Points readers in the U.S. will perhaps be aware that the new documentary, Prohibition, begins a three-night run on PBS this evening. Directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, Prohibition will likely bring millions of Americans to the televisions to contemplate the great experiment. Not wanting to be left out of the conversation, here at Points we’ll be posting a series of comments on the program, which begins this evening (October 2) and runs through October 4. Here’s the schedule:
October 3–David M. Fahey, author of numerous works on alcohol and temperance history, retired professor of history at Miami University of Ohio, past president of the Alcohol and Drugs History Society, and recipient of its Senior Scholar achievement award for lifetime service, will offer his thoughts on “A Nation of Drunkards” and (on October 4) episode two, “A Nation of Scofflaws.”
October 4–Frankie Bailey, professor of criminal justice at Albany and the author (with Alice Green) of Wicked Albany: Lawlessness and Liquor in the Prohibition Era (The History Press), will comment on the second night’s episode, “A Nation of Scofflaws.”
October 5–Jason S. Lantzer, historian of American religion and social movements, and author of “Prohibition is Here to Stay”: The Reverend Edward S. Shumaker and the Dry Crusade in America (Notre Dame University Press), will comment on the final night’s episode, “A Nation of Hypocrites.”
Any Points readers interested in live-blogging the telecast should contact the managing editors straightaway! For the more circumspect, the Comments sections of the posts on each night’s coverage are yours to fill. Meantime, here’s a preview of the series:
And, here’s how PBS describes the series: