"Mrs. Reggie's" Hat

This is a pair of odd items focusing on an odd incident - the October 1906 evening Mrs. Reginald (Reggie) Vanderbilt refused to remove her hat while at the Colonial Theatre in Boston. This cast her in the light the bulk of the public and especially those in the West had come to see what they called the "Swells" as pampered with a sense of entitlement. Her name was Kathleen Neilson and she and Reginald remained married until 1920. Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt picked up his nickname, "Reggie," due to his late night drinking binges, reckless auto driving and a life focused on recreation. Check out both items. You will completely understand once you see the second, that includes Mrs. Vanderbilt's hat.