more than desirable eligible prospective husbands, which is the target of the evening.
Following this Autumn Ball, other balls and dances will adopt the end of the stag line and the return of the dance card for the 1933 – 1934 social season.
The Great Depression changes many things including the rules of courting and dating. Soon enough there will be engagement and wedding announcements, but love and fortune rarely have simple happily ever afters.
26:10
[Music – From the Top of Your Head by Carroll Gibbons & The Savoy Orpheans, Album The Great British Dance Bands]
Section 3 – Contemporary & Personal Relevance
[Music Fade Out]
26:28
Alright, so this episode has been spinning a little out of my control. Beyond the regular tech issues and anxiety, I have had a creative block. My traditional writer’s block dilemma where nothing will come out onto the page. Usually because the brain can’t think, but this time was the opposite dilemma because my brain has been in hyper drive.
There are just so many things happening within the whole complicated story, and this particular episode encapsulates so many topics of the past while also planting new seeds for the future.
It’s so exciting, and so overwhelming. I’m both terrified and exhilarated about getting it right.
27:08
Things I will gladly tell in time because I can’t ruin certain plots within the story, and some are things that happen long after our story finishes. And there are just things that well get really hard to explain – as my dear friends who dare and / or endure my endless ramblings in the process.
Of course, I will reveal all in time, but I can give you a few subtle hints. Call them Easter eggs, or seeds as they bloom later in this magnificent garden of a story. Thanks, * George R.R. Martin, I am what you call a gardener when it comes to telling a story rather than an architect.
27:48
At this point, our characters have so much potential in their lives, but on the flip side we actually do know how they will end up. In this episode, we have a lesbian debutante who actually ends up in an affair decades later with another side character’s wife. Another debutante will end up in an incestuous marriage, but that won’t be the only weird and incestuous connection for that couple or another major character in our story. There is an accidental bigamist. In contrast, there are two lifelong bachelors mentioned, and one who is also a decorator and fashion coordinator so uh… we might can speculate the potential secret behind that situation. At least two will die fairly young, another will commit suicide late in life. And 1940 will be a big transitional year for many ahead.
28:40
There are several themes that pop out at me for this section. Topics related to dating and relationships. Like realizing which people had opposite sex siblings and how those dynamics play out in relating and mating with future partners.
Then something hit me. Something I had never considered might possibly happen. A semi recurring topic. A subject that keeps appearing in my YouTube feed especially now with the recent New York Times July 21st, 2025 article “The Trouble With Wanting Men.” Now, there has been years talk of red pill and black pill communities, MGTOW (men going their own way), incels (my aunt just asked me about that one), complications with porn culture, women’s rise in unrealistic material and financial demands due to the Sex and the City effect (you know things are weird if my Marine cousin bitches about Manolo Blahnik expectations due to the Sex and the City effect), now the option of AI sex robots and chatbots and virtual partners (Japan just had an official human – AI wedding by the way), and this last election cycle led to a dating boycott of liberal women against conservative or Republican men. There has been talk of younger generations dating less and having less sex than prior generations.
30:01
Still I never thought we would get to this point. I suppose part of it is fatigue. Courtship has always been a part of history, though in the past it was for a more regulated and short period – at public events, festivals or dances, or private like porches or parlor sofas with chaperones. Modern dating as we know it with far more opposite sex interaction really began in the 1920s and 1930s coinciding with Prohibition and then the Great Depression upending social norms. That means basically 100 years of “dating” as a possibility in the courtship rituals.
Previously, dating was confined to a very short window 3 – 6 months up to 1 - 3 years, egads if that late of a bloomer. Remember spinsterhood would be for women who were unmarried by 25 even back then. If widowed or divorced, one could or should be remarried within a relatively short period. Though with these elites, those turnarounds will give you whiplash.
31:09
And now, between divorces, cohabitations, never marrieds, situationships, and whatever the hell happened due to Covid madness, there is a plethora of semi-singles, and dating has become unending and often cyclical. The Battle of the Sexes has seemed to come to a stalemate or maybe an apocalyptic wasteland at least for the time being.
While I try to encourage myself by saying any return to dating is a chance to get it better next time, I have admitted as to where I struggle with dating. And yet, I still want and hope to find love. Though a bit more reluctant for the in between pain of process and a little more guarded due to experience.
31:57
We have definitely entered a new era. Which actually makes the one big July relationship news item a bit odd. The marriage of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to his mistress and semi longtime girlfriend Lauren Sanchez in Venice. Of course, their prenup has leaked, they were officially and privately married 2 months earlier (possibly for legal reasons), then the spectacle of their public wedding. Along with all the criticisms towards their showy big day – much of what we will see with our heirs and heiresses when their big days finally come.
32:34
Oh don’t worry, there are some weddings coming up. Only there are couple of scandals on the way to the altar.
Trust me HBO’s The Gilded Age Season 3 and Apple Tv’s The Buccaneers Season 2 will be wrapping shortly with both shows covering failed engagements, weddings, and scandals. But they have nothing compared to our real life tales, and we have plenty of stories to tell until they return.
All will be revealed, so stay tuned,…
33:05
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Hook
33:48
[Music – My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands]
Next when we return to AS THE MONEY BURNS…
When a prized debutante makes her debut, one heir is determined not to miss it.
Until then…
Credits
34:05
AS THE MONEY BURNS is an original podcast written, produced, and voiced by Nicki Woodard, based on historical research. Archival music has been provided by Past Perfect Vintage Music, check out their website at www.pastperfect.com.
Please come visit us at As The Money Burns via Goodpods, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook (now Meta), or Instagram. Transcripts, timeline, episode guide, and character bios are available at asthemoneyburns.com.
34:17
THE END.