Two extra floors that tipped Boldt's Folly into ruin
From Old Money Dynasties · 22:34
Show by OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENT
A newly built Waldorf hotel towers beside a rival's mansion after two extra floors are added - how do you fall from that high?Two extra floors that tipped Boldt's Folly into ruinIn this episode, we trace the decisions and rivalries that produced the original Waldorf-Astoria, from land deals and family feuds to one architect’s plans and a hotelier’s fateful change. What chain of choices turned ambition and position into a building called "Boldt’s Folly"?Person: William Waldorf AstorPerson: George BoldtDate: March 13, 1893Location: Fifth Avenue and Thirty-Third Street, ManhattanEvent: Addition of two extra floors to the Waldorf- William Waldorf demolished his inherited house and commissioned a 13-story German Renaissance hotel next to his aunt’s mansion to block her light.- The stained glass above the entrance depicted the village Walldorf, tying the hotel’s identity to family heritage.- Louisa Boldt persuaded George Boldt to increase the original 11-story plan to 13 stories, adding two extra floors.- The Waldorf opened on a rainy Tuesday to an almost empty lobby and was quickly dubbed "Boldt's Folly."- The hotel featured six thousand electric lights, a sienna marble entrance hall, and an Empire Room modeled on a Munich palace.Tired of ads? Listen to this podcast and 200+ more ad-free on OBOMEDIA.Try it free for 7 days, cancel anytime: https://obomedia.com/en/gratis?ref=desc-7317502© 2026 Created by an independent creator of the OBOMEDIA Network. All rights reserved.This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the property of their respective creator, who is solely responsible for them, and are distributed by the OBOMEDIA Network on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Pocket Casts. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without the creator's prior written permission is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].
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