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14 Episodes 2004 - 2005
Episode 1
Tue, Nov 9, 2004
Six-Shooter Tech. Host hand-off from Keith Carradine to half-brother David Carradine. Evolution of the six shooter, including the Navy Colt, the Walker Colt, Remington Army, and the Peacemaker.
Episode 2
Tue, Nov 16, 2004
This show showcases multiple places and various techniques used in vigilante justice. Vigilantes developed due to the lack of lawmen and Federal troops to keep the peace until around 1900. San Francisco had some of the worst crime due to gangs including the Hounds and The Sydney Ducks forcing the creation of the Committee of Vigilence in the 1850s. They executed several criminals and had a fortified base known as Fort Gunnybags due to the sandbags and cannon used. They took pictures of the criminals they executed. Although lynching was the most common punishment, other methods were used for lesser crimes. This included ear cropping, branding, bull whippings, tar and feathering, and riding on a rail. Las Vegas, New Mexico used a windmill for hangings for years. Beatings and beheadings occurred in Mexico. Montana had once of the largest numbers of vigilante killings in the 1863-1865 period.
Episode 3
Tue, Nov 23, 200445 mins
The show starts with the description of the Alamo at the time of the battle. It was built as a mission and not as a defensive structure. The weapons of the day are described including the Kentucky long rifle and Bowie knife used the defenders and the Brown Bess musket along with the triangular bayonet used by the Mexican army. The various types of cannon used on both sides are covered along with their effect. The strategy and its source used by General Santa Anna are described along with the distinct advantage in numbers held by the Mexican army. They cover the siege details followed by the known facts about the final assault and Santa Anna's actions after the battle that led to Texas independence.
Episode 4
Tue, Nov 30, 2004
Deadwood was initially an illegal town built on Sioux Indian lands when gold was found in the area. The show describes the development of the town and its lawless reputation as it was outside the US jurisdiction. Due to the amount of gold in the area, robberies and other outlaw activity were drawn to the town. It was one of the wildest in the west and had some well known residents including Wild Bill Hickock who was killed there and Calamity Jane Canary. The town was only accessible by bull trains and stagecoaches until 1890 when a railroad came through. The town was populated mostly by men with few women except for prostitutes and had a significant Chinese population. It was a dirty town of wood buildings until a file destroyed 300 buildings. Electricity came to Deadwood in 1883 and was one of the first places it was used to light signs at the theaters and saloons to draw in customers, ala Las Vegas.
Episode 5
Tue, Dec 7, 2004
The show details massacres that occurred in the west and technology involved. In 1913-1914 a strike at a Colorado mine owned by John Rockerfeller lead to a total of 66 killed in multiple ways. It included an armored car with a machine gun, state militia using gunfire on a tent city and fire itself. A small portable swivel gun was used in 1837 in Northern Mexico to kill 20 Apaches. They had raided Mexico taking horses and young captives. An American along with 17 others go on their trail to recover the horses and captives but are seen by the Apaches. Although they create a pact, it becomes clear the Apaches intend to kill the whites who use the gun along with other weapons to kill 20 Apaches and escape leaving the Apaches with an eternal hatred for Americans. The Mormans along with Paiute Indians massacred the Francher wagon train with 120 killed in the Mountain Meadow Massacre. The Francher party used Kentucky long rifles to hold off the attack but ran out of lead and water. Only a few children age five or younger survived. The Windchester rifle and other repeating weapons were used in 1886 by outlaws to kill 30+ Chinese in a mining camp. In 1871 an Arizona stagecoach was attacked with 6 killed and 2 wounded. It is believed Indians committed the attack in revenge but may have run out of ammunition.
Episode 6
Tue, Dec 14, 2004
Examines the biggest tools used in the West, such as weaponry and mining equipment.
Episode 7
Tue, Dec 21, 2004
Freak shows in the west consisted mainly of three types of acts: 1)Working acts, 2) Born freaks, and 3) Made freaks. These shows were big money making reality shows of the day. The person who drew the audience in was the outside talker (or barker today). A common attraction was wax figures of famous criminals. Some of the working act included electrocution, sword swallowing, and fire eating. Born freaks were people or animals who were born with abnormalities. Made freaks often included faked conjoined twins and animals made of parts from multiple animals. Others included the head of Joaquin Murietta and hand of Three Finger Jack famous criminals and the body of Elmer McCurdy a train robber whose body was on display until 1976. Two other famed acts were Zip a man with a deformed head and Oofty Goofty who felt no pain and allowed people to hit him for money. P.T. Barnum started the traveling freak shows with specially designed wagons. William C. Coop improved on this with a fast way to load shows on train cars.
