THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU NEEDED TO KNOW

  We of the 21st century have our fair share of divas - J Lo, Mariah, Ariana, but Gilded Age operetta start Lillian Russell paved the way for all divas to come. She drew enormous crowds in New York and London and lived a lavish lifestyle with a paramour for 20 years. Raised by a suffragist mother and a newspaper man father she wrote a column in support of women's suffrage. She originated many roles in popular operettas of the day. Called "the most beautiful actress on legitimate stage," Lillian Russell was a star before there was recorded music, radio, or Hollywood. Lillian Russell was born Helen Louise Leonard on December 4th either in 1860 or 1861, the fourth of five daughters. Her father Charles Leonard, managed a newspaper in Clinton, Iowa, and her mother Cynthia Leonard worked to promote women's suffrage ; eventually she would become the first woman to run for mayor of New York City. The family moved to Chicago in 1865. Helen, called Nellie, acted in school theat...

   New York City has a long tradition of excellence in hotels. Once Manhattan became the U.S. center for commerce and culture, the city needed luxury accommodations for travelers and wealthy citizens. Two of these great hotels were built by the Astor family. These hotels would briefly be home to a roster of the days most important figures and offer glitz, glam, and wigs to guests. These two Astor hotels put even the nicest Holiday Inn to shame. The Astor House Hotel, built by Astor progenitor John Jacob Astor I (after he washed the beaver blood from his hands) set the standards for what would come in hotels. Rooms cost an audacious $2 per night, but your dollar deuce got you water, a pitcher, a bowl, and free soap! The hotel boasted 300 guest rooms and a ground floor that offered 18 shops selling clocks, jewelry, pianos, soda water, medicine, wigs, among many other things - because of course you paid $2 a night in case you want to get drugged up and do a wig fashion show. Fanc...