Mrs. Astor's Beechwood Mansion in Newport, RI

[@marklauzon186]

I worked there as an Actor in 1982 or 83. What a Summer! We lived on the 3rd floor. We treated visitors as if it were late 1800's. An incredible home. At night we performed a Musical to sold out crowds. My claim to fame: The American Cup races were still held in Newport. The British VICTORY lost early. They had a farewell party at BEECHWOOD. At 9pm I was told to stand outside between the two lions and NOT speak to the person on my right. It was PRINCE ANDREW!! This was the same summer of the S Von Bulow saga. Chris Reeves was filming in Newport. It was exciting 2 be in the middle of it all. I was a student at ROGER WILLIAMS COLLEGE at the time.....life was good!!

[@sharksport01]

Nice!

[@keithlauderjr1691]

Cool story Mark!

[@doberman1ism]

I also worked there when you worked there! I was the character of The Countess of Inverness! The Countess was supposed to be a cousin of Carolyn Skimmerhorn Astor. I was attending classes at Salve Regina ~ The Newport College.

[@sunnyhill5119]

You lucky soul, you.

[@barbarawentzel6202]

Lucky actor. What an experience.

[@millardfillmore241]

My first professional job out of college was a The Beechwood. It was in the 1980's and I was part of the staff that gave tours of the house in period costume during the day and performed shows in the ballroom in the evening. The music room was imported from France. The dining room was imported from England. The ballroom is a masterpiece, the floors are a herringbone parquet and the French doors have panes with curved muntin bars so when when dances the floor and the curves ape the waves of the ocean. The house is one of, if not the most elegant of all of Newport's mansions.

[@BoucherRay]

the herringbone gives the illusion of waves...worked there in 95 :)

[@ArthurChapmanhomesinnewportri]

I acted there as well.

[@judiesuh6858]

What tresure of a memory!!👍👏

[@j1st633]

I was fortunate to have visited this mansion when they had the actors perform a mystery theatre. Each room has a clue. At the end we were brought into the large ball room to find out who done it. Fantastic!

[@edgarsnake2857]

The great houses of Newport are a bit over the top in terms of frivolous decadence. But the fabulous workmanship exhibited in these places is endlessly fascinating to me. I've been to all the house museums in Newport and each of them is a fantasy come true.

[@weavermuto]

I also gave tours in character at Beechwood back in the mid 80's into the 90's. Every day it was like living in a PBS period movie. I played the house calligrapher, then the butler. Walking those floors in costume and being surrounded by such beauty daily was sheer joy. I miss those days, tours in the daytime, murder mysteries or cabarets in the evening. It was the best time of my life.

[@keithlauderjr1691]

I grew up in Newport from 9 to 25 65'-85' and walked the Cliff Walk countless times marveling at the backs of these beautiful Mansions. Every visit since included these same walks. It's American history and we should embellish these structures and preserve them at any cost. The Historical Society does just that, thank God.

[@kellingtonlink956]

Fascinating! That’s a lot of history covered in about 4 minutes. Amazing story. Thanks for the video.

[@surfingwith3Js]

I worked there in the late 70s as caretaker for Richard Merrill, a banker from Texas who had the house meticulously renovated as the previous owner was a recluse and lived in about 3 or 4 rooms. I was married there and had the pleasure of going to my nieces wedding there about 10 years ago .Great memories there,many parties with guest list of folks like Liz Taylor, John Warner,Sunny and Claus Von Bulow (neighbors ) and many more. I no longer live in Newport but I understand it's undergoing extensive renovations

[@missingremote4388]

Must have been grand wedding ceremonies. I believe you, Too bad there wasn't youtube back then.

[@dthoward2011]

I used to live and work there in the early 90’s. It was a very nice house and certainly more modest than some of the beaux arts houses that Newport is known for. The tour showed all of the lower rooms, the main bedrooms, and the second floor servants quarters. You excited through the kitchen. As an earlier poster mentioned, the staff lived on the third floor which had been renovated at some point with a bathroom and modern(ish) kitchen that we all shared. Excellent video and a great reminder of the place many of us called home for years.

[@lynnl6979]

That is about the time that I had a tour of this house, which I loved, and always thought was so much more of a 'home' than the other mansions. One of the people I was with was much wittier than I and explained our state of 'undress' (wearing shorts) as the result of a carriage accident just outside the gate. My now husband still hates tours where the docents play characters rather than just talk to you like a normal person! lol.

[@stevemartin6934]

Love Newport and went many times ,,,,tons of history on every street !!!!!!!!!!!!! Great shopping too

[@maryellenaylward5457]

My daughters and I just visited The Elms and Rosecliff in Newport last week! We have have also been to The Breakers and Marble House on different occasions. We are fortunate enough to live about 45 mins away and visit often! The Elms was purchased by the Newport Preservation Society just days before it was scheduled to be demolished! Unfortunately, all the original furnishings had been auctioned off before the NPS acquired it. But over the years they have been able to locate and return some of the original furnishings back to its home! Amazing! I also picked up a book titled "Lost Newport: Vanished Cottages of the Resort Era" while we were there. It is fascinating to see just how many "cottages" there used to be that have now been demolished. This book talks about 59 houses that used to exist. Some were sold to Salve Regina and still exist in one form or another. It's sad that so many were demolished but the upkeep of them would have been astronomical!

[@LJB103]

I also live not too far away. The mansions are magnificent, but I used to go so often that I knew what the docents were going to say before they said it (except for the guide who started to describe Marble House - saw the puzzled looks on the tour's faces and realized "Oh, it's Tuesday. The Elms was built.....). Now sure if you know, but in the summer, if you ask, you can often tour Ochre Court. I also have that book on the lost mansions.

[@meeganaschen8388]

@Mary Ellen Aylward my mom and I love Newport too! I agree that the NPS and NRF do a fabulous job maintaining and caring for these historical properties! “Lost Newport…” is such an interesting read. It is a shame the number of “summer cottages” that have been demolished. I am grateful we have books and archives that include photos and info. We live a few hours away from Newport in CT, but we try to get there as often as possible.

[@nans969]

I wish I visited it when it was open to the public. They used to have a " show" with actors in period costumes doing tours. I moved out of Rhode Island in 1988. But , have been to most of the other cottages over the years. In 2019 I brought my husband for the 1st time. I miss Rhode Island.

[@DemocracyofLight]

Thank you for saying, “the events of 2020” instead of “pandemic” 🎯

[@doberman1ism]

In the early 1980s I worked there as an actress and a costume designer. I portrayed a physician of character The Countess of Inverness who is supposed to be Mrs. John Jacob Pastor‘s cousin. It was a beautiful place to work and such wonderful people to work with. The Ball Room what’s my favorite area of the house.

[@nancyvickers2814]

I would definitely visit!! I was in Newport just last September. I had a marvelous time touring all the old mansions.

[@jonrussell1690]

Yes I would visit!! I love visiting old grand homes. Love the history.

[@oneeyeddog3045]

Absolutely! I would love to see this mansion. Fascinated with the history of the gilded age and the Astors.

[@margaretrodham6815]

What a beautiful majestic looking house, I just love it....Thank you for the story behind it.

[@claudiocavaliere856]

Absolutely magnificent house! Stunning rooms and beautifully decorated! Breathtaking views! Congratulations!

[@StamperWendy]

Those rooms are huge! I went into one of the Newport mansions, the only fact I remember is that it wasn't The Breakers. It was 1976 and the summer when The Tall Ships sailed in, from all over the world. Thanks, Ken!

[@WindTurbineSyndrome]

I was Newport for tall ships a very special weekend.

[@meeganaschen8388]

Great video! I appreciate that you highlight and bring to life, so many of the privately held, and more importantly, now demolished Gilded Age mansions in America! Newport, RI is a favorite vacation place for my mom and me!! We’ve been there many times, it’s like a second home. We visited Rough Point (Doris Duke’s “summer cottage”) in 2000, the year it was opened to the public, which was 7 years after her death. We met and spoke with her gardener on the grounds. We also met her dogs, who were incredibly sweet and well looked after. Duke left Rough Point to the NRF (Newport Restoration Foundation) in her will and asked that it be opened as a museum. Duke founded the NRF in 1968. The other organization that cares for and operates Newport’s Gilded Age mansions is The Preservation Society of Newport County. I would definitely visit Beechwood if it’s opened to the public!

