Wild West Tech
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Wild West Tech | |
|---|---|
 Wild West Tech |
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| Format | Documentary |
| Starring | Keith Carradine (season 1) David Carradine (seasons 2 and 3) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 32 |
| Production | |
| Running time | One hour |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | The History Channel |
| Original run | August 19, 2003 – November 8, 2005 |
| External links | |
| Official website | |
| IMDb profile | |
| TV.com summary | |
Wild West Tech (new episodes produced from 2003 - 2005; repeats continue indefinitely) was a program that aired on The History Channel in the United States. The show was originally hosted by Keith Carradine(2003 - 2004), but his half-brother, David Carradine, took over hosting duties for season 2 and subsequent seasons. The show illustrated a variety of technologies used in the so-called Wild West, and featured interviews with numerous Western historians, as well as re-created versions of important events in Western history.
Contents |
[edit] Format
Each episode is dedicated to some broader aspect of Wild West life. Once the context is established in brief by the host, more specific elements are developed. Throughout the program, professors, writers, and other experts explain finer points while historical reenactments and dramatizations portray just how key 19th century events may have transpired. The production aims to put the viewer into the spirit of the Old West with its host inhabiting an unnamed frontier town delivering (sometimes ironic) commentary.
A new spin on the typical technology fact program, this program often covers subjects from the American Old West that are not generally discussed in more traditional settings. For example, one episode takes a look the brothel, focusing on the inventions and technological innovations used to make the institution of prostitution less harsh on the lives of the women involved.
Another explains that Morphine was first isolated in 1803 by the German pharmacist Friedrich Wilhelm Adam Sertürner, But it was not until the development of the hypodermic needle (1853) that its use spread and it spread quite a bit in the American West. It was used for pain relief and, ironically, as a 'cure' for opium or alcohol addiction. Its extensive use during the American Civil War resulted in over 400,000 sufferers from the "soldiers disease" (addiction).
The same episode informs the views that Heroin, along with other drugs, was only criminalised in the US by the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act of 1914 decades after it was derived.
Other topics include the technological histories of various alcoholic beverages, saloons, weapons, and cowboy gangs.
[edit] Episode Guide
Two "pilot" episodes were produced, hosted by Keith Carradine, to help sell the History Channel on the concept of the series.
[edit] Pilots
1. Pilot- 1 25 Aug 03 Outlaw Tech 2. Pilot- 2 19 Aug 03 The Gunslingers
[edit] Season 1
1. 1- 1 30 Mar 04 Cowboy Tech 2. 1- 2 6 Apr 04 Execution Tech 3. 1- 3 13 Apr 04 Military Tech 4. 1- 4 20 Apr 04 Hunting Tech 5. 1- 5 27 Apr 04 Western Towns 6. 1- 6 4 May 04 Brothel Tech 7. 1- 7 11 May 04 Native American Tech 8. 1- 8 18 May 04 Train Tech 9. 1- 9 25 May 04 Gambling Tech 10. 1-10 8 Jun 04 Gold Rush Tech
[edit] Season 2
This and subsequent seasons hosted by David Carradine.
11. 2- 1 9 Nov 04 Six-Shooter Tech 12. 2- 2 16 Nov 04 Vigilante Tech 13. 2- 3 23 Nov 04 Alamo Tech 14. 2- 4 30 Nov 04 Deadwood Tech 15. 2- 5 7 Dec 04 Massacre Tech 16. 2- 6 14 Dec 04 Biggest Machines in the West 17. 2- 7 21 Dec 04 Freak Show Tech 18. 2- 8 28 Dec 04 Disaster Tech 19. 2- 9 25 Jan 05 Shootout Tech 20. 2-10 1 Feb 05 Saloons 21. 2-11 15 Feb 05 Law & Order Tech 22. 2-12 22 Feb 05 Gang Tech 23. 2-13 22 Mar 05 The Road West 24. 2-14 24 May 05 Civil War in the West
[edit] Season 3
25. 3- 1 13 Sep 05 Revenge Tech 26. 3- 2 20 Sep 05 Freak Shows II 27. 3- 3 27 Sep 05 The Unexplained 28. 3- 4 4 Oct 05 Massacres II 29. 3- 5 11 Oct 05 Bounty Hunters 30. 3- 6 18 Oct 05 Vices 31. 3- 7 1 Nov 05 Grim Reaper 32. 3- 8 8 Nov 05 Gadgets
[edit] Trivia
The History Channel sometimes airs re-edited versions of the episodes to fill odd bits of time on the schedule; these "half-hour" versions feature no new content.
There is a Flash promo video airing on the History Channel website that documents how Keith lost the show to David in a poker game. This scene also appears at the beginning of episode 2-1.
To give himself a more western look, Keith Carradine grew a mustache shortly before leaving the show.
