Prohibition is a three-part, five-and-a-half-hour documentary film series directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick that tells the story of the rise, rule, and fall of the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the entire era it encompassed. The culmination of nearly a century of activism, Prohibition was intended to improve, even to ennoble, the lives of all Americans, to protect individuals, families, and society at large from the devastating effects of alcohol abuse. But the enshrining of a faith-driven moral code in the Constitution paradoxically caused millions of Americans to rethink their definition of morality.
Thugs became celebrities, responsible authority was rendered impotent. Social mores in place for a century were obliterated. Especially among the young, and most especially among young women, liquor consumption rocketed, propelling the rest of the culture with it: skirts shortened. Music heated up. America’s Sweetheart morphed into The Vamp. Prohibition turned law-abiding citizens into criminals, made a mockery of the justice system, caused illicit drinking to seem glamorous and fun, encouraged neighborhood gangs to become national crime syndicates, permitted government officials to bend and sometimes even break the law, and fostered cynicism and hypocrisy that corroded the social contract all across the country.
With Prohibition in place, but ineffectively enforced, one observer noted, America had hardly freed itself from the scourge of alcohol abuse – instead, the “drys” had their law, while the “wets” had their liquor. The story of Prohibition’s rise and fall is a compelling saga that goes far beyond the oft-told tales of gangsters, rum runners, flappers, and speakeasies, to reveal a complicated and divided nation in the throes of momentous transformation. The film raises vital questions that are as relevant today as they were 100 years ago – about means and ends, individual rights and responsibilities, the proper role of government.
Episode 2 & 3 of HBO’s New Series A Definite Improvement
By Matt Goldstein
After the fledgling and somewhat racist cliché of an opening episode, Game of Thrones stepped up to the plate to set the stage for a solid series. Although sometimes predictable and over dramatic, there is some political maneuvering, savviness, and ominous menacing indicative of original writing. The Lannisters attempting to finish off the young comatose Stark boy was a bit predictable but the boys loyal wolf ripping out the throat of the assassin leaves evidence which makes the Starks sure of the Lannisters being behind two attempts to kill the young Bran Stark.
Perhaps the best character on the show is Tyrion Lannister, played by Peter Dinklage from the Station Agent. Tyrion is stuck between a growing friendship with John Snow, the bastard son of Ned Stark, and his brother and Queen sister from seeing the Starks as enemies. Being a dwarf, Tyrion is not a fighter, but a savvy political mover who is constantly reading and sharpening his skills and giving anyone deserving humorous condescension.
King Robert gives Ned the news of the Dothraki marriage between Khal Drogo and Daenerys Targaryan and implies they should kill Daenerys. When Ned laughs it off as Daenerys being a child, Robert reminds Ned of what the Targaryans did to Ned’s family, killing his brother, sister and father. We learn that the Mad King Targaryan burned Ned’s father and brother alive in front of 500 men of the king’s court. King Robert tells Ned that war is coming. The marriage means Drogo will invade and attempt the seat Viserys Targarian as king.
In the “Lord Snow” episode, the drunken King Robert ranks Jaimie Lannister and embarrasses him, implying that he does not trust the Lannisters or his wife. King Robert knows the Lannisters are up to something and might even suspect that they attempted to murder Bran Stark and his former hand.
King Robert only seems to trust his new hand, Ned Stark. Stark will need King Robert if the Lannisters continue to maneuver against him and King Robert will need Ned Starks army if the Dothraki invade with the Targaryans, which seems inevitable.
Episode 2 & 3 were a great improvement on the opening episode. Hopefully the improvement continues. Check out our next installment when we discuss the cast & characters and the mysterious White Walkers.
