Up Next
Back to Show
History Detectives
A Wide Open Town
In this excerpt from Bootlegger's notebook, cocktail expert David Wondrich describes New York in the 1890s as a “wide open town.” The culture of saloons led to many patrons drinking far too much alcohol and the saloon owners sometimes serving wood alcohol—a potentially lethal drink—to satisfy the demand.
Sign up now for inspiring and thought-provoking media delivered straight to your inbox.
Support Provided By
54:07
Shipwreck Cannons; Connecticut Farmhouse; Kahlil Gibran Painting
54:07
Black Tom Shell; USS Olympia Glass; Front Street Blockhouse
54:07
Hindenburg Artifact; Bonus Army Stamp; Dempsey Fight Bell
54:08
China Marine Jacket; Airstream Caravan; Lincoln Forgery
54:08
Japanese Balloon Bomb; Society Circus Program; Camp David Letter
54:07
Red Hand Flag; Seth Eastman Painting; Isleton Tong
54:07
World War II Diary; 1856 Mormon Tale; Annie Oakley Coin
56:01
Great Mexican War Posters; Nora Holt Autograph Book; Muhlenberg Robe
56:46
Investigating a projection screen with possible Cuban Missile Crisis connections.