Oscar of the Waldorf
About this book
On the historic morning of March 13,1893, when Oscar Tschirky solemnly opened the portals of the old Waldorf for the first time, there was ushered in an era of luxury and magnificent entertainment hitherto undreamed of in America. From the moment of it brilliant debut, attended exclusively by the "Four Hundred," the name of the Waldorf has been synonymous with the cram of international Society. The careers of Oscar and the Waldorf are inextricably blended - together they from the history of a fabulous era. Crowded with famous and fashionable personages, the Waldorf became the favorite haunt of noted beauties, matinee idols and Wall Street tycoons. European royalty, prime ministers, artists and prima donnas made the hotel their American home. From the Gay Nineties to the present day, Oscar of the Waldorf has presided at a long list of dazzling affairs, not the least of which were Dewey's return from Manila and the final, tearful farewell banquet which marked the old Waldorf's passing. Now, at seventy-seven, Oscar still guides the destinies of the new Waldorf-Astoria with the same sure hand. Oscar's catalogue of close personal friends is a veritable Who's Who of the world famous. Probably no other man in public life has known more people intimately: Lillian Russell, l"Diamond Jim" Brady, General Grant, Prince Henry of Prussia, Buffalo Bill, the Prince of Wales, Cardinal Mercier, Barnum and Bailey, New York society through the years state stars and a roster of royalty and American presidents. Woven through this rich tapestry of social events runs the familiar narrative of the American success story. The day he landed in this country Oscar got a job at the Hoffman House and rose rapidly in the ranks. Changing to an even better position at Delmonico's, he had become famous even before he found his life-long occupation at the Waldorf. There he could have gone on, become manager of the hotel. But he preferred to remain what the people had made him - simply Oscar of the Waldorf.Here is one of the richest and most fascinating records of our time, published in the Fiftieth Anniversary Year of the Waldorf, and of Oscar's service there.