The hype has been building for months and months about the new high profile series from HBO, Game of Thrones. Based on a series of books by George R. R. Martin and costing about $4.5 million an episode, the production costs make Game of Thrones one of the biggest budgets HBO has ever had for a series. The opening episode sets the scene with the Kings right hand man dying of fever. King of the Seven Kingdoms of Wetereos, King Robert Baratheon decides to travel north for an old and trusted friend, Lord Eddard, “Ned” Stark, to take his place. Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North has fought more than half of his life protecting and fighting the Kings battles. Stark, reluctantly accepts the position as the new hand of the King, but worrying about the breakage within his own family because of the move. The scene is set, Stark is to be the King’s hand and protect the kingdom from a possible invasion from Viserys Targarian, who claims title to the throne, and a Dothraki army of barbarians, who will lead the invasion. Of course, before the episodes end, it is rumored that the Kings hand was murdered as well as Starks son being murdered by the queen’s brother, setting the stage for even more drama.
The first episode set the landscape well for a dramatic series. However, Game of Thrones is a bit over the top and cliché at times, not to mention outright racist. First, the nudity and violence is mostly unnecessary, but OK, people love nudity and violence so that’s how you get ratings for a TV show. Then, the Queen Cersei Lanister is sleeping with her brother Ser Jaime Lannister brother and they both might have conspired two murders inside the King’s court to hide the secret? Yeah, OK, not too over the top or anything.
Perhaps the low point of the show was at the Dothraki wedding to celebrate the marriage between Khal Drogo and Daenerys Targaryan. The only black characters in this show were of course dancing without clothes, having deep tribal inclinations, animalistic traits and over the top sexuality. Do we even have to explain the problems here? It’s not that we don’t expect outright racism in the year 2011; it’s just that we expect a much tighter PR firm to jump all over something like this and force it to be cut out of the final edit, but I digress. The opening episode of Game of Thrones, “Winter is Coming” is a B/B- although most first episodes are just there to set the stage. No doubt the drama is coming, hopefully at a more subtle and intellectual pace. We did watch the first episode 3 times in the first 24 hours since the premiere so there are some great things going on. We will be watching closely over the next few episodes to see if there’s a real series here, not just an overpriced production.
Presidents Day Special: John Adams Thoroughly Enjoyed the Breakfast of Champions
By Matt Goldstein
In honor of Presidents Day, we bring some of the biggest partiers in presidential history. Of course Barak Obama loves his Yuengling Lager and George W. Bush took drinking and partying to another level. By the time Bush hit the White House however, he’d been sober for about 15 years. Bush and Obama might have had some drinks, but they couldn’t hold their liquor next to these heavyweights. We bring you Geroge Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Ulysses S. Grant.
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General & President George Washington:
For his presidential inauguration, George Washington ordered 12 barrels of rum from the Appleton Rum estate in Jamaica. 12 barrels!?! That’s the equivalent 3600 bottles. Now that’s a party. Carolynn and I were actually at the Appleton Rum estate a few minutes outside of White House Jamaica, and yes, we drank every type of rum they had. Washington also had his own Whiskey Distillery which was very profitable.
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President Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson brewed his own beer and had his own winery on his beloved Monticello estate. Yard’s Brewery actually makes an ale with the same recipe Jefferson used to brew beer with. It’s actually excellent, and one of our favorite beers.
John Adams was a flat out alcoholic. Adams started smoking at eight years old and began drinking at 15. While attending Harvard as a teenager, Adams regularly had the breakfast of champions, beer. Maybe that’s why Adams and Jefferson were such good friends. Adams and Jefferson both died of natural causes on the same exact day, July 4th 1826, exaclty 50 years to the day of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
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General & President Ulysses S. Grant
Grant was probably the biggest drinker of any U.S. president. Most likely an alcoholic, Grant even drank during civil war battles. Grant would sit and watch the battles all day long and drink whiskey. Ulysses was particularly a fan of Old Crow Bourbon Whiskey. Some argue however, that Grant had equilibrium issues and it sometimes made him look drunk when he really was just off balance.
