The Booze, Bets and Sex That Built America
Divulges surprising origin stories of the American alcohol, gambling, sex, and tobacco industries and the ambitiously notorious entrepreneurs who built some of history's biggest fortunes on the nation's cravings.
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Seasons & Episodes
1. Secrets & Sins
Jack Daniel pioneers American whiskey; Adolphus Busch creates an iconic beer; Buck Duke innovates the modern cigarette; Julius Schmid skirts the law selling his new condoms…all while the temperance movement rises to battle against them.
2. Empires Lost
One of the richest men in the world may lose his tobacco empire; alcohol titans fight for their lives against the growing threat of prohibition; New York City becomes ground zero in the battle to legalize contraception.
3. Sin Cities
The invention of the luxury resort casino helps birth Sin City; a Harlem woman goes to war for what will become the state lottery system; an alluring magazine like no other is launched; one of the most famous cigarette brands in history is created.
Cast
James M. Reilly
August Busch
Delbert Hunt
Self - Narrator
Zach Meiser
Buck Duke
Bart Elliott
Julius Schmid
Barbara Hahn
Self - Author of Making Tobacco Bright
Sarah Milov
Self - Author of The Cigarette a Political History
Garrett Oliver
Self - Editor of The Oxford Companion of Beer
Colin Spoelman
Self - Master Distiller / Whiskey Historian
Richard Zacks
Self - Author of Island of Vice
Norman Chad
Self - Sportswriter Washington Post