Episode 8
Tue, Dec 28, 2004
Some of the worst disasters in Ameerican history were caused human arrogance or stupidity and frequently both. This program explains the causes of: the Scofield mine explosion, the Goliad tornado catastrophe, the Sultana riverboat explosion, the Cascade Canyon train wreck, the Galvaston Hurricane devastation, the Virginia City Fire, and the San Francisco earthquake.
Episode 9
Tue, Jan 25, 2005
This show covers the history and technical aspects of the western shootout. They describe the first documented shootout in July 1865 in Springfield, Missouri which involved Wild Bill Hickock. They demonstrate various gun maneuvers including the Border Shift, Road Agent Spin, Roll, and fanning. Most shootouts involved alcohol, money, or women with participants usually drinking for liquid courage and occurred with short notice or in the heat of the moment. Modifications to weapons and holsters to provide advantages are detailed. Guns were often hidden (public display of weapons was often illegal contrary to their display in westerns) making men's vests popular along with modified pants and suspenders. There was even a recorded gunfight between two women over a man (they accidental shot the man) but most gunfights were undocumented limiting historical information on them.
Episode 10
Tue, Feb 1, 2005
Saloons were the social place for men in the west providing liquor, gambling, music, sex, and other entertainment. Saloons often started as tents with a wood slab across a couple of barrels for a bar. As towns became established the saloons moved into permanent structures with all types of enticements to drawn in the customers. A bar in Portland, Oregon had a 684 foot bar but also trap doors to aid in shanghaiing men to be sailors. It also featured a female band with an electric barrier around it. Fights were common and every weapon and tool available was used in them. Saloons were decorated with pictures of horses and especially nude women. In one case a picture was fitted with balloons that could be inflated to make parts of the woman move. Kalidoscopes and early forms of jukeboxes were available in the later years. Gambling including card and table games plus bets on anything. Boxing starting initially with bare-knuckle boxing was a major and bloody form of entertainment. Many types of alcohol were served and one change was the addition of cold beer first via ice houses and then mechanical chilling systems. Saloons disappeared as more women moved into the west and pushed for a more civilized life style.
Episode 11
Tue, Feb 15, 2005
The use of technology in the lawman's profession is discussed. The supposed outlaw Ned Christie had built a reinforced log cabin which required the use of a cannon and then dynamite to capture him. A Texas ranger created an early version of the Claymore Mine using dynamite, shotgun, and a trigger wire to scare fence cutters. The use of the rifle provided an advantage over the pistol in terms of range of fire from 20 feet to 200 yards. Bat Masterson "sweetened" his gun with modifications to gain an advantage. Some used shotguns and especially the 10 gauge shotgun was like firing several pistols at once. Other areas of law enforcement technology were not so well developed. This includes handcuffs which were awkward, no secure methods of transporting prisoners, and lack of jails. The most dangerous part of law enforcement was transporting prisoners. Folsom prison used colored uniforms for high risk prisoners and Gattling guns to stop them due to a lack of a wall around the prison.
Episode 12
Tue, Feb 22, 2005
This show talks about the various gangs in the west. The history of gangs goes back to the 1849 gold rush days and continued through into the early 1900's until technology such as radio ended their days. One of the earliest innovations was the robbing of stages followed by trains. The gangs included young thugs from the east who landed in California and lived like modern gangs. Another group of gangs known as Tongs came from China and brought their traditions and rivalries with them to the west including drugs and prostitution. Jonathan Davis was known for single handedly killing eleven members of a gang that tried to rob him and killed his mining partners. One of the and most well known gangs was led by Henry Starr nephew of Belle Starr. His career went from 1893 to 1921 including a stint in Hollywood making a movie about his exploits.
Episode 13
Tue, Mar 22, 2005
Explores the great achievements in engineering that eased the path to the west, like roads, tunnels or bridges.
Episode 14
Tue, May 24, 2005
Shows the impact of the Civil War in the West, explaining how the characteristics of the terrain challenged the armies and how they adapted to the situation.