Jennifer dropped off the face of the Earth--but she's back now (after three months, but who's counting?). She's been touring mansions again--this time in Newport, Rhode Island. She recounts her adventures for us and answers the question: what is it like to spend the night in a big, 150-year-old Victorian gothic mansion ALONE? She also shares with us some tips for decorating our own Gilded Age-inspired ballrooms. There's a jam-packed itinerary for our little junket to Rhode Island, but then we switch gears altogether to spend some time with our old friends, the Crawleys, over at Downton Abbey. Have you seen the latest film? Jennifer has, and she's over the moon about it. And, then, before she says goodnight, Jennifer tells us all about the vintage plastic candlesticks she plans to be buried with. We haven't caught as much as a glimpse of Jennifer since April, so there's a lot of catching up to do!
Show Links
Jennifer's Packing Cubes for Calpak
Ivy Lodge
The Preservation Society of Newport County
The Fascinating Story Behind the Downton Abbey Theme Song (Town & Country)
Circa 19xx Land
Jennifer dropped off the face of the Earth--but she's back now (after three months, but who's counting?). She's been touring mansions again--this time in Newport, Rhode Island. She recounts her adventures for us and answers the question: what is it like to spend the night in a big, 150-year-old Victorian gothic mansion ALONE? She also shares with us some tips for decorating our own Gilded Age-inspired ballrooms. There's a jam-packed itinerary for our little junket to Rhode Island, but then we switch gears altogether to spend some time with our old friends, the Crawleys, over at Downton Abbey. Have you seen the latest film? Jennifer has, and she's over the moon about it. And, then, before she says goodnight, Jennifer tells us all about the vintage plastic candlesticks she plans to be buried with. We haven't caught as much as a glimpse of Jennifer since April, so there's a lot of catching up to do!
Show Links
Jennifer's Packing Cubes for Calpak
Ivy Lodge
The Preservation Society of Newport County
The Fascinating Story Behind the Downton Abbey Theme Song (Town & Country)
Circa 19xx Land
Circa Sunday Night Script
Episode #31
Jennifer Tours Newport (Let’s Catch Up!)
Cold Open
Ah, summer. Isn’t this the greatest time of the year? There are road trips and swimming pools, long bright evenings and the Fourth of July, fireflies, gardens, ice cream…mansions…yes! You heard me correctly. I just returned from a vacation in very lovely Newport, Rhode Island and what do you do when you go to Newport? Tour the Gilded Age Mansions—or wait, no, the people who lived there didn’t refer to them as mansions. They were “cottages.” You know, just little summer bungalows by the sea. Uh…no. Those Gilded Age homes in Newport are Mansions with a capital “M.”
Let’s talk about Newport tonight—and oh, there are some other things to visit about as well. Did you see this summer’s Downton Abbey movie? I did! I’ve also got a small vintage haul to tell you about, and a bunch of other stuff as well. It’s been a while since I’ve done an episode of this show, and we have a lot of catching up to do, so let’s crank up that theme song.
[Theme Song]
Well, hello there! I’m so glad you’re here. I’m so glad I’M here, also. I’m back in Circa 19xx Land after—wow, how long has it been since I’ve done an episode of this show? A few months, I think. Wait, I can tell you. I’ve got my show calendar right here. April. Can that be right? So, it’s July now. Wow, what a way to lose an audience, Jennifer. Truly, I am the worst podcaster in the world. When I decided to start this podcast almost three years ago now, I remember reading that in order to attract and maintain an audience you have to produce shows frequently and regularly. I got off to a pretty good start this year, but honestly, I just ran out of gas. I’ve had a lot of things going on at work and—look here’s the problem with work—and I know you know this, too: You give your best, most energetic hours of your life to your job—and then there’s very little left at the end of the day. When I was younger, I had the stamina to work all day and pursue other things before and after work and on weekends. Now, it’s much harder. Anyway, time got away from me…and now it’s July, and I’ve probably lost two thirds of my audience. That’s going to be the title of my next episode: “How to lose your podcast audience without even trying.”
[Theme Song Segment Break]
Speaking of listeners…let’s head over to our listener mail bag. Yes, I’ve got mail! Wow, that’s such a thrill when a listener reaches out via email. So after our last episode I heard from Lynn in Pittsburgh. Hi, Lynn! I hope you’re listening! Lynn wrote me a lovely email that just made my day. She had found Circa Sunday Night once I started putting episodes out on You Tube because she had watched a video I put out there years ago in which I tried out Tangee lipstick, a cosmetic brand from the 1920s. Well, the algorithm made Circa Sunday Night pop up in her feed because of that video, I guess. Anyway, here’s just a little snippet from her letter:
“I’ve always had an interest in the timeframe of your podcast subject matter, so I listened to some. I tend to flip flop between podcasts, audio books, and You Tube, and I found you while I was heavy into You Tube, then moved onto audio books. About a month ago, I’ve come back to podcasts, and have been binge listening to your yours. I’ve listened to some of your most recent, but decided to go back and listen from the beginning and am thoroughly enjoying them!”
I’m so glad, Lynn. And I know what you mean about flip-flopping between podcasts and audio books. I do the same thing!
My favorite part of her letter was the postscript:
P.S., she writes, “I LOVED your Christmas party episode! You’ve hit on the perfect party format for us introverts! I think this was the only “party” I’ve attended where I wasn’t exhausted afterwards and was actually sad when it ended, LOL.”
That’ so true, isn’t it? I have hit upon the perfect way to do a Christmas party. You don’t have to talk to anyone, or go anywhere, or even comb your hair. For those of you who haven’t heard those episodes I did two Christmas episodes in 2020 and 2021. I’ve been asked if I am going to do another one in 2022. Yes, that’s the plan. Those take forever to put together, but they’re a lot of fun, and the fact that people like them motivate me to keep doing them. So, mark your calendars. The Christmas season is only—what? Five months from now? Tick Tock.
[Theme Song Segment Break]
Before I forget, let’s do a quick check of our YouTube subscriber count. When we last checked, we had been holding steady at five subscribers. Now, remember my original goal was to have 25 subscribers by the end of the year. Then I amended my goal to just not lose any of my five subscribers by the end of the year. So, let’s see what’s happening out there…
Oh, the suspense is dreadful, isn’t it? Have we kept our five subscribers? Did we lose anyone? What do you think? Ah! What’s this??? Six subscribers! Well, how about that? Thank you subscriber #6! Now, almost all my listeners listen on the usual podcast platforms, and that’s just fine. But if you’d like to support the show, you can do so in three ways:
1. Share it with someone you know who might like it.
2. Give the show a five-star review on Apple podcasts or the platform where you tune in.
3. Subscribe to the Circa 19xx Land You Tube Channel and give this episode a thumbs up. This is especially helpful, as we all know that I post episodes erratically, and when you subscribe and hit the bell notifications, you’ll always know when I manage to pull myself together and get an episode out there.
…Or, you can do none of those things and just come and hang out here with me from time to time. I’m just glad for the company and for the good vibes.
[Theme Song Segment Break]
OK, so our main theme tonight is travel, and I want to tell you about my adventures in Newport –we’ll do that in a bit. But, you know, hitting the road—or hitting the air, in my case—is all about trying new things, right? Well, I tried out a couple of new things before I even left home this time around. I bought a new set of luggage, so I tried out my brand new carry-on bag from Calpak. I bought the small and medium bags in their “Hue: Pink Sand” Collection, which is this really nice buff or blush color. The luggage is beautiful, it’s easy to roll and steer, the telescoping trolly handle works well, it carries a lot of items, and it has plenty of useful compartments. It also coordinates with a matching duffle bag—although I bought the duffle in black to match the black zipper on the suitcases. Anyway, everything was great—except—the very first time I unzipped one of the inside compartments while in my hotel room, it broke. Yeah, really frustrating. I’ve looked into exchanging it, but it’s too much of a hassle, and they don’t seem to carry the Pink Sand color any more in that line. So, there we are.
But the real story is my set of matching packing cubes—again by Calpak. I’ve been seeing people use packing cubes on YouTube for months, and I thought they were so ingenious I wanted to try them. Do you know what I’m talking about? Have you ever used packing cubes? Well, anyway, they are basically these pretty pink canvas and mesh zippered pouches to organize your things. I’m hooked now. It’s packing cubes for me from now on. I especially liked them for organizing my undergarments and keeping them neat and arranged. I am very neat when I travel. It’s my way of making wherever I’m staying feel comfortable. So with the packing cubes, you can take your cubes out of the case and just stack them in drawers in your room without everything becoming a jumbled mess.
I’ll put links to the Cal Pak cubes in the show notes in case you’re interested in seeing them. There are other cubes out in the market, but why buy ugly ones? The CalPak ones are so pretty. And I made mine even more so. Each cube has a little card on them so you can write what’s packed inside. I embellished each card with petite pink rose stickers that match the pink canvas. Functional and pretty. What could be better?
https://www.calpaktravel.com/products/packing-cubes-5-piece-set/pink-sand
OK, so we’ve packed our bags [zip]…Now let’s head to Newport, Rhode Island.
[ Airplane and Traveling Music…]
I work in the travel industry—that’s my day job—and when we’re discussing projects and initiatives we often talk about the “romance of travel.” What is that? Well, Google has a beautiful definition of “romance.” Of course there is “romantic love,” which is awesome. But I’m really talking about the notion of romance as adventure. Here’s the definition:
a quality or feeling of mystery, excitement, and remoteness from everyday life.
That’s travel, isn’t it? It’s mysterious in that you are stepping into the unknown. Oh, you may have all kinds of plans that you’ve made, you may even be going someplace you’ve been before, but there are still discoveries to be made—corners to peer around, places to explore. On a vacation you wake up, you begin your day not really knowing what that day will bring. There’s excitement in that. Actually the excitement begins when you book your trip, make your reservation, plan your outfits, pack your bags, hop on the plane or hit the road, and turn the key in the lock of your hotel room (OK, hotel doors no longer have key locks, but you know what I mean.—and besides, where I stayed on my latest trip DID have a door with a key lock).
Of course travel offers escape from every day life. Even if you only travel only a short distance in miles, you can easily find yourself light years from everyday worries or frustrations. So yes, I think Google’s definition of romance as “a quality or feeling of mystery, excitement, and remoteness from everyday life” is just right, and definitely applies to travel.
So…I just returned from Newport, Rhode Island, site of an amazing collection of Gilded Age mansions. This was where a colony of the super-wealthy used to spend their summers. Now, I should mention that Newport has tremendous historical significance beyond the 19th Century summer seasons. I mean, when you drive into town there’s a sign welcoming you to Newport, “Established in 1639.” Now, I’m a Missouri girl; we don’t have buildings older than, oh, mid-to-late 1800s, so every time I travel to New England it blows my mind that there are structures there that are far older than the country. I don’t think Missouri even became a state until the 1820s or 1830s—sometime around there. But, fast forward to the 20th Century, Newport was the site of “summer White Houses” for President Kennedy and President Eisenhower. Side bar: While exploring Newport I went to St. Mary Church, where John F. Kennedy married Jackie! Ok, well, anyway, Newport has a long story to tell—but I’m not going to tell it. My interest is in the mansions.
Here's a nice succinct little definition of the Summer seasons from Wikipedia:
Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, wealthy southern planters seeking to escape the heat began to build summer cottages on Bellevue Avenue, such as Kingscote in 1839. Around the middle of the century, wealthy northerners, began construction on larger mansions.
By the turn of the 20th century, many of the nation's wealthiest families were summering in Newport, including the Vanderbilts Astors who constructed the largest "cottages," such as The Breakers in 1895 and Miramar in 1915. They resided for a brief summer social season in grand mansions with elaborate receiving rooms, dining rooms, music rooms, and ballrooms—but with few bedrooms, since the guests were expected to have "cottages" of their own. Many of the homes were designed by New York architect Richard Morris Hunt, who kept a house in Newport himself.
The social scene at Newport is described in Edith Wharton's novel The Age of Innocence. Wharton's own Newport "cottage" was called Land's End—Sidebar: Land’s End was recently sold for, I believe $8.5 Million. Wharton had another estate in Lenox, Massachusetts that is on my travel list for next year called “The Mount.” I’ve seen pictures, and oh, my. It looks beautiful. I believe Lenox is a day trip from Newport, so I’m going to try to hit that one on my next visit. Back to Wikipedia…
Today, many mansions continue in private use. Hammersmith Farm is the mansion where John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy held their wedding reception; it WAS open to tourists as a "house museum", but has since been purchased and reconverted into a private residence. Many of the other mansions are open to tourists, and others were converted into academic buildings for Salve Regina College in the 1930s, when the owners could no longer afford their tax bills.
A word about Salve Regina College…How BEATUFIL that campus is. The bed and breakfast I stayed in was a 10-minute walk from Salve Regina, and it was lovely. Actually, Bellevue Avenue has got to be one of the most beautiful residential streets in America, and that was a very short walk from my bed and breakfast as well.
[Scary vintage music?]
