St. Regis Stories: Legends of Fifth

On the eve of its 120th anniversary, the St. Regis New York considers what remains sacred, what must change, and what it takes to make an idea important and inviting for its next century. Host Jenni Benzaquen, Marriott Senior Vice President and Global Brand Leader, welcomes hospitality and bartending visionary Jim Meehan to discuss the rise and cultural significance of a St. Regis signature, the Bloody Mary, and designers Alexandra Champalimaud and Courtney Brannan join the show to share behind the scenes details about their research and work renovating the St. Regis New York’s public spaces, including the iconic King Cole Bar. Author Thessaly La Force concludes our season with her original elevator story. 

Jazz Age nightlife meant big bands with legendary leaders and cutting-edge crowds who showed up to dance. From the 1920s, hotel ballrooms played host to this burgeoning American artform, and the St. Regis sat at the vanguard. Jazz legend and torchbearer Wynton Marsalis joins journalist Howie Kahn and Marriott Senior Vice Predisent and Global Brand Leader Jenni Benzaquen to share stories and reflections about the complexity of jazz’s evolution: from how Duke Ellington and Count Basie ran their bands, to the timeless cool of Mel Tormé, to a young Wynton risking his own life to see live jazz in his native Louisiana. As Wynton Marsalis explains, the heartbeat of jazz in America is nothing short of vital to communities, to culture, and to our country. Later in the show, author Oliver Munday shares his elevator story. 

To fully understand the St. Regis New York, you must not only understand its founder, John Jacob Astor IV—you must understand his mother, too. Caroline Schermerhorn Astor’s influence over power, social standing, society and culture in turn-of-the-century Manhattan was more than outsized. To a certain set, it was as consequential as the law itself.  Brad Wulff, Global Brand Director for St. Regis Hotels and Resorts, is joined by authors and historians Cecelia Tichi and Lesley Blume to discuss the rise and rule of the original American influencer, and the mark she left on what a hotel can be. Plus, author Ted Thompson shares his elevator story.

While Astorian money and ideology gave rise to the St. Regis, it fell upon an immigrant restaurateur to ensure the endeavor ran in a manner that matched its ambitions. Leading the charge was Rudolph “R.M.” Haan, a descendant of Hungarian bankers who first wanted to pursue finance in America, but instead turned into a failed exporter of American wines. Haan found his stride in Manhattan operating restaurants and through powerful connections, was introduced to John Jacob Astor IV, who appointed him President of the St. Regis. Among Haan’s myriad responsibilities was overseeing hotel dining in an era of daily menus that echoed elaborate banquets--far more complex than the comparatively minimal restaurant menus of today. Yale historian and author Paul Freedman, writer Zach Weiss, journalist Howie Kahn and returning design expert William Li join Brad Wulff, Global Brand Director for St. Regis Hotels and Resorts, to explore the opulence of early 20th century hotel dining, the enduring appeal of a late-night feast, and what it took to build and run a kitchen fit for royalty. Plus, author Lauren Mechling shares her elevator story.

When its doors opened on September 4, 1904, the St. Regis wasn’t merely the tallest hotel in New York. Superlatives filled the hotel’s 18 stories. Innovations in decor, climate control, and hygiene all prompted The New York Times to call “The Palatial St. Regis…The Most Richly Furnished Hotel in America.” But readying the property wasn’t all glittering headlines. Ceaseless gossip, political hurdles, and neighborhood discord all came into play as the St. Regis, its founder, John Jacob Astor IV, and its pioneering first president, R.M. Haan, all rallied to put the hotel on the map. Author Lesley Blume and historian  A. K. Sandoval-Strausz return to the podcast, along with design expert and Armature Projects founder William Li.  They join host Tina Edmundson–Marriott International President, Luxury–to share what made this hotel opening unprecedented, fascinating, and resonant, even 120 years later. Plus, best-selling author Michael Hainey shares his elevator story. 

The story of hotels in America, and the origins of hospitality in this country, take root in the late 18th century and progress at a stunning pace, thanks in part to rivalry, ego, and an intense competition to build bigger, better, and more luxurious accommodation for a new class of travelers. At the forefront of this Gilded Age race for hotel superiority were the Astors, whose high-stakes family drama plays out across Manhattan, culminating in the era's most spectacular accommodations. Best-selling author Lesley Blume and historian A. K. Sandoval-Strausz join host Tina Edmundson–Marriott International President, Luxury–to unpack America’s hotel evolution and the singular family of headliners and adversaries that thrust it forward. Plus, author Jessie Gaynor kicks off our series of original short fiction, six new stories based on a legendary St. Regis elevator ride with Alfred Hitchcock.