The Lawless Years

Episode 1

The Jack 'Legs' Diamond Story

Fri, May 12, 1961 25 mins

Legs Diamond guns down three men in a nightclub. None of the others who saw the shooting will testify against him. Soon afterward, no less than five men who might have been able to talk turn up dead.

Episode 2

The Sonny Rosen Story II

Fri, May 19, 1961 26 mins

Sonny Rosen's wealthy parents receive a ransom note demanding money in exchange for his return. But as Ruditzky investigates, it begins to appear that the "kidnapping" is not what it seems.

Episode 3

Louy K: Part 1

Fri, May 26, 1961 26 mins

Louy Kassoff sees his sister abducted from the streets by hoodlums. (Although not explicitly stated due to the TV code at the time, the implication is that she was sexually assaulted). He is plagued by guilt because he was unable to protect her, and as a result he casts aside his rabbinical studies and decides to join a mob. Within a year ha has taken over as its leader.

Episode 4

Louy K: Part 2 Sing Sing

Fri, Jun 2, 1961 26 mins

After being sent to Sing Sing for an armored car robbery in which several were killed, Louy Kassoff decides to organize the prisoners, including such future underworld figures as Dutch Schultz, Lepke Buchalter, Lucky Luciano, and Legs Diamond, by forming a "Mutual Welfare League".

Episode 5

Louy K: Part 3 Birth of the Organization

Fri, Jun 9, 1961 26 mins

Episode 6

Louy K: Part 4 Heydays of the Organization

Fri, Jun 16, 1961 26 mins

Episode 7

Louy K: Part 5 the Disintegration

Fri, Jun 23, 1961 26 mins

After the death of his sister, Louy Kassoff decides to resign from the organization he started. But his associates, worried about what he may do next, are not so willing to let him just go.

Episode 8

The Miles Miller Story

Fri, Jun 30, 1961 26 mins

Miles Miller is a crooked attorney who acts as middleman between jewel thieves and insurance companies trying to make a profit. Unfortunately for Miller, a policeman and an accomplice to the crime were both killed in the latest robbery in which his client was involved.

Episode 9

The Kid Dropper Story

Fri, Jul 7, 1961 26 mins

Gangster Jacob Koster, a.k.a. Kid Dropper, humiliates and scars "Little Augie" Orgen, leading to a bloody feud which gets innocent people caught in the crossfires. The district attorney puts the heat on the police department and Ruditsky in particular to put an end to it. Ruditsky gets help from an unlikely source, the Kid's own mother and brother.

Episode 10

Ginny

Fri, Jul 14, 1961 26 mins

In an effort to nail associates of Dutch Schultz, Ruditsky is ordered by Captain McCloskey to take a bribe from one of them. To set this up, Ruditsky gets close to Schultz' former girlfriend.

Episode 11

Little Augie

Fri, Jul 21, 1961 26 mins

Little Augie Orgen begins a major racket 'protecting' businesses against strikes. Ruditsky believes he finally has him nailed, due to a witness who can swear against him in court. But a crafty move by Augie and his attorney gets him off. Now Augie has bigger problems, with his fellow mobsters Gurrah and Lepke.

Episode 12

The Mad Dog Coll Story: Part 1

Fri, Jul 28, 1961 30 mins

Episode 13

The Mad Dog Coll Story: Part 2

Fri, Aug 4, 1961 30 mins

Episode 14

Blood Brothers

Fri, Aug 11, 1961 30 mins

Vince Matteo and Tommy Ryan have been raised together and are like brothers. When they are ordered by the mob to kill Vince's godfather, Vince balks, but helps Tommy with the hit. After Ruditsky puts the pressure on Vince and Vince is observed coming into his office, the mob orders Tommy to kill Vince.

Episode 15

The Victor Gorido Story

Fri, Aug 18, 1961 26 mins

To nail the leaders of a murderous mob attempting to take over the labor unions, Ruditsky puts the screws to one of the gang's top enforcers, by convincing him that he'll be the next one to be hit.

Episode 16

Artie Moon

Fri, Aug 25, 1961 26 mins

Artie Moon is a paid killer who hopes to work his way up in the underworld independent of the big time mobsters. His own wife, an old family friend of Ruditsky, is not aware of how far Artie's gone, but she begs Ruditsky to help stop him before it's too late.

Episode 17

Triple Cross

Fri, Sep 1, 1961 26 mins

Millie Grayson offers to help Ruditsky get evidence on her former boyfriend, mobster Jurgie Jorgenson. Millie is an old girlfriend of Ruditsky's as well. Ruditsky is skeptical, but learns he is not immune to misled by a woman's charms.

Episode 18

The Jonathan Wills Story

Fri, Sep 8, 1961 26 mins

Episode 19

Romeo and Rose

Fri, Sep 15, 1961 26 mins

A hit man working for Murder, Inc. is ordered to kill a woman who witnessed a hit; instead, he falls in love with her.

Episode 20

Ike, the Novelty King

Fri, Sep 22, 1961 26 mins

Lepke Buchalter hires a novelty expert to find a new method of controlling labor disputes. The man soon comes up with an ingeniously odious (or rather odorous) method and sells Dutch Schultz on it as well.