Vanderbilt Cup Races

*Auto Year, Make, Model, Driver/Contestant & Claim to Fame:  seen on stage is a 1907 Thomas Flyer, which George Schuster drove in the 1908 New York to Paris Race. He finished in 1st place   2/12/1908 to 7/30/1908. This automobile was kept in the LIAM in Southampton NY, lent to the show. George was born in 1873, passed away in 1972. Almost a century old.

*Show/Date/Host, Contestant & Panelists:  I’ve Got A Secret 7/16/1958 Gary Moore, George Schuster   Bill Cullen, Jayne Meadows, Henry Morgan, Betsy Palmer

I enjoy watching these old game shows : )

From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved: The historic 1907 Thomas Flyer and driver George Schuster make an appearance on "I've Got a Secret" game show in 1958

1907 Thomas Flyer Model 35, winner of the 1908 New York to Paris Race.
I’ve Got a Secret, moderated by Gary Moore with panelists Jane Mansfield, Betsy Palmer, Bill Cullen, and Henry Morgan.
The contestant was George Shuster
Owned by Henry Austin Clark Jr at the time of broadcast.
Telecast, 7/16/58.

From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved: The historic 1907 Thomas Flyer and driver George Schuster make an appearance on "I've Got a Secret" game show in 1958

The automobile - 1907 Thomas ( Flyer ) Model 35, Winner of the 1908 New York
                    to Paris race
The game show - I’ve Got a Secret
                  Host - Garry Moore
                  Panelists - Bill Cullen, Jayne Meadows,
                              Henry Morgan, and Betsy Palmer
Contestant -  George Schuster ( the riding mechanic in the race )
Telecast date - July 16, 1958
Owner of the Car in 1958 - Henry Austin Clark, Jr. ( Long Island Auto Museum )
Current Owner - National Automobile Museum, Reno, Nevada

An article in the program for the 1948 Antique Auto Show in New York has a picture of the Thomas when it was owned by Mr. F. V. duPont , from whom Mr.  Clark bought the car.

From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved: The historic 1907 Thomas Flyer and driver George Schuster make an appearance on "I've Got a Secret" game show in 1958

That’s the 1907 Thomas Flyer which won the 1908 New York to Paris “Great Race”. The game show was “I’ve Got A Secret” with Garry Moore as host. The panelists were Jayne Meadows, Betsy Palmer, Bill Cullen, and Henry Morgan. The contestant was George Schuster, who was the driver of the Thomas Flyer during the 1908 race. The telecast was on July 16, 1958. At that time the car was owned by Henry Austin Clark, Jr. The car is currently owned by the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada.

From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved: The historic 1907 Thomas Flyer and driver George Schuster make an appearance on "I've Got a Secret" game show in 1958

Interesting reflection of the times. 1933? This was literally the height of the Depression. A few comments: 1. 206 Central Park South, at least today, would have been located just west of the southwest corner of CPS’s intersection w/7th Ave. I assume it was the same in 1933. 2.  I’m Jewish and took note that the index indicated “Churches and Synagogues.”  3.  Reference was made to the “key” for addresses.  Upon being discharged from the Marines and then starting law school, I became a “hack” in the City. At the time, the industry was unionized (Local 4046 Taxi Drivers Union). I learned about the “key” at that time. It makes it easy to know the location of any street or avenue address north of Houston St., except for street addresses in Greenwich Village, which is not part of the grid, except for avenue addresses.

From Walt Gosden Special Article: Proper attire for the hired help to wear when motoring on the Long Island Motor Parkway

See attached photo of first race program for Charlotte Speedway. Document has driver information and ads inside.
Program was handed down to family member from Uncle who attended the first race

Jerry Clemmons 704-214-0249

From Kleiner's Korner: North Carolina's First Motor Speedway - Part 1 (Planning and Construction)

Spoiler alert: All of the answers are in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GgkXaO5x68

From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved: The historic 1907 Thomas Flyer and driver George Schuster make an appearance on "I've Got a Secret" game show in 1958

Mystery Foto #12…The auto on the stage is a 1907 Thomas Flyer which won the 1908 “Great Race” from New York to Paris. It beat the nearest rival by 26 days. The Game Show was “I’ve Got a Secret”, its host was Garry Moore. The panelists, at one time or another, were Jayne Meadows, Bill Cullen, Bess Meyerson and Betsy Palmer.
The contestant was George Schuster, the driver of the Thomas Flyer in the Great Race. The date of the telecast was July 16, 1958.
Henry Austin Clark was the owner of the car back when the TV show was broadcast.
The car is currently owned by the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada.