So, this is a good place to talk about where I stayed. I stayed in a lovely old mansion IN the mansion district, called “The Breakers.” No, no. Kidding. Oh, wouldn’t that be a story to tell, if it were true? But no, more on the Breakers in a moment. I stayed in a beautiful old home much smaller in scale than The Breakers or any of the famous Newport Mansions, but certainly much larger than my own home. My Bed and Break fast was called “The Ivy Lodge,” a big Victorian home build in the late 1800’s complete with this unbelievable Gothic paneled entry hall, stained glass windows, the most beautiful rooms, and a spectacular garden. I don’t know how many rooms it has, but many. I believe there are 8 guest rooms—each with it’s own bathroom—a formal dining room, the most charming sitting room, a big, comfy parlor, and other rooms not used by guests. Now, as surprising as this is to people who know me, I have never stayed in a bed and breakfast before. I know—this surprises even me. I love old houses. But here’s the thing—I also love fancy hotels. I can’t help myself. Anyway, this was my first bed and breakfast, and I fell in love with the place right off the bat.
But here’s the thing that was a little unsettling. I have watched WAY too many ghost hunter shows. WAY too many. So, I’ll be honest, the thought of staying over night in a haunted mansion creeped me out a bit. Before I even went to Newport I Googled “Hanted Hotels in Newport,” and there were several, as you can imagine, given the age and history of the city. Ivy Lodge didn’t come up, and I could find no reviews or anything from guests who had had weird experiences there. That, and the location, is what made me choose it. The location was amazing—within walking distance of so many cool things, including the mansions, but also the famous Cliff Walk and the downtown shopping area.
OK, so back to ghosts. I did my research, there didn’t seem to be any ghost sightings that I could find at Ivy Lodge, but that beautiful paneled entry hall did look like the perfect setting for misty figures and unexplained shadows, so I had to get past that. Which was difficult that first night—because I spent the night in that huge old house completely alone. On that first night I was the only guest, and the owners lived next door. There had been a bridal party there and the whole house was full, but they had checked out the day I arrived, so it was just me for that first night. I’m not going to lie: that first night I was a bit on edge, and every little sound literally made me jump up and turn on the light until I just ended up sleeping with the lights on. It’s true! It was sort of fun (and scary) exploring the house on my own, but I was very happy when daylight returned. After that we had a full house, and I was perfectly fine from then on. The big question: did I see any ghosts?... No, thank God. Would I go back to the Ivy Lodge? In a heartbeat. I loved it. In fact, I am planning to go back to Newport next summer and will book my old room there.
[Vintage scary music conclusion]
I. Shall we talk about the mansion? Well, yes, of course we shall. I didn’t actually see all of the Mansions. I had only two touring days—which was not long enough for Newport. There is just too much there and nearby to see in two days. There are just a million things to do. Here was my itinerary for this trip with action items in order of priority. I left other things on my list for future trips.
#1 Number 1 on my list was The Breakers, THE gilded age mansion. If this was the only mansion in Newport it would have been enough for me to book my flight there.
· Next up was Marble House, another jaw-droppingly beautiful mansion.
· My next must-do made it onto my priority list rather late in my planning—thanks to Victoria magazine. They did a spread a couple issues ago about this pretty country estate and arboretum on Narragansett Bay, and when I read the article I immediately added it to my mansion list, but I didn’t realize it was so near the Newport Mansions. It was only 30 minutes away. The estate is called Blithewold, and it’s different than the Newport Mansions in that it’s not as off-the-charts extravagant—I mean it was beautiful, but nothing is going to compare to The Breakers or Marble House. Those mansions have totally ruined me for all other mansions I will ever visit from here on out. But Blithewold is set apart for another reason; I don’t believe it’s owned and maintained by the Preservation Society of Newport County—and therefore it isn’t advertised along with those other Preservation Society mansions. Had it not been for Victoria magazine, I would have never heard about it—and when the other guests at Ivy House and I were talking about each other’s sight-seeing adventures, none of them had heard of it either. Anyway, it was peaceful and beautiful, and just lovely. This really underscores the value of Victoria magazine. Honestly, that is the only magazine that I think is worth having. If you’re not a subscriber, you might want to consider it. I’ve loved it for years.
· Not far from Blithewold is a charming topiary garden that IS maintained by the Preservation Society of Newport County called “Green Animals.” I had to see this. First of all, botanical gardens, strolling gardens, arboretums are just as part of my sight-seeing adventures as house museums when I’m traveling. I love gardens, and I seek them out when I’m on vacation. This one was unlike any I’ve been to before, though, because I think there were something like 80 topiaries in the shape of various animals. It was like Edward Scissorhands’ garden. It was pouring down raining when I was there, but you know what? Have umbrella, will travel. I rarely let rain slow me down. Even though it was raining, it was really lovely—sort of like this floral fantasy. And, the best part: I had it all to myself in the rain. What a lovely way to spend an afternoon.