The show’s main protagonist, Thomspon is the Treasurer of Atlantic City. While he’s beloved by his constituency, he’s equal parts corrupt politician and cold-blooded gangster. With the dawn of prohibition, Thompson capitalizes on the public’s thirst for alcohol and shrewdly aligns himself with many of the back-room dealers in the world of gambling dens and speakeasies in America’s Favorite Playground.
James “Jimmy” Darmody (Michael Pitt)
Nucky’s driver and right-hand man, Darmody is every bit as ambitious as he is cunning. The former Princeton student and World War I veteran wants bigger opportunities and is perfectly willing to create them for himself.
Margaret Schroeder (Kelly Macdonald)
The Irish immigrant that Nucky meets while speaking at the Women’s Temperance League is moved by his moxie. She opens up to Nucky about being married to Hans Schroeder, an alcoholic and brutal gambler. Just as shrewed as Nucky, Margaret eventually proves that she can hold her own — especially in her troubled domestic situation.
Agent Nelson Van Alden (Michael Shannon)
He’s the Eliot Ness before Eliot Ness. The God-loving (and fearing) senior Prohibition Agent with the Department of Internal Revenue, he will not rest until he uncovers the corruption that he believes to be the root of all evil. Interestingly, as his investigation into Nucky deepens, so does his fascination with Margaret Schroeder.
Commodore Louis Kaestner (Dabney Coleman)
The deposed king of the region, Commodore has passed the mantle to Nucky and his reign has Nucky’s mentor bitter and proud.
Sheriff Elias “Eli” Thompson (Shea Whigham)
Nucky’s brother is — what a suprise — the Atlantic City Sheriff. While on the surface, the pair make an effective and efficient team handling the city’s shady dealings, there just may be a bitter sibling rivalry that simmers below.
Eddie Kessler (Anthony Laciura)
Nucky’s servant is hands-on, 24/7. The loyal German immigrant provides the treasurer with anything he needs — innocent or otherwise.
Al Capone (Stephen Graham)
The recent arrival to Chi-town learns his craft under the tutelage of kingpin Johnny Torrio. Prohibition presents the young thug with a plethora of opportunities and he’s all to eager to rise in the ranks.
Angela Darmody (Aleksa Palladino)
The mother of Jimmy Darmody’s three-year old son and common-law wife resents him for enlisting and going off to war three years ago. While he’s back and safe, aspiring artist Angela wants him to stay on the straight and narrow for the greater good of their family.
Arnold Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg)
When Prohibition was passed, Rothstein was the biggest gangster in the country and even accused of fixing the 1919 World Series. The strategic thinker and consummate gambler enters Nucky’s world bringing some mighty lethal up-and-comers to the table.
Charles “Lucky” Luciano (Vincent Piazza)
Charismatic. Cunning. Dangerous. The savvy gangster aligns himself with Rothstein but his ruthless ambition may endanger them both his professional and private life.
Chalky White (Michael Kenneth Williams)
The ex-boxer runs Atlantic City’s African-American community and partners with Nucky in bootlegging. It’s not long, however, when that business is strained and their relationship becomes even more complicated.
Mickey Doyle (Paul Sparks)
A two-bit gangster, bootlegger and chief rival of Chalky White. His lopsided ambition and warped judgment puts him in the crosshairs when it comes to Nucky’s business dealings.
Lucy Danziger (Paz de la Huerta)
Nucky’s spitfire of a girlfriend is a former Ziegfeld Follies girl who gave up performing in order to enjoy the finer things that he can provide. While Nucky can handle the most ruthless or thugs, he just may have a hard time handling her temper.
Gillian (Gretchen Mol)
A single mother and gorgeous showgirl has a complicated history with Nucky who has agreed to look after her only son.
