Who Was Ward McAllister?

2025-08-04

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Some called him the Gilded Age's biggest snob. Others thought he was a genius of social protocol and maneuvering through aristocratic circles. Most famously, he acted as Mrs. Astor's right hand in sorting, selecting and assembling a group of New York's elite he was credited (erroneously) as naming "the 400". Nonetheless his influence on who got in and who stayed out was significant - but just exactly who was HE? Join Carl for this in-depth look at just who Ward McAllist...

Some called him the Gilded Age's biggest snob. Others thought he was a genius of social protocol and maneuvering through aristocratic circles.

Most famously, he acted as Mrs. Astor's right hand in sorting, selecting and assembling a group of New York's elite he was credited (erroneously) as naming "the 400". Nonetheless his influence on who got in and who stayed out was significant - but just exactly who was HE?

Join Carl for this in-depth look at just who Ward McAllister (played by Nathan Lane in HBO's "The Gilded Age") was and how he climbed the social ladder - and most of all, how he committed one of Gilded Age society's greatest sins - he wrote a book and told all.

Listen to other Gilded Gentleman shows tied to the HBO series including Black Newport, Playing Mamie Fish, Consuelo Vanderbilt and the Gilded Age’s Million Dollar Princesses and The Real Mrs. Astor.

And listen to the Bowery Boys Podcast's Tom Meyers on the Official Gilded Age Podcast

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