· I wanted to do a little antiquing while I was in Newport, so I made a stop in Bristol—a pretty little town that has the oldest Fourth of July parade in the country. I was there just days before the Fourth, and the whole mainstreet was covered in U.S. flags. Even the middle lines on the street were painted in red, white, and blue. It did my little patriotic heart good to see this. I wish I could have been there for the parade.
· Back in Newport, there were other mansions: The Elms, which was a block away from where I was staying, was stunning, as was Rosecliff. Rosecliff appealed to me because the rose motif was carried throughout the house, and it had a beautiful rose garden at the side of the house with a view to the ocean in the background. As soon as you walked in that house you saw the ballroom. You know how I love a good ballroom. Sigh. No words to describe it.
· The last must-do for me was the famous “Cliff Walk.” The cliff walk is a scenic 3 and a half mile walk way that overlooks Rhode Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Many of the Gilded Age vacation homes of the New York millionaires were built along this walk beginning around 1880. At first it was just a rough foot path, but around 1880 the estate owners improved the walk over a few decades. I did the whole walk! Really, it's just a thing you must do when you go to Newport.
· And then, of course, there was some seriously fun shopping in the downtown/wharf area of Newport. My suitcase was heavier somehow when I left Newport than when I arrived. Funny how that happens.
OK, so that’s what I packed into a four-day trip. There are several other Mansions I didn’t see—But the ones I did tour: The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, and Rosecliff are the headliners, and I was able to visit all of them.
I’m not going to try to talk about all of these mansions because—how do you do that in a podcast without boring everyone to death? You really have to see them. But I will talk about The Breakers, because, like The Biltmore in North Carolina or Hearst Castle in California, it’s just one of those houses you should know about if you’re hanging around Circa 19xx Land.
I bought a book about the Mansions (of course) at the giftshop at the Breakers. My book was published by the Preservation Society of Newport and was written by Thomas Gannon and Paul Miller. It opens with a description of The Breakers. I’m going to read a few passages taken from that book about the home:
If the Gilded Age were to be summed up by a single house, that house would have to be The Breakers. Measuring 250 feet by 150 feet, containing 70 rooms, the four-story limestone palace is as much a monument to its time as it was a summer home for Cornelius Vanderbilt II and his family.
Work on the home began in 1893 and was completed in less than two years—side bar: this is extremely hard to believe. There is so much detail here, rooms that were designed in Europe and shipped to Newport for reassembly, exotic materials, unmatched craftsmanship—all done in 2 years. Wild. It took me a full year to get four new windows installed. But, then, I’m not a Vanderbilt, am I? So, before I get back to the book, I want you to picture these rooms. Actually, you can even do better than that. I’m going to provide a link to the Newport Mansions website, and you can view a gallery there that will blow your mind. You step into these rooms and it’s like stepping into a fairy tale with crystal and shimmer, and the most beautiful imagery in the world.
OK, back to the book: Hundreds of workers took part in the construction, putting the walls up stone by stone. Whole rooms were designed and built in the shops of European Craftsman, including alarde and sons of Paris, and then shipped to Newport for reassembly. Four months, as the house went up, Newport society eagerly anticipated the opening of the Breakers. The interiors were finely crafted in gilded wood, marble, and bronze.
When the housewarming, combined with a coming out party for 20-year-old Gertrude Vanderbilt, was held on August 14th 1895, the Breakers made a spectacular backdrop. More than 300 guests were escorted into the Great Hall by footmen wearing the distinctive maroon livery of the Vanderbilt. The whole, rising nearly 50 feet and lined with cane stone, provided as it still does a fitting introduction to the sense of space and Vista that exists in all the public rooms downstairs. The east wall is almost entirely glass, affording an unbroken view across the terraces and lawn to the ocean and the distant reef that gave the Breakers its name. 8 matching sets of doors lead from the Great Hall to opulent reception rooms. The two story dining room is lined with twelve massive shafts of rose alabaster topped with gilded bronze capitals. The Gray and gold paneled music room has Gray ionic pilasters and furnishings and draperies of red Italian cut velvet. The cool grotto like billiard room is faced from floor to ceiling with matched slabs of Gray green marble The grand scale was continued behind the scenes in the service areas. Of the 70 rooms in the house, 33 were for the staff. Whether in Newport or New York, Mrs Vanderbilt reportedly could give a dinner party for 200 without calling in extra help. The kitchen, where family meals were prepared behind sealed doors so that no odors escaped into the living quarters, was a grand inefficient 2 story structure. The two-level butlers pantry, where the family silver Ware was kept in a vault 10 feet deep, held fine porcelain, China, and glassware.