[@ronbreton296]

I live in RI and visited Beechwood many times. The period actors were spot on in the mannerisms and vernacular of the times. I was rather shocked at how small the mansion is compared to the other gargantuan summer cottages along Bellevue Ave. in Newport. Mrs. Astor's sun room, in the Beechwood mansion, was my mom's favorite, when I took to tour the Newport mansions. She as well as I and friends felt the Beechwood was more of a home, compared to the others, along Bellevue Ave

[@lynnl6979]

We saw Beechwood in the early 90s the same day we saw Rosecliff. We called it RudeCliff because the tour guide we had there was so snobby and rude. The tour at Beechwood was so refreshing after RudeCliff! I always like it the best because it was so much more of a 'home' than a monument.

[@kathrynsinclare8459]

Yes, I would go to visit the house. This time in history the country is not promoting history as part of the pop culture, but I am part of the last century pop history culture, so I would go see this lovely historical estate.

[@cassandraralph5906]

Beautiful house, I'd like to think the inside is just as beautiful as well. Thank you again for your most interesting videos

[@cheriserausch3651]

I worked here as an actor years ago when the Mansion was open for living tour... One of the best jobs I ever had❤

[@gregmilliken5538]

I visited the house back in the 1980s. It is a beautiful place!!

[@gaemlinsidoharthi]

Wonderful to hear a positive outcome to this story. May the plans for it garner all the success they deserve and more.

[@Ravensonng]

I will always remember a conference I attended in Newport many years ago where one of the activities for the attendees was dinner at this house. It was a memorable experience in an absolutely beautiful setting.

[@christopherkraft1327]

I would absolutely visit this opulent estate!!! Hopefully it will be available for public tours in the near future!!! Thanks for sharing another fun video!!! 👍👍🙂

[@helenlesley5456]

Thanks Meghan A , for your interesting input, much appreciated from a like minded architectural fan who spent several years in ownership of a haunted 1886 Vicarage in the UK

[@jowhite4048]

Now that sounds fascinating 😊

[@barbarasorrells8474]

I would love to visit this house. I lived in Newport Rhode Island more than 50 years ago. My husband was in the Navy. And he was stationed there. I got a chance to see some of the houses or I should say cottages back then. I would love to go again. Thank you for your post.❤

[@jamesparciak5387]

Hi Ken It is a great Newport house. I have had the opportunity to attend party's there. I wish he would finish the house. Thank you for presenting.

[@ardiffley-zipkin9539]

Yes, I visited there. It was wonderful. There was a piano in the music room that a guest sat at playing a waltz. My husband and I danced a few steps. We recalled the tour as when we danced in Mrs Astor’s ballroom. It was a museum then staffed with period actors and actresses as tour guides.❤

[@cnr414Nicole]

I don't mind long videos ... BUT ... I love a short one full of Information better. I had to subscribe, because they're all short and to the point. Gets right to the meat of it, and keeps it moving. Had to subscribe.

[@aimeefriedman822]

I've been trying to get in there for years. Everytime I'd go to Newport I'd see if it was open to the public, as I always did the mansion crawl.

[@tudorjason]

One of the more interesting histories regarding its occupants, Beechwood would be grand to tour if and when it is opened to the public.

[@peterwood5989]

Can’t wait for the next season of “Gilded Age.” I feel like I know all of the characters surrounding “Beechwood” now.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

The amount of money spent on this house by the first Astor owners is staggering even for the wealthy of that era. Then later owners have spent millions and millions more. I wonder how many houses have had so much money spent on them.

[@dorothygale1104]

Marble House cost over twice as much to construct as what the Astors spent to acquire and renovate this property. It cost $11 million in 1890 to build Marble House, which is the equivalent of $358 million today. Same for The Breakers. The Astors couldn’t hold a candle to the Vanderbilts with regard to spending money, as they didn’t have nearly as much of it to spend.

[@annonymously331]

@@dorothygale1104that $11million was probably a vast exaggeration

[@SpanishEclectic]

I hate to say this, but the exterior reminds me of a train station, with the understanding that the Downtown Los Angeles and San Diego Santa Fe Depots are quite beautiful. Maybe it's the 'logias' and large arched windows.

[@m.f.richardson1602]

I liked the original look. Thank you💕🇺🇲

[@stevenkaskus6173]

Would like to see the original chimney topper's that looked like a little mansion, that was pretty Cool not to mention unique.

[@michealsmith28]

Hello gorgeous California says hello have a grateful the imagination is a wonderful thing you can look at these houses and just go nuts

[@michaelwalter3399]

I own a copy of "Villas and Cottages," the book which Downing & Vaux published in 1864, which includes floor plans and perspective drawings of this house.

[@rick0e295]

Thank God this magnificent edifice has survived the terrible fate of so many other beautiful homes and landmarks! 🏆.

[@alisonj9533]

Imagine a house like that, spending only 8 weeks a year!

[@bobcaygeon6799]

LOL, you caught that, too?!!! Was it shut down for the rest of the year? Just seems like madness to do that! I would hope other family members used it beyond those 8 weeks.

[@jeanfranklin7918]

Love it. What amazing history. Thanks Ken. GOD BLESS.

[@monkeygraborange]

Each “renovation” seems to have accomplished nothing more than to strip away every vestige of the original charm.

[@Gizathecat2]

I’d visit it for sure!

[@mikec7176]

I took a tour if this house in the 70’s, very nice!

[@aprilerains4578]

God I wish I could vacation there! Beautiful!

[@debbie.d.a.5689]

Thank you for this. Loved the history

[@ltlfloweranon7717]

The workmanship in those homes amazing. Like the country homes in England.

[@dannybeun948]

Just perfect 👌

[@kentdouglass1001]

I would visit it. I saw Hammersmith in that area once.

[@MarkAshtonLund]

I travel to Newport a couple of times a month. Indeed they are actively working on the estate.

[@debbralehrman5957]

Thanks 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@thevirtualtraveler]

Got to visit in 1990. We spent the day touring several of the old belles

[@lizlittle1641]

I used to watch America's Castles and now own the DVDs. Their house is 1 of those castles. I would love to visit.

[@johnstauffer1032]

That's one helluva vacation home.

[@kathypetering3303]

Yes, I would visit.

[@firecracker3911]

Nice 👍

[@Suntan38]

My goodness, that house has to be THE most renovated house in history.

[@BillMcGirr]

Living in Rhode Island… I can attested to the almost breath taking beauty of the Guilded age architecture. These mansions are a testament to human craftsmanship. The Breakers is a literal feast of architectural details. Utterly incredible.👍🥃

[@mr.e8432]

Toured this house a few times back when they had actors giving tours. The ballroom was gorgeous. I was in Newport just before the plandemic and the yard was a mess with construction equipment.

[@jeanberard2078]

I would definitely visit!

[@linadowning218]

This is a home that like in a fantasy love story. Magical

[@Derek.Duquesne]

Newport is just beautiful. This one's privately owned but would most certainly be saved from any Wrecking Ball . Their preservation Society does such a great job in not letting those huge mansions go to rot.

[@darrelllancaster9554]

Thanks folks.

[@youllbeblessed]

So beautiful 💕 would love to visit

[@buzzkincaid5521]

A very storied history, bordering on legendary, truth is stranger than fiction

[@cmtippens9209]

Imagine spending that kind of money to only spend eight weeks of the year living in the house. 🤯

[@luv-z4x]

Kind weird to find out the ceo of the company I work for owns this house

[@phyllas121]

Absolutely I would visit Plan on taking a vacation to road island 2023

[@gmanette188]

Thank you much

[@KerryEriksson]

The rich really went all out in those days sparing no expense.But they couldn't of all been artisically inclined and must of had interior decoraters,and craftsmen explain what could be done and the materials involved.Newport had the creme de la creme of mansions and nothing but the best of everything.

[@tangee1020]

Yes, I would love to visit❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@desertsunman5880]

The ballroom, of course!😉😎

[@JosephStJames2000]

Great review, as always. It sounds as though you have been working on your voice. You sound very professional. Good job. 👍

[@barbarawentzel6202]

Yes, I'll visit. I'd like to play an actor, and have reenactments. I like her dressing room.

[@angelamillard6418]

I went in the 1990s, looking forward to seeing it reopen

[@busterbiloxi3833]

Great video.

[@joymae]

I biked the home today and saw the Marble house. Too bad you can't see it from Bellevue

[@foxworthhall726]

I got chased off the lawn by Mrs Astor she called me a commoner....how droll!

[@LJB103]

It sounds like you said that Madeleine was younger than John Jacob IV's younger son: she was his mother! When the house was opened for tours, you were treated one of 2 ways: during the summer, you were a guest of Mrs. Astor; and during the off-season, you were an applicant for a job at the house. A note on how times have changed: when going up stairs, a lady now goes first so that if she falls, a gentleman can catch her. In Mrs. Astor's day men went first so they couldn't see a lady's ankle (this way was followed on the tours as well as all children -unless titled- being sent up the servants' stairs). I can't seem to find out if the house will be reopened as a house museum with art like the Frick in NYC or as just an art museum like the Griswold mansion (also on Belview Ave. in Newport) as it does appear that Ellison is doing this to house his art collection.

[@egriffinj]

Madeleine was younger than JJ IV's younger son, Vincent, at the time of their marriage. JJ V, born after his father's death was his youngest son.

[@LJB103]

@@egriffinj Vincent was JJ IV's ONLY son before Madeleine gave birth to JJ VI (JJ V was the younger son of Viscount Astor in England)

[@egriffinj]

@@LJB103 Quite right on Vincent. And entirely my fault on the number system, forgot the British branch entirely. Thanks for the catch

[@RIBill]

Ellison said that, now that he owns a Hawaiian island, he likely will never return to the Continental US. So, unless he is just hanging his art for storage purposes, I imagine it will eventually be opened as a museum.

[@LJB103]

@@RIBill Right, but what kind of a museum? The two I mentioned are different: the Firck is a furnished home with lots of art; the Griswold mansion has art without much furniture (not shown as a home - or at least it was when I saw it years ago).

[@erichottel7783]

I think Cleveland Amory also wrote a book titled "The Last Resorts." Bar Harbor, Newport. Where else?

[@andyroo9381]

Such wealth!

[@catherinegardner8407]

I would have loved to see where they took regular meals, what they considered the bathrooms of the day, and bedrooms.

[@NYmomAdrienne3915]

I was thinking of getting married there, but we booked a mansion here on Long Island instead to make it easier for our guests

[@marylabbe4877]

I would love to visit

[@geoffreyselvage1673]

I would visit Ken, if you organized a party and tour of the home.

[@marylabbe4877]

Thank you I am very into the titanic, so this was an awesome experience

[@loriboufford6342]

Just imagine IF these early century millionaires were into creating parks, trails, camping, preserving animals and flora for the public.....rather than these magnificent private homes.

[@nicki8731]

The back porch and columns

[@gwtwvivien]

I read in a book about the Titanic what happened to J. J. Astor and it was terrible. Gladly his young widow survived.

[@kevinl6231]

Myyyyy, such wealth.

[@andrewspruell8498]

You need to feature the Vizcaya in Miami.. the Ace of Clubs House in Texarkana and the mansions on Jekyll Island

[@Prieze868]

Lucky Mrs

[@sherriianiro747]

Wow! For once a happy ending!

[@lewis7315]

yes and in the end all they inherited was a pine box and a few square feet of dirt...

[@christywells2707]

By the way, the Titanic didn't sink. The Olympic was sunk. There's a documentary on it, and how it likely happened. But the identification on the "Titanic" at the bottom of the ocean is of the Olympic