The Booze, Bets and Sex That Built America

Synopsis

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.

First Air Date: 2022-06-12

Last Air Date: 2022-06-26

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 3

Networks: History

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

James M. Reilly as August Busch
Delbert Hunt as Self - Narrator
Zach Meiser as Buck Duke
Bart Elliott as Julius Schmid
Barbara Hahn as Self - Author of Making Tobacco Bright
Sarah Milov as Self - Author of The Cigarette a Political History
Garrett Oliver as Self - Editor of The Oxford Companion of Beer
Colin Spoelman as Self - Master Distiller / Whiskey Historian
Richard Zacks as Self - Author of Island of Vice
Norman Chad as Self - Sportswriter Washington Post

Seasons

Season 1 (2022)

No overview available for this season.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Secrets & Sins (2022-06-12)

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.
Ep. 2: Empires Lost (2022-06-19)

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.
Ep. 3: Sin Cities (2022-06-26)

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.