Leader of the Chicago outfit and mentor of Al Capone, Johnny “The Fox” Torrio is credited for creating the bootlegging empire that Capone would takeover and expand. Torrio was also heavily influential in creating the Commission with Luciano and Lansky and a close ally of the Genovese family. At the beginning of Prohibition, Torrio’s boss, Jim Colosimo, refused to smuggle booze figuring it would bring too much heat from the Feds. Torrio had Colosimo murdered in his own restaurant, as portrayed on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire at the end of episode 1. This assassination opened the flood gates for Torrio and Capone to become bootlegging legends.
1882 – Torrio is born in Irsina Italy.
1884 – With his mother, Torrio immigrates to NYC at the age of 2.
1900 – Torrio becomes a lieutenant in the Five Points Gang under Paul Kelly.
1912 – Al Capone takes a position as a bouncer at Torrio’s Brothel in Brooklyn, NY.
1915 – Jim Colosimo offers Torrio a job in Chicago and Capone follows.
1919 – Colosimo refuses to operate in smuggling booze. Frankie Yale travels from NYC to assassinate Colosimo at the behest of Torrio.
1920 – Torrio attempts to set up a cooperative gang/mafia syndicate in Chicago. It works to an extent, but is never fully realized.
1920’s — Torrio battles with Hymie Weiss and Dion O’bannon after Torrio is allegedly ripped off in a brewery deal. O’bannon is apparently assassinated over the deal.
1923 – Torrio & Capone move their gang outside of Chicago city limits because of political and police pressure.
1925 – Johnny Torrio steps down and appoints Capone as the boss. Torrio still advises Capone and Capone goes to war with any gang that won’t cooperate.
1925 — Hymie Weiss sends hit men after Torrio, who nearly dies from shotgun fire. Capone orders 30 bodyguards to watch over Torrio in the hospital.
1925 – Johnny Torrio retires from the Chicago outfit and leaves everything to Al Capone. A multi millionaire 10 times over, Torrio moves back to Brooklyn and lives a relatively quiet life, sometimes counseling Capone, Luciano, Vito Genovese and Nucky Johnson.
1926 – Capone has Hymie Weiss assassinated in broad daylight on the street with machines guns and shotguns.
1929 – The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre becomes the most infamous gangland murders in history. On February 14th, Capone’s men disguise themselves as police and enter the Bugs Moran warehouse headquarters. Seven members of the North Side Gang are lined up against the wall and executed.
1930 – Torrio attends the Atlantic City conference to serve as an advisor.
1957 – Torrio dies of a heart attack in a Brooklyn barber shop.
It’s hard to imagine in today’s day and age, that the creation, distribution, and consumption of alcohol would be outlawed by our government. WhiskeyGoldmine would not operate as freely or at all for that matter in the era of prohibition. But the progressive mentality still exists in today’s society and rears its head in many forms. For example, there is a strong movement (that is successful by the way) in many cities to ban trans-fats from its restaurants. These same forces also want to regulate the consumption of salt, soft drinks, smoking, as well as many other aspects of society.
The intent of the progressive is of course ideal and ultimately for the betterment of society. What became known as the “Noble Experiment” grew over time out of sentiments of the ails of those who drank to excess. Smaller towns whose economies relied on one industry such as coal mining, fisheries, or a steel plant, could be significantly impacted by a plague of alcoholism in its workforce. As time went by grassroot movements grew eventually into a national movement and the Volstead Act was enacted. “Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.” Hard to believe huh?
I believe that the brilliance of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire is the way it portrays how the progressive movement overstepped its boundaries and miscalculated the way that alcohol is ingrained in America’s traditions and its society. However, it appropriately contrasts that notion against the serious woes and ails that the abuse of alcohol consumption also causes. Margaret Schroeder was beaten and her unborn baby was killed at the hands of her alcoholic husband even when alcohol was supposedly outlawed. Yet, the consumption of green beer at a St. Patrick Day’s Dinner of prominent Irish immigrants is not allowed either. Is their no middle ground on this issue?
