Examining HBO’s The Gilded Age, Part 1: Season 1 Recap Replay

While producer Julian Fellowes conducted an incredible amount of research in anticipation for HBO's The Gilded Age series, how accurately does this drama depict 1880s New York City and its wealthiest residents? It's time to separate fact from fiction within this coveted series like never before.

Join New York Adventure Club as we discover, through historical perspective and vintage photographs, how HBO's The Gilded Age creator Julian Fellowes crafted his story from real life characters and drama surrounding the first American millionaires who competed for business domination — and their wives who jockeyed for social supremacy. In Part 1: Season 1 Recap, we'll take a deep dive into the series' inaugural episodes.

Led by NYC Tour Guide Ginny Poleman, our digital recap and analysis of HBO’s first season of The Gilded Age will include:

• An overview of the historical context of 1880s New York City at the height of its rapid economic growth, including why Mark Twain gave this era the “Gilded Age” moniker; the importance of the railroad industry to the nation’s wealth; and the massive population growth of new immigrants coming through New York’s harbor
• A look at the real people who inspired the fictional families, from personal rivalries between old and new money family (Van Rhijns versus Russells) to scandals of New York’s elite featured in the show — like the fictional Mrs. Chamberlain, or the real Mrs. Astor, Stanford White, and Ward McAllister
• The who’s who of Black Americans who inspired the show’s real and fictional black characters
• Behind-the-scenes images of how the HBO production recreated 1882 New York City with vintage and current photographs of homes that stood in for the sets
• A side-by-side comparison of the 19th century opulent costumes featured in the show versus the real garments that inspired them from museum collections, along with a study of the fashion trends of the period

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Ginny — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!

Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay through one week after the entire series concludes!

See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar

**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser

***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week after the series finale

****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week since the series finale, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

About Ginny

Ginny Poleman is a graduate of Cornell University, a licensed NYC tour guide, docent for the Municipal Art Society, as well as an educational and costume collection guide for New York’s largest art museum. Additionally, she offers private tours for her own company, NYC Encounters, covering New York City Art, Architecture, and History. You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook at @Art_Encounters and @NYC.Encounters.

Examining HBO's The Gilded Age Series

Part 1: Season 1 Recap (Thursday, May 22)

Part 2: Season 2 Recap (Wednesday, June 11) [Postponed from 5/29]

Testimonials

"I love this TV Series and it was great to hear about the real life people that some of the characters are based upon. The likeness of Lady Astor and the character is uncanny!" -Aliki

I love the subject matter. The material was mostly relevant and insightful" -Jared

"Presenter was engaging and knowledgeable. Slides were excellent. Presenter did a very good job answering questions as she went along and at the end." -Barbara

"Ginny was very good about addressing questions and comments as we went along, rather than all at the end." -Neal

"That the presenter answered the questions as they came up in real time as much as she could and kept her eye on the comments and wove those into the conversation where possible. Her talk makes me look forward to the next season of The Gilded Age! I really appreciated Ginny as a presentor and look forward to attending another virtual event or possibly an in-person tour. Thanks so much for offering these insights into the city I love so much, New York Adventure Club!" -Deedle

"Especially liked the notes on costumes. Fascinating that they still exist in some cases." -Virginia

"I loved all the photos showing the actors from the series next to a photo of the actual person. It was so interesting to see clothing from the series alongside a photo of the outfit it was meant to depict. Fascinating content." -Cheryl

"Ginny's presentation was so informative & entertaining, great research, & I'll definitely enjoy the second series of Gilded Age all the more, having watched this webinar, thank you!" -Mary

"I did learn some things about the real people the series is based on." -Margaret

"Ginny is alway engagin and thorough in her preseentatons." -Patricia

"The historical value was superb" -Virginia

"Interesting discussion about the accuracy of the series, costumes and the upcoming 2nd season" -Barbara H.