Next to ball rooms, my favorite feature of old mansions would have to be the Butler’s Pantry, where all the beautiful crystal, silver, and china is stored. There were several china patterns on display in the various mansions—not just the Breakers, and I probably took more pictures of those displays of anything else. What is it about chin and crystal that is just so dreamy? I’ve heard place-setting described as “jewelry for the table.” Yes, that’s true, isn’t it? I think dishes are also like little masterpieces that tell a visual story on a very limited surface and diminutive scale. Anyway, one of the souvenirs that I brought home was a small platter and matching cups with a pattern based on one of the china sets at the Kingscote mansion (a mansion I didn’t visit, but the dishes were sold at the Breakers gift shop. Not sure how, but all the pieces made it home without breaking.
Ok, so that is a little introduction to The Breakers. Now, that was the summer home of Cornelius the II, and his wife Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt and their children. The Biltmore, another famous Vanderbilt mansion in Asheville, North Carolina, was the home of George Washington Vanderbilt and his wife Edith Stuvysant Vanderbilt. Marble House, was the home of another branch of the Vanderbilt family, William Kissem and Alva Vanderbilt. Now, for those of you who have watched HBO’s The Gilded Age, the main characters—the Russells, are based on William and Alva Vanderbilt. As they begin eying Newport as the site of their summer “cottage” on the show, Marble House is the real life inspiration for that show.
Anyway, I’ve been asked a few times now, which of these homes do I like the best? The Breakers is my favorite HOUSE—due in large part to the color scheme of the house—I love the creams and light blue/gray and golds. But the my favorite grounds, hands down, is The Biltmore in Ashville. That setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. When I went there I stayed on the property, and went for very long walks that were like walking through a dream. That left a lasting impression on me, I can tell you. Hands down, the most beautiful setting of any mansion I’ve ever visited.
Now, let’s take a little musical break, and when we come back I want to share with you a list I made while reflecting on my visit to these mansions of the 10 features that I believe make a room stunning.
[MUSIC?]
Ok, you walk into a Gilded Age Mansion and your eyeballs are popping out because everything is just TOO beautiful. Let’s unpack that sensation. What, specifically, makes a room in a Gilded Age mansion beautiful? And—big question—can we do something similar in our own humble homes? I made a list while actually IN he Rosecliff ballroom of the features in these mansions that stood out to me.
#1: Glass. Glass doors, glass cabinetry, crystal light fixtures, crystal dinner wear. At Marble House there were amazing beveled glass doors between rooms that reflected light chandeliers are a factor here, too, but I don’t want to de-emphasize the importance of glass doors on bookcases and cabinetry. I LOVE that. You can see what’s behind the glass, but you can’t GET at it. When things are behind glass they seem more precious somehow. So, glass—and a lot of it—is essential in a Gilded Age room.
#2: Mirrors. Yes, mirrors are glass, too, but I put them in their own category because they are just THAT important. The most striking rooms were those with mirrors that were embedded into the walls—across from windows, above fireplaces, near doors. The mirrors create depth and there’s just something magic about them. One mirror won’t do. We’re talking multiple mirrors—oversized, and at interesting angles. Yeah, mirrors are a must-have.
#3: Gold: Ormalu, gold leaf, just gold, gold, gold. Gold accents on walls, ceilings, furniture.
#4: The color Cream: Yes, cream trim, cream as a base color that ties things together. That is the recurring neutral, regardless of the color scheme.
#5 I want to through in other essential colors: sky blue, deep red, black. Yes, there were other colors, but those showed up frequently. In the private rooms the colors were a bit more subdued: cream, rose, blue.
#6 Chinoiserie: Asian motifs in china patterns, fabrics, and koi bowls used for plants. Also, Asian influences in lacquered furniture.
#7 Ferns and indoor greenery.
#8 Dressing Screens: I frequently see dressing screens with elaborate floral scenes painted on them when touring mansions. My favorites are those that have glass inserts at the top—though those are less common. I would LOVE to own just one. Alas, when I do see them for sale, which isn’t often, they are EXPENSIVE, so…no dressing screen for Jennifer.
#9 Decoration from ceiling to floor. From colorful rugs on the floor to elaborate murals on the ceiling, Gilded Age Mansions follow the “more is more” philosophy. Think about the ceilings in our homes. Not much going on up there. One of the recurring motifs I saw in the Mansions is sky murals. They were going for an effect in which the ceiling seemed to open up to reveal blue skies and fluffy clouds.