Trying to solve all of the problems of a very dynamic, complex American society with the broad brush of the federal government is never a good idea. In the 19th century, drug and alcohol treatment facilities did not exist, nor did Alcoholics Anonymous, nor a lot of science about what we now know today about addiction. Therefore, the knee-jerk reaction of the 18th amendment could be understandable given the times. But we should all learn the lesson from this “Noble Experiment” and not repeat the mistakes of the past. If I want to drink a coke with my big mac I will, and I don’t need a Michael Bloomberg politician to tell me what is good for me. The very hour that the government intruded into the distribution of alcohol sales there was an immediate dislocation in the market that gave rise to a tidal wave of criminal enterprise. Not that I’m saying that the Gambino crime syndicate will flood the streets of NYC with Wessen cooking oil, but ultimately the road to hell is always paved with good intentions as they say.
A very interesting dynamic of prohibition was that it was favored by elitist Protestants and even the Ku Klux Klan. Because drinking alcohol was prominent amongst Irish Catholics and wine amongst Italian catholics, the Klan sought to benefit from the cultural turmoil it caused those groups and did not necessarily oppose the prohibition political movement. As fictionalized in Boardwalk Empire, I guess we know that the Klan had nothing to do with the bootlegging that went on in Atlantic City after all. (Not that we want to point fingers or anything)
“Everything in moderation” is an axiom I read several times over in my philosophy books. Plus, some things are not for everybody. That is what is great about the idea of America. If you want to live a clean wholesome life you are free to do so or, if you want to hang out on Bourbon Street 24/7, knock yourself out. But what we don’t need in these United States are a bunch of single issue alphabet soup named groups trying to impose their “temperance” on the rest of society. Freedom and liberty are notions that are starting to become forgotten in this country, and I think we need to be reminded about how precious they are. The show Boardwalk Empire is a reminder that we all could be sitting here today without being able to crack a Chimay Red on Sunday night watching HBO.
Boss of Atlantic City, Architect of the National Crime Syndicate, Champion of Prohibition Smuggling
By Matt Goldstein
On HBO’s new series Boardwalk Empire, Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, is portrayed by Steve Buscemi as a corrupt Atlantic City treasurer, politician and gangster. Although the real life Enoch “Nucky” Johnson never held political office, Nucky was the most powerful GOP politician in Atlantic City, maybe even all of New Jersey. Nucky was also one of the biggest crime bosses in the country and when prohibition was ratified, Johnson’s grip on power tightened and grew enormously.
Nucky Johnson brought together crime bosses from all over the country to establish a smuggling empire, line his pockets and keep Atlantic City soaked in alcohol during prohibition. The open flaunting of alcohol in Atlantic City during prohibition was a major tourist attraction to the flourishing resort town. According to the NY Post, Atlantic City in the 1920’s made its money off of three things: drinking, gambling and prostitution, all illegal at the time. Nucky openly displayed his town’s prosperity in vice. “I won’t deny it, and I won’t apologize for it. If the majority of the people didn’t want them, they wouldn’t be profitable and they wouldn’t exist. The fact that they do exist proves to me that the people want them,” Nucky stated, according to Nelson Johnson, author of the book “Boardwalk Empire.”
Having criminal partnerships with Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Al Capone, and political partnerships with mayors, governors and senators alike, Nucky Johnson also had the people. Nucky made it a point to go to every funeral of everyone he knew. Nucky also lent out his limousine to poor families for weddings and funerals. Nucky handed large amounts of cash to struggling poor families in white and African American communities alike. “The poor can vote as well as the rich,” Nucky shouted to whoever would listen. The poor also stuffed the ballot boxes better than anybody. The cash gifts to the impoverished paid off in votes and the salaried ballot stuffers solidified Johnson’s political empire. Nucky was surrounded with hand picked political candidates that took orders and made substantial payoffs to their de facto boss.
Johnson wore flashy suits with a red carnation, was driven around in a powder blue limousine, wore large pinky rings, and always had a showgirl on his arm. If Whiskey Goldmine was voting for president, we might have lean republican if Nucky Johnson was running.
Considered by many to be the wealthiest ganster of all time… Cunning and ruthless, the young Luciano is savvy enough to align himself with Arnold Rothstein. But his youth, passion and ambition are sometimes a dangerous combination in both his personal and professional lives – HBO.com
1897 – Charlie Luciano, born Salvatore Luciana in Sicily.
1906 – Luciano family immigrates to New York City.
1917 – Luciano becomes a major crime figure in NYC and befriends Meyer Lansky
1919 – Prohibition.
1920 – Luciano and Lanskey were supplying all of Manhattan’s illegal bars and speakeasy’s with liquor.
1920 - Luciano aligns his crew with Joe “the Boss” Masseria.
1922 - Charlie introduces Jack Diamond to Arnold Rothstein
1925 - Making millions a year, Luciano becomes Massieria’s 2nd in command
1929 - Luciano survives a murder attempt on his life. “Lucky” is beaten, tortured, stabbed, sliced open and left for dead.
1931 - Lucky makes a deal with rival boss Marzano and Massieria is assassinated at the behest of Luciano.
1931 - Organized Crime is directed by the commission with Luciano at the reigns. Lansky and Bugsy help Luciano create the commission.
1936 – Luciano sent to prison for running a prostitution ring.
1942 - Imprisoned Luciano with Lanskey on the outside, partner with the government to provide security New York City’s port.
1946 – Luciano is released from prison.
1947 – Luciano moves to Cuba, but the U.S. forces Charlie’s deportation back to Italy.
One of the first nationally recognized gangsters and the most legendary bootleg booze smuggler in history, Al Capone was extremely wealthy and a brutal murderer. At one point in the 1920’s Capone was allegedly pulling in more than $60 million a year off of booze alone and another $40 million in racketeering, prostitution and gambling. After the rival Bugs Moran gang over stepped their bounds by stealing one too many of Capone’s booze shipments, Capone’s henchman dressed up as police officers and faked a raid on the Moran warehouse. The disguised enforcers lined up 7 members of the Moran gang against the wall and executed them. This incident became known as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Capone was never convicted of illegal smuggling but couldn’t hide all of his money from the IRS. In HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, Capone is portrayed as a young henchmen who orchestrates a robbery of a shipment of booze owned by Arnold Rothstein.
2. Charles “Lucky” Luciano:
Perhaps the richest gangster in the history of the world, Lucky Luciano and partner Meyer Lansky made more money than any mobsters ever without even accounting for inflation. Most of this money was probably made by heroin long after prohibition had ended. However, Luciano is credited for making the peace with fellow gangsters in an attempt to quell the violence and save money on shipments and political bribes. Associated with the National Crime Syndicate, head of the Commission and the Young Turks, Luciano brought all the heavyweight gangsters together, including Al Capone. Luciano was one of the first Italian gangsters to align himself with Jewish mobsters such as Allan Rothstein, Meyer Lansky and Ben Segal, as well as Italian gangsters Frank Costello, Vito Genovese, Johnny Torrio, Joseph Bonano and Al Capone. These guys were the champions of bootlegging. In Boardwalk Empire, Luciano is portrayed as a hot headed young associate of Rothstein.
3. Meyer Lansky:
Legend has it that it was Lansky’s idea to create the Commission but some say it was Johnny Torrio that convinced Luciano that the Commission was the right thing to do. Yup, it was a Jew’s idea that all of the leaders of the Italian mob sit down and work together for better business and the benefit of everyone. Maybe Henry Ford was right about the International Jewish Conspiracy to control all the money. After all, I still get my Jew check in the mail every week. Again, perhaps the richest gangster in history with his close friend and associate Lucky Luciano, Lansky was instrumental in Luciano’s rise to power and the creation of the Commission. Lansky’s gambling business stretched from New York, to Florida, Cuba and Vegas. In the 30’s and 40’s, Lansky actually worked with the U.S. government in providing security for naval ships in the port and intimidating Nazi sympathizers.
4. Johnny Torrio:
Leader of the Chicago outfit and mentor of Al Capone, Torrio is credited for creating the bootlegging empire that Capone would takeover and expand. Torrio was also heavily influential in creating the Commission with Luciano and Lansky and a close ally of the Genovese family. At the beginning of Prohibition, Torrio’s boss, Jim Colosimo, refused to smuggle booze figuring it would bring too much heat from the Feds. Torrio had Colosimo murdered in his own restaurant, as portrayed on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire at the end of episode 1. This assassination opened the flood gates for Torrio and Capone to become bootlegging legends.
5. Arnold Rothstein:
Allegedly fixing the 1919 World Series by paying Chicago White Sox players to intentionally lose to the Cincinnati Reds, Rothstein was also one of the first gangsters to set up major bootlegging operations during the onset of Prohibition. Rothstein advised many crime families and attempted to take the violence out of the business. Rothstein was also a legendary gambler but was murdered in 1928 after reneging on a $300,000 loss in a poker game. Refusing to pay after accusing the other players of cheating, Rothstein murderers reportedly killed him in order to teach Rothstein a lesson. On his deathbed, the Jewish Rothstein stuck to the code of the streets and refused to name his assassins. In episode 1 of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, Rothstein is portrayed as a gambling cheat and slick deal maker only to have a shipment a booze stolen.
6. Bugs Moran:
Chief rival and arch enemy of Johnny Torrio and Al Capone, the Polish and Irish Moran was never took orders from the Chicago Outfit and Southside Gang. In fact, Moran stole Torrio and Capone’s booze at will. Aligning himself with the Irish bootlegger Dean O’Banion, Moran’s outfit became known as the Northside gang. Throughout the 20’s, the Chicago Outfit and Southside Gang battled the Northside gang in shootouts, kidnappings, murder and torture. After O’Banion’s assassination at the hands of Capone and Torrio, Moran continued to battle Capone for years. The exclamation point on the war was the eventual St. Valentine’s day massacre when seven of Moran’s men were executed. However, Moran never wavered, controlling most of his territory and taking revenge by murdering Capone associates for almost a decade to come.
7. Enoch “Nucky” Johnson:
Originally a sheriff in Atlantic City, Nucky rose to power as one of the leading Republican political figures. Nucky used his political influence to establish Atlantic City as one of the leading ports for bootlegging and allied with Rothstein, Luciano, Torrio, Capone and others. Johnson is actually portrayed as Nucky Thompson as the main character of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and played by Steve Buscemi as a charitable, level headed and charismatic business man in episode 1.
8. Frank Nitti:
Dubbed the “Enforcer,” Nitti was the go to muscle for anyone that didn’t fall in line with Capone’s wishes. Nitti also ran Capone’s smuggling operations and later became the front man of the Chicago Outfit.
9. Bugsy Segal:
An enforcer for Lansky since they were teenagers, Segal became a mob hitman for multiple families during Prohibition. Segal aligned himself with Lansky, Luciano and Frank Costello and established bootlegging operations with close ally Albert Anastasia. Known by many as the father of Las Vegas, Segal was murdered in 1947 after the financing of the Flamingo Hotel seemed to disappear.
Prohibition is a three-part, five-and-a-half-hour documentary film series directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick that tells the story of the rise, rule, and fall of the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the entire era it encompassed. The culmination of nearly a century of activism, Prohibition was intended to improve, even to ennoble, the lives of all Americans, to protect individuals, families, and society at large from the devastating effects of alcohol abuse. But the enshrining of a faith-driven moral code in the Constitution paradoxically caused millions of Americans to rethink their definition of morality.
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