Wild West Tech Season 1 Episodes

Episode 1

Outlaw Tech: Pilot 1

Mon, Aug 25, 2003

This episode talked about the various methods used by outlaws (no one ever rode a horse up to a moving train and jumped aboard to rob it except in the movies) and new tools they used and the impact. This includes dynamite, smokeless gun powder, telegraph lines, and other items. There is also some discussion how the changing technology such as the telegraph, pictures on wanted posters,telephone, and finally the automobile was used against the outlaws and ended the romance of the outlaw.

Episode 2

The Gunslingers: Pilot 2

Tue, Aug 19, 200342 mins

The key to the west was the use of guns and their rapid development. The traditional quick draw gunfight was very rare in the west. If you wanted to shoot someone, you usually did it from cover or distance. The first recorded quick draw involved Wild Bill Hickock in Missouri in 1865. He was a fast and deadly accurate shooter. In 1836 the Colt Patterson revolver was introduced which started revolutionary changes in gun development. It played an important role in defending against Indians used bows and arrows which could be shot very fast and had developed tactics based on single shot guns that took time to reload. To produce the gun Colt created lathes, other tools, and used the assembly line to keep up with demand. Pistols changed rapidly for the next 30 years as technology improved. In 1854 the introduction of the self contained cartridge made repeating guns easier to develop and use. The Henry Rifle was the first practical repeating rifle introduced in 1860. It, too, had a major impact on battles with Indians. It was followed in 1873 with the Winchester which became the standard. Holsters also under went several advancements in the second half of the 19th century. However, wearing guns openly in town in the west was normally illegal. Instead, people carried small guns hidden in pockets and waistbands. Cowboys wore their guns openly as they were in the country. In the OK Corral shootout the Earp group wore hidden guns while the cowboys wore theirs in the open. John Wesley Hardin was one of the most prolific killers having killed his 40th man on his 21st birthday. The other gun that was popular due to its easier use was the shotgun used by Billy the Kid in his jail break.

Episode 3

Cowboy Tech

Tue, Mar 30, 2004

Episode 4

Execution Tech

Tue, Apr 6, 2004

This show covers the evolution of execution techniques in the west for criminals. The primary focus is on hanging which was the predominate method of execution versus Europe where decapitation was the norm. The most prolific person involved was Hanging Judge Parker who hanged 79 people on a special gallows designed to hang six people at one time. Two other unique forms of hanging were used. The Julian Gallows was used once in 1903 to hang Tom Horn. When the condemned stepped on the platform it automatically triggered the gallows to hang the person. A second method used a dropping weight to yank the condemned into the air killing them. Mistakes were common in hangings due to lack of experience resulting in gruesome decapitations and cut throats. Firing squads were infrequently used including an automated "Shooting Gallery". The last method introduced was the electric chair.

Episode 5

Western Towns

Tue, Apr 27, 2004

Towns in the west became possible when a law enabled 100 settlers to create a new township or town. The first one under the law was Oregon City, Oregon in 1859. The towns were laid out by surveyors to create streets and equal sized lots. Materials including nails and wood were imported from the east to build them although you could buy prefab homes late in the century from companies such as Sears. Water came from multiple sources including rivers and windmill pumping systems with some bigger towns such as Denver and San Francisco having centralized water systems. The basic sanitary device was the outhouse to minimize disease and pollution. The invention in 1867 of refrigerated rail cars and the use of ice houses allowed the transport and storage of many foods in a safe manner. Saloons provided a needed distraction with telegraphs used to bring in sporting news from the east. Until sheriffs were elected vigilante committees often provided the only form of justice. Fire was a major danger but fire engines from the east eased the impact. The car and telephone soon ended the isolation of the west ending the frontier.

Episode 6

Brothel Tech

Tue, May 4, 200444 mins

The show covers aspects of the prostitution business in the wild west. It starts with the lack of women in the west relative to the number of men after the 1849 gold strike. Prostitutes worked at different levels starting at the top with brothels, saloon women, crib workers, and finally the street walkers at the bottom level. The poor working conditions of the women are covered along with the filthy state of their clients. Their strategic placement in red light districts along with how the red light name was derived from the rail workers red signal lanterns hanging outside the women's businesses. Perceptions of beauty or more importantly the lack of beauty standards of the day are covered. Treatments of the day for STDs are described along with the limited means to prevent them. Methods of birth control, abortion, and drug use are mentioned. The importance of prostitution as a key component of the economy of the times is stressed along with being one of the few livelihoods available to poor unmarried women of the west.

Episode 7

Hunting Tech

Thu, Apr 1, 2004

Episode 8

Military Tech

Tue, Apr 21, 2026

Episode 9

Native American Tech

Tue, May 11, 2004

Episode 10

Train Tech

Tue, May 18, 2004

The show covers the changes in the railroad industry from the 23 miles in 1830 to the 200,000 miles by 1900. It starts with a basic explanation of how a steam locomotive works and the dangers involved including boiler explosions. The various dangers faced by passengers in train travel including rail design, bridge collapses, exploding boilers, and burning train cars are detailed along with changes over time to reduce them. Dangers faced by railroad employees which include brakemen setting brakes by hand and holdup men robbing express man agents are covered. The show ends with the last classic train robbery in 1912 in Texas and how technology played a role in stopping it.

Episode 11

Gambling Tech

Tue, May 25, 2004

This show describes the addiction to gambling in the west. It includes descriptions of well known events involving gambling and various famous names including Jim Bowie, Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickock, and others. Some of the techniques used to rig various games are described along with the weapons employed by gamblers to protect their interests. Some of the card games that were popular in the early west are shown and explained.

Episode 12

Gold Rush Tech

Tue, Jun 8, 200445 mins

Western mining started in 1848 in California as one or two man operations. When easily available gold quickly became scarce the operations grew larger and incredibly complex, expanded into other states and include silver then copper. But mining remained a dirty, dangerous, polluting yet lucrative endeavor.