From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved: The historic 1907 Thomas Flyer and driver George Schuster make an appearance on "I've Got a Secret" game show in 1958

•  The automobile is a 1907 Thomas Flyer, winner of the 1908 New York to Paris around-the-world race.
•  The game show is “I’ve Got a Secret” with Host Garry Moore, and panelists Bill Cullen, Jayne Meadows, Henry Morgan, and Betsy Palmer.
•  The contestant is the winning driver of the Thomas Flyer, George N. Schuster.
•  The date of the telecast was July 16, 1958.

From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved: The historic 1907 Thomas Flyer and driver George Schuster make an appearance on "I've Got a Secret" game show in 1958

The host is Garry Moore, so the show is I’ve Got a Secret. The panelists were likely Bill Cullen, Betsy Palmer, Henry Morgan, and Bess Myerson. I can’t name the car or the contestant. I’m guessing 1963.

From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved: The historic 1907 Thomas Flyer and driver George Schuster make an appearance on "I've Got a Secret" game show in 1958

Answers to Mystery Photo #12:
Year & Model & Claim to Fame:
1907 Thomas Flyer Model 35; Winner of the 1908 NY to Paris [Around the World] Race - “The Great Race”.

Game Show & participants: I’ve Got a Secret hosted by Garry Moore; Bill Cullen, Betsy Palmer, Jane Mansfield, and Henry Morgan

The Contestant:  George Schuster (1873-1972), 85 years old, from Springville, NY, who was the driver of the Thomas Flyer

Date of telecast: July 16, 1958

Owner of the Car in 1958:  Henry Austin Clark, Jr. / L.I. Automotive Museum; Clark supposedly owned it for 15 years, then sold it to Bill Harrah in 1964.

Current owner: National Automobile Museum (The Harrah Collection), Reno, NV

Attached is a Newsday photo of the car & mention of it in 1967 (conflicts was the 1964 date above). And a page for the Antique Cars booklet sold by HAC at the LIAM published in the early 1950’s.

From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved: The historic 1907 Thomas Flyer and driver George Schuster make an appearance on "I've Got a Secret" game show in 1958

The television show host is Gary Moore.  The automobile is the 1907 Thomas Flyer
from the New York to Paris race completed in 1908.

From Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved: The historic 1907 Thomas Flyer and driver George Schuster make an appearance on "I've Got a Secret" game show in 1958

No problem, Greg. Land Record Viewer Maps are a great tool.

From Greg O's Garage: The Great Wall of East Hills and Long Island Motor Parkway director Clarence Mackay

Thanks for the map Brian! And thanks to your map and a tip from one of Howard’s friends, we were able to locate other unknown retaining walls behind a private house in the neighborhood by what was the dog kennels.

From Greg O's Garage: The Great Wall of East Hills and Long Island Motor Parkway director Clarence Mackay

Cool stuff, Art. Using the Charlotte Observer map as a guide, I marked the 2 aerials, largely the older map : )

From Kleiner's Korner: North Carolina's First Motor Speedway - Part 1 (Planning and Construction)

Below is a screenshot of the Estate in 1926. On the Nassau County LRV website, a neat little trick I stumbled on. Click on a current road in a neighborhood, then a street pattern will appear. Similar to the map above.

From Greg O's Garage: The Great Wall of East Hills and Long Island Motor Parkway director Clarence Mackay

Greg it was great reading your article and the story about the horses. Our good friend Allegra Farms from Connecticut is supplying the horses and carriages for the Guilded Age. I have worked on shoots for TV and movies and the horses can be the worst actors on set. Looking forward to Part 2. We have ran the horse show during the L I Fair for 30 years and always enjoy our time spent there. Here’s a photo of me judging the show and explaining the horses and carriages to the guests.

From Greg O's Garage; HBO's The Gilded Age, Long Island and the Vanderbilts Part 1

Just watching the first episode OnDemand, I’m hooked line & sinker : )

From Greg O's Garage; HBO's The Gilded Age, Long Island and the Vanderbilts Part 1

I believe this photo was taken on the day of the first Vanderbilt Cup Race, October 8, 1904 in front of the officials stand on Jericho Turnpike in Westbury. The photographer would be facing north. The rationale is: the construction style seems to match other images of the same structure from 1904 and Willie K. appears to be wearing a leather coat which eliminates the 1906, 1909, and 1910 races during which he wore cloth jackets. I think the men in the photo from right to left are: Willie K., Referee; Peter Prunty, Announcer; Jefferson DeMont Thompson, Chairman of the Vanderbilt Cup Commission; A. R. Pardington, Willie K.‘s Aide and first Chairman of the AAA Contest Board.

From Mystery Friday Foto#11 Solved: A 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race photo of officials published in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle

1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Front Grand Stand
Based on hats and clothing I think I see Arthur Pardington Chairman of AAA racing board.  James Breese member of the Board of Governors of the Automobile Club of America.  Harlan Whipple Prisident of AAA.  William K. Vanderbilt Jr.

From Mystery Friday Foto#11 Solved: A 1904 Vanderbilt Cup Race photo of officials published in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle