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History That Doesn't Suck

160: Al Capone & the End of Prohibition

History That Doesn't Suck

ProfGregJackson

Education, History, Society & Culture

4.55.1K Ratings

🗓️ 15 July 2024

⏱️ 65 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“Only Capone kills like that.” This is the story of the rise and fall of Al Capone, and the last gasps of Prohibition. No other gangster compares to Scarface. He’s remained prominent in the American consciousness for 100 years due to his overt violence and lavish lifestyle, funded by *ahem* unsavory business practices. He brazenly orders murders like the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, but he also doesn’t hesitate to get his own hands dirty when it comes to traitors. Capone seems to have jumped onto the mob scene ready-made, cutting his teeth on hustling New York shoeshine boys as a teenager. The consummate crime lord rises to the top of Chicago’s seething criminal underworld at just 26 years old, and boy, does he excel. He’s raking in millions from an unholy combination of alcohol sales, brothels, gambling halls, etc. The well-dressed mafioso looks invincible, but Chicago’s “untouchables” (clean cops) are doing their best to bring Capone down. However, even though he’s taken to court, he’s got most of the Chicago police force in his pocket and witnesses keep disappearing—is it such a stretch to think that he’ll walk? And can the courts make the charges stick to this bootlegger when there’s talk of repealing Prohibition? ____ Connect with us on HTDSpodcast.com and go deep into episode bibliographies and book recommendations join discussions in our Facebook community get news and discounts from The HTDS Gazette come see a live show get HTDS merch or become an HTDS premium member for bonus episodes and other perks. HTDS is part of the Airwave Media Network. Interested in advertising on the History That Doesn't Suck? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is Michael Medved.

0:02.0

Otto von Bismarck, the Chancellor of Germany, once said that God offers special protection

0:08.4

to drunkards, lost dogs, children, and the United States of America.

0:14.6

We'll explore that special protection

0:18.1

and what it means in the American miracle.

0:21.8

Subscribe to the American miracle on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, or wherever you get your

0:28.3

podcasts.

0:29.3

Hello all, Eric Rivenus with the most notorious podcast here.

0:34.4

Each week I interview an author or historian about a historical true crime, tragedy, or disaster.

0:41.2

Subject matter ranges from gun slingers to

0:44.1

gilded age murderer to gangsters to fires to pirates to wild prison breaks.

0:49.6

My guests bring their incredible knowledge directly to you.

0:53.0

Please subscribe to Most Notorious on your favorite podcast app.

0:57.0

Cheers and have snowy Thursday morning, February 14, 1929.

1:18.0

Yes, Valentine's Day and we're at 21-22 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois at a garage known as SMC

1:26.9

Carthage Company, where one man after another enters, dusts the snow from his thick overcoat, then makes his way to the hot coffee.

1:35.0

By the way, those are custom overcoats.

1:38.0

Much like their shirts, their suits, what can I say?

1:42.0

Bootlegging has its perks, especially when you're a part of George Bugs-Maran's gang.

1:48.0

In fact, let me fill you in on bugs, his operation, and this meeting, while his boys are still preoccupied with getting a cup of Joe.

1:59.0

A thief, a safe cracker, and a man with a temper so hot they call him bugs. George Bugs Moran was running

2:06.2

with Dean O'Banyon when Prohibition first took off and was happy to get in on the boot liking game.

...

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