#10 Fountains: Yes, fountains both inside and out. At The Breakers there was an indoor fountain under the stairs. The Elms has an indoor fountain within its Conservatory. Of course, outdoor fountains were extremely common, too.
There’s my #10 features that make Gilded Age Mansions so beautiful. Oh, you know what, I’m going to throw in an eleventh: Black Iron. Iron gates, iron work along the elaborate grand stair cases, iron used outdoors. I love black iron.
OK, quick review:
Glass
Mirrors
Gold
The color Cream as a base color
An extended pallet of sky blue, deep red, and black—especially in the public rooms, and sky blue, roses, peach tones in the private spaces
Chinoiserie
Ferns and indoor greenery
Dressing screens placed in corners or really anywhere around a room
Decoration of floors AND ceilings
Fountains indoors and out
And my honorable mention: Black iron
So, what will you incorporate into your decorating scheme?
[Musical break]
Alright, let’s move forward in time now to the 1920s—the LATE 1920s—and visit with our old friends over at Downton Abbey. Ok, now we’re back in Circa 19XX Land Proper. Did you see the film? I saw it. Yes, actually I took myself to see that film and LOVED it. You know what’s great about that film? It’s quiet. There’s no murder. No intrigue. We have a bit of a mystery behind why the Dowager has acquired this amazing Mediterranean villa, but even that is just the kind of every day question we might have about happenings in our own lives—you know, unexpected little surprises that just make us wonder, “Hmmm, what’s the story here?” But it’s quiet. When I watched this latest film—which, by the way, I enjoyed more than the first film—it was like slipping into an alternative life for a couple of hours with people who are familiar—people we feel like we know. It’s like a catch-up: What’s been going on since we say each other last?
People who aren’t fans of the show probably just can’t understand that—but we do, don’t we? I’ll tell you, when the movie ended I almost cried—there IS a melancholy ending that we all saw coming (don’t worry, I won’t spoil it if you haven’t seen it), but I was sad at saying goodbye to all of the characters for fear that I wouldn’t see them again. Will this be the last Downton film?
In an interview with Indiewire, Julian Fellowes said he certainly wouldn’t discount another movie but much will depend on timing. “These things become clearer over time. If there is still a demand for more ‘Downton,’ and the actors, if enough of them want to do it. I certainly wouldn’t block it,” he said. The screenwriter said he’s learned to never say never. “I’ve had five times now of thinking I’ve said goodbye to them and then here they are again.”
Ok, well, I don’t know how reassuring that is. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
So, you know I’m dying to talk about this movie in detail, but I’ll leave you to discover it for yourself. I will say that there are essentially 2 primary storylines, with a few sidelines as well: A film crew comes to Downton to use it as a backdrop for a movie. This generates some welcomed income for the estate. Lady Mary presides over Downton—and takes on an unexpected role in assisting the director of the film in transitioning the project from a silent film to a “talkie.” The rest of the family is engaged with the second storyline: the inheritance of a beautiful villa on the French Riviera.
OK, so I said I wasn’t going to include any spoilers here, but I can’t contain myself. I do want to mention one thing in this film that I thought was particularly striking. This IS a spoiler, so if you want to fast-forward passed this section, now is the time to do it.
Lady Mary’s husband, Henry Talbot is not in this movie. He’s in Instanbul—though I can’t remember why. Is he in a race? He races cars. Well, anyway, he’s not on the scene. We get the idea that Mary is not quite happy in her marriage, which sets the stage for an affair with the Director of the movie being made at Downton. He falls in love with her. BUT, unlike what would most certainly develop in other films of our day, the affair DOESN’T happen. She remains true to her vows to Henry, in what I think is one of the most beautiful scenes in a film with many beautiful scenes. At the same time, we see this lovely model of marriage in Lord Grantham and Cora. I want to see more of this in film: This holding up of marriage as this beautiful ideal. And I’m saying this as someone who isn’t married.
This is a feel-good film, for sure. Julian Fellowes acknowledged that. He said this about this latest film: “If we are useful for cheering people up and giving them an easy time of it, that doesn’t bother me.”
Well, anyway, I could go on and on about this movie. You have to be a long-time fan to love this film. If you have no history with the story, this film will be a terrific bore. But for me…I just absolutely loved it. LOVED IT. Oh, please Julian Fellowes and cast, keep these movies coming!
Hey, before we leave Downton, I made an interesting discovery I thought I would share. We all know the familiar Downton theme song, right? Well I wanted to find out a little more about it.
