Episode #74: Daring Dandies: Early 20th Century Men of Style and Scandal

Evander Berry Wall

In the previous episode “Dandies: Gentleman of Style from the 19th Century to Today”, Carl was joined by cultural historian and maker of fine custom clothing, Nathaniel Lee Adams for a look at this most interesting breed of society’s tastemaking men. In this new episode, Carl and Natty take the discussion further and focus on the early 20th century… Continue reading Episode #74: Daring Dandies: Early 20th Century Men of Style and Scandal

Episode #21: Dancing with the Green Fairy: The Mysteries of Absinthe

Absinthe was one of the most popular and most mysterious drinks that fueled Paris and London’s cafe society and artistic circles in the Belle Epoque and late Victorian and Edwardian worlds. Artists and writers from Henri Toulouse-Lautrec to Marcel Proust and Oscar Wilde were proponents along with members of the upper classes as well as everyday workers. Myths… Continue reading Episode #21: Dancing with the Green Fairy: The Mysteries of Absinthe

Episode #19: Stealing a Smile: The Theft of the Mona Lisa, Paris 1911

La Joconde "Mona Lisa", Leonardo Da Vinci

The enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa has captured the attention of the public for centuries. But even today, few people actually realize that on a warm summer morning in Paris in 1911, the Mona Lisa was also stolen. The theft captured the attention of the world and made this masterwork of DaVinci’s quite simply… Continue reading Episode #19: Stealing a Smile: The Theft of the Mona Lisa, Paris 1911

Episode #7: Getting a Bad Rap: Spiritualism in the 19th century

Many people throughout the 19th century were fascinated with the idea of connecting with the beyond including the famous Commodore Vanderbilt. Historian Anthony Bellov joins this week for a look into some rather strange phenomena and the story of Vanderbilt and one of the most famous spiritualists of the period, the fascinating Victoria Woodhull.