Ken Burns Prohibition debuts on PBS Sunday night

[malaise]

at 8.00pm
http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/prohibition/about/
<snip>
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.

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 and finally, who is — and who is not — a real American.

[joeybee12]

1. KNR...should be good...thanks for the heads-up

[malaise]

2. Saw him discussing the documentary last night

Don't plan to miss it.

[cal04]

3. saw that last night on the subway

Because the trains weren't running we had to take the subway. They had posters up
Was very happy to see them
thanks
:hi:

[malaise]

4. Should be good

:hi:

[lunatica]

5. I'm definitely watching it. Ken Burns is a hero of mine

His epic documentaries should be part of school history curriculum

[malaise]

7. Agreed - maybe History Channel should gie him a call

and spare us their usual diet of BS :fistbump:

[Warpy]

6. I've seen the promos and it's one I'll definitely watch

I know the hypocrisy of that era was stunning. My own grandmother did a term as president of the NY W.C.T.U. and while she had ample reason to hate alcohol and what it did to people, she also lived on a stash of Lydia Pinkham's Vegetable Tonic, something that was 80 proof. "Medicine," my arse. Of course it settled her nerves. Getting blotto does that.

Burns has also hinted at drawing parallels with the present drug war and the stunning hypocrisy in that, too, while prescription psychoactive drugs are pushed on TV while more benign drugs like grass are declared illegal.

So yes, I'll be watching this one intently.

[malaise]

8. Hahahahah - there were lots of tonic wines back then

to circumvent the laws. It's a pity we still haven't learned that people's rights trump all the morality bullshit.

[derby378]

13. Sing along...

We'll drink to Lydia Pinkham
The savior of the human race
She invented the Vegetable Compound
And the papers, they publish her face

:rofl:

[JVS]

23. The tonic was only 36 proof.

And probably the biggest deal about it was that it was a manner of getting alcohol into women, rather than men, whose drinking was the primary target of the dry movement.

Even to this day double standards exist when it comes to drinks like wine vs. whisky.

[monmouth]

9. I remember finding my father's flask when I was a little kid in the '40s.

I was in awe of it and all the grownups did was laugh and chuckle about those "wild old days." I cannot wait for this show, Ken Burns really knows how to do these docs..

[Seedersandleechers]

10. Is there anyway to watch it online?

I don't own a tv.

[catabryna]

11. Usually you can find PBS programs on line the day after they air...

I think this is a three-part program, so I'm not certain if that would make a difference.

[Seedersandleechers]

15. Thanks for the info

:hi:

[catabryna]

25. You're welcome.

:)

[malaise]

12. catabryna is correct

You can watch on Monday.

[justiceischeap]

28. Also, if you have an iPad, they have an app you can download to watch videos

http://www.pbs.org/services/mobile/ipad/

[Rick Myers]

14. Looks really good!!!

Saw some clips, Burns is always a great storyteller...

[BlueIris]

16. Can't wait. Ken Burns geek gossip question, though...

Are Burns and Novick an item? As in, married or partnered up? I'm too lazy to Google and try to find out.

[malaise]

17. No she has a husband and two kids

http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/filmmakers/novick.html
Lynn Novick was born in London in 1962, grew up in New York City. She graduated magna cum laude from Yale in l983, with honors in American Studies.

After several years as a research assistant at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History, Novick began her career in documentary filmmaking as a production assistant at WNET-13 in New York. She then served as researcher and associate producer for Bill Moyers on two major PBS series: Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth and A World of Ideas with Bill Moyers.

Novick began her long collaboration with award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns in l989. She first served as associate producer for post production on the landmark CIVIL WAR series, then spent five years as Producer (along with Burns) of the nine part, eighteen-hour series, BASEBALL, the most-watched series in the history of public television, and for which she won an Emmy Award.

Novick is currently co-directing and co-producing (with Ken Burns) Florentine Films' upcoming series, THE WAR, scheduled for broadcast in September 2007. She lives in New York City with her husband, Robert Smith, and their two children.

[matmar]

18. Boardwalk Empire

anyone else watching this?

[Kat45]

20. Absolutely.

Love it!

[ellisonz]

24. Oh yeah.

I'm thinking we're going to get 5 seasons or so of it.

[anneboleyn]

27. Yes, we are watching it as well. Great timing with the Burns documentary. Love Kelly MacDonald on

the show, and of course Buscemi is doing a great job also.

We really miss Game of Thrones, though :(

[customerserviceguy]

19. I was not aware of this

thanks for the heads up. The US Constitution is notoriously difficult to amend, the story of the one Amendment that had to be undone by another one is a unique one in our history.

Glad the good folks won (as I take another sip of my beer).

[malaise]

22. LOL

I'm sipping blue mountain coffee - with no brandy :D

[Kat45]

21. I'm really looking forward to that show. n/t

[malaise]

26. On now n/t