It turns out Town and Country Magazine did an interview with the composer, John Lunn about it. Get this: That was NOT supposed to be the theme song. Lunn wrote that melody as the background for the opening scenes of season 1, episode 1. Here is what he said about the theme in the Town & Country interview:
“It was the first piece of music I ever wrote for the series, and the very first episode in season one didn't have a title sequence. It just kind of started straight into the drama with a telegram, and there was a train, and then there was Bates sitting looking out of the window, rather forlorn. We don't know his back-story; we don't know that the telegram's carrying the news that the heir to Downton Abbey has drowned on the Titanic. And eventually we arrive at a fantastic shot of the house.
The theme song was the music that I wrote for that sequence. The energy of it and the emotion of, just seemed to suit the whole season. I think we found three or four places in the very first episode to use it.
The very next scene was the servant getting the house ready in the morning, and there is a similarity with the train because the house is a well oiled machine in a way, so we used it again. And then, by the time I finished the first episode, it became obvious that this was going to be the main theme of the whole show. So, then we did a 30-second version of it, and they put the pictures to the music, which is quite an unusual way of doing things.
They're quite vague, the titles. You see candelabras, and a dog’s bottom, and there's pictures of the house, but it's the music that's really kind of giving an idea of the thing you're about to see, more than the pictures, I would say.”
Apparently when the first post-series movie was in production, there was some question as to whether or not to use that original theme. They used it during a test screening, and when people heard that theme, he said everyone cheered. So they knew, then, that there would be no changing that theme. For this latest film, it wasn’t even a question. I mean, honestly, can you imagine some other theme song playing? No. No way.
Well, did you know there were words to that theme song? The song is called “Did I make the most of Loving You?” I’m not going to sing it, because I’m saving that for my episode on “How to lose a podcast audience without even trying.” But I will share the lyrics with you. So, again, the melody is by John Lunn, the lyrics are by Don Black:
Did I make the most of loving you?
So many things we didn't do
Did I give you all my heart could give?
Two unlived lives with lives to live
When these endless, lonely days are through
I'll make the most of loving you
Did we make the most of all we had?
Not seeing you makes my heart sad
Did we make the most of summer days?
We still have time to change our ways
When these endless, lonely days are through
I'll make the most of loving you
Did those tender words stay in my head?
So many things were left unsaid
Did I give you all my heart could give?
Two unlived lives with lives to live
When these endless, lonely days are through
I'll make the most of loving you
Ok, so, if you missed Downton Abbey: A New Era in theaters, you can purchase it on Amazon Prime. As of this recording, it’s still pricey at $19.99, but of course, that will come down. Enjoy!
[Musical Break]
To wrap up our little show tonight I wanted to share with you two awesome vintage treasure that came into my possession just before I went to Newport. Yeah, two awesome things came my way unexpectedly in one week.
Awesome thing #1: A pair of mid-century lucite candles in mint condition. I have been searching high and low for several years now for lucite candles. These plastic decorative candles—that can’t be lit, by the way--That would be a disaster—were popular in the 1960a and early 1970s, I believe, and they are extremely hard to find. You can get them on eBay, but they’re expensive, and usually in not-so-great condition. Most commonly you see them in clear acrylic with gold, silver, or copper-colored flakes inside. Often the little wicks are missing or frayed, or the acrylic is cloudy or scratched. Well, my mom surprised me with a beautiful subtle green pair—in absolutely perfect condition—that she found at a thrift store for $2!!!! What???? Yes. I almost died. I told her if I had spotted these at the thrift store I would likely have taken a heart attack. I have them prominently displayed on my kitchen table. I have informed my family that when I die I want to be buried with these candles.
Awesome thing #2: A 1962 World’s Fair souvenir Jim Beam Whisky Decanter of the Seattle Space Needle. I got this for free. I had donated a bunch of stuff to our local Disabled American Veterans thrift store—a place I like to shop—and they gave me a voucher that burned a hole in my pocket. I walked in and saw this decanter first thing and had to have it. I visited the Space Needle right before the Pandemic, which had been a life-long dream. I have a fascination with the 1962 and 1964 World’s Fairs, so I recognized this immediately as something I needed for my collection. It’s a tall decanter, in the shape of the Space Needle, and in gold lettering it reads “Century of Progress,” 1962 Worlds Fair, Seattle on the side. It is in excellent condition, and the colors of it are soft blues and greens that are just beautiful. What an exciting day that was to bring it home. I checked eBay, and they sell for between $50 to $80, so yeah, I was pretty happy.
OK, well that just about does it.
Awesome Finds Acryllic Candles and Space Needle De