"The presenter was knowledgeable, friendly and very interactive during her presentation with the audience" -Anna

"Great topic and knowledgeable presenter" -Allegra

"Love the photos, both the old-time ones and the ones from the TV series. The history is fascinating and I think the presenter did a good job of making the connections between not just the program but what was happening in the US at that time and why. Easy to understand in her speaking style and explanations. I appreciated it all very much." -Sharon

"The presenter knew her topic well and there was so much history." -Karen

"I have not watched the program (The Gilded Age), yet really enjoyed the presentation. It was accessible even to people who aren't fans of the show. I really enjoy all Adventure Club programs. Thanks so much!" -Melinda

"Excellent review of the series. How they got the ideas for the fashions." -Joel

"I enjoyed hearing about the real people on which the fictional people are based. I also enjoyed learning about the historical events at that time, and the fashions." -Paula

"A nice way to learn the history of the Gilded Age, as compared to a televisions series we really enjoyed." -Karen

"The historic photos of the homes, streets, buildings, bridges and public parks of NYC during the 1880’s" -Lynn

"It was successful in dual mission of analyzing the show, but also presenting real history events for comparison." -David

"Everything. The event was fantastic as was the host. Thank you and I’m looking forward to more events." -Martin

"The presenter was wonderful. She knew her topic, was very engaging, and supplemented her slides with great historical photos, etc." -Donna

"Makes me want to go back and re-see the whole season again! Can't wait for season 3." -Karen

"I loved the photos and the knowledge of the presenter Ginny. I loved learning what was true/what was "Hollywood". Thanks" -Kathy

"I like the show The Gilded Age, so it's fun to learn about the real people behind the characters and storylines." -Paula

"It was very engaging. Great presenter and content. Kept my attention!’" -T

"I learned a lot of historical context attached to the TV series" -Virginia

"I really liked the historical photos and maps. I enjoy seeing what was contrasting with what is." -Trase

"Very fascinating discussion tied to the current show. Enjoyed the pictures as background materials" -Maureen

"Photos and illustrations were great, presenter was knowledgeable and was able to answer chat room questions easily" -Rochelle

"Well organized with interesting photos and comments" -April

"Fun presenter, very knowledgeable!" Sos

"Really like her presentation style and information about the real gilded age events that get intermixed into the show. Also the real world pictures too." -Noelle

"Very knowledgeable. Interesting. Photos of then and now was informative. Really enjoyed it." -Suzanne

"The presenter was very knowledgeable and covered all the important aspects of Season 2" -Gayle

"Covered the important events of the series and provided historical information about the time period." -Marianne

"Very knowledgeable presenter and excellent images. Extremely informative. Loved the opportunity to comment and ask questions" -Fiona

"Presenter’s knowledge, enthusiasm, and personality made it most enjoyable." -Terry

"It was nice to see a timely webinar like this offered for content that was recently out, using the show to give us information about the past is a really neat way to learn!" -Adrienne

"The presenter was knowledgeable and covered more aspects than I had anticipated. Well done!" -Rikke

"This was my first event! And I loved it! I will definitely register for more events. The instructor provided excellent information that was presented in a manner that clearly articulated the stories of both the TV show and fictional characters as well as the history of the actual individuals who the characters are based on. It was thorough and well thought out." -Janis

"I absolutely loved it! I found it very fascinating and the webinar answered a lot of questions I had. Ginny was absolutely fantastic and I’m hoping once the weather gets warmer in NYC I will be able to join her on one of her tours." -Janine

"The speaker was very knowledgeable and presented slides that were clear and interesting" -Catherine

"The length of time - just around an hour. The presenter enunciated well and was very clear in her speaking. She knew her subject well. The photos and graphics were excellent. Excellent presentation. I will attend others by the presenter." -Patricia

"A fun knowledgeable presenter" -Scott

"Explaining the history and how it was used in the TV show, historical, for drama, and not historical." -Juanita

Disclaimer

By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.

Photo Credit: Main Photo, Center Right - HBO

This event is a Gilded Age-themed educational webinar organized by New York Adventure Club. It is not affiliated with HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery, Julian Fellowes, or any related entities. Our event is a fan-inspired experience, celebrating the cultural impact and historical themes explored in The Gilded Age series. Any references to The Gilded Age are purely for educational and entertainment purposes, and no official endorsement or sponsorship is implied. The Gilded Age and related trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and this event is an independent initiative by New York Adventure Club.

Categories: Virtual, Gilded Age, Replay