History That Doesn't Suck

160: Al Capone & the End of Prohibition


Listen Later

“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.
  • To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    History That Doesn't SuckBy Prof. Greg Jackson

    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7

    4.7

    5,816 ratings


    More shows like History That Doesn't Suck

    View all
    Stuff You Missed in History Class by iHeartPodcasts

    Stuff You Missed in History Class

    23,830 Listeners

    The History of WWII Podcast by Ray Harris Jr

    The History of WWII Podcast

    3,977 Listeners

    1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries Podcast by Jon Hagadorn  Podcast Host

    1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries Podcast

    1,681 Listeners

    Go Birds! by Audacy

    Go Birds!

    2,374 Listeners

    From the Heart with Rachel Brathen by Rachel Brathen

    From the Heart with Rachel Brathen

    4,457 Listeners

    This American President by This American President

    This American President

    760 Listeners

    History Unplugged Podcast by History Unplugged

    History Unplugged Podcast

    4,028 Listeners

    American History Tellers by Wondery

    American History Tellers

    19,137 Listeners

    The Skate Podcast by Audacy

    The Skate Podcast

    298 Listeners

    the goop podcast by gwyneth paltrow

    the goop podcast

    6,774 Listeners

    Legends of the Old West by Black Barrel Media

    Legends of the Old West

    3,646 Listeners

    American Scandal by Wondery

    American Scandal

    19,037 Listeners

    Infamous America by Black Barrel Media

    Infamous America

    2,932 Listeners

    The Wild West Extravaganza by The Wild West Extravaganza

    The Wild West Extravaganza

    769 Listeners

    6 Rings and Football Things by Audacy

    6 Rings and Football Things

    269 Listeners

    Office Ladies by Audacy & Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey

    Office Ladies

    85,701 Listeners

    Spits & Suds Podcast by Audacy

    Spits & Suds Podcast

    107 Listeners

    HISTORY This Week by The HISTORY® Channel | Back Pocket Studios

    HISTORY This Week

    4,168 Listeners

    The Commercial Break by Comedy Podcast | Commercial Break LLC

    The Commercial Break

    767 Listeners

    Impolitic with John Heilemann by Audacy | Puck

    Impolitic with John Heilemann

    4,664 Listeners

    Whirlwind: America, Russia & Ukraine by Audacy Studios | Tim Weiner | Jigsaw Productions

    Whirlwind: America, Russia & Ukraine

    559 Listeners

    Key Battles of American History by Key Battles of American History

    Key Battles of American History

    911 Listeners

    The Powers That Be: Daily by Puck | Audacy

    The Powers That Be: Daily

    367 Listeners

    Treat by Audacy Podcasts

    Treat

    1,171 Listeners

    History Daily by Airship | Noiser | Wondery

    History Daily

    2,105 Listeners

    Ghostwriter by Audacy

    Ghostwriter

    1,881 Listeners

    Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade by Audacy

    Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

    12,834 Listeners

    The Draymond Green Show by Audacy | The New Media

    The Draymond Green Show

    2,022 Listeners

    Love of the Star: A Dallas Cowboys Podcast by Audacy

    Love of the Star: A Dallas Cowboys Podcast

    207 Listeners

    American History Hit by History Hit

    American History Hit

    1,539 Listeners

    The Best Football Show with Brian Baldinger by Audacy

    The Best Football Show with Brian Baldinger

    83 Listeners

    1st & Pod by Audacy

    1st & Pod

    114 Listeners

    Fashion People by Audacy | Puck

    Fashion People

    228 Listeners

    A Twist of History by Ballen Studios

    A Twist of History

    1,499 Listeners

    Simpsons Declassified with Nancy Cartwright by Audacy & CRE84U Entertainment

    Simpsons Declassified with Nancy Cartwright

    170 Listeners