Iddude313 Member Username: Iddude313
Post Number: 16 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 70.236.165.62
| Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 3:32 pm: | |
Last night on the History Channel much film footage was shown on Detroit during prohibition. There were movie clips of the big steamers, of skyscrapers being built, people driving their cars over the icey river to Windsor to get whiskey, streetcars and a very active downtown. It was very cool to see. Anyone else see it? |
Broken_main Member Username: Broken_main
Post Number: 975 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 69.222.11.226
| Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 3:42 pm: | |
I would have loved to see it. If it comes on again I will have to save it on the computer. I will check into it. |
Erikd Member Username: Erikd
Post Number: 554 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.242.214.106
| Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 5:23 pm: | |
That was the show on Prohibition. It has been on before. It does have some cool footage of 20's Detroit, and many pics of dead bodies, courtesy of the Purple Gang. Some interesting factoids from that show: Between 1925 and 1931, there were over 500 UNSOLVED murders in Detroit, most of them were attributed to the Purples. During Prohibition. the murder rate in America jumped 80%. America needs to wake up and realize that the War on Drugs is a major failure, and responsible for most of the murders in this country. Prohibition of drugs and alchohol doesn't work. |
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup
Post Number: 888 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 205.188.116.137
| Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 5:47 pm: | |
Rumrunners, Moonshiners And Bootleggers available on DVD or VHS for the low, low price of $29.95 |
Detroit313 Member Username: Detroit313
Post Number: 13 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 12.45.2.184
| Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 8:08 pm: | |
Thanks lilpup |
Jerome81 Member Username: Jerome81
Post Number: 941 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 64.142.86.133
| Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 3:37 am: | |
Agreed ErikD. Those who want it will get it. Why not make a profit on it, decrease the murder rate, and stop spending money to fight a war you can't win? Oh, because morally, its the right thing to do? Yeah, that excuse is worth it. |
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup
Post Number: 890 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 64.12.116.204
| Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 3:47 am: | |
No, Jerome, it's because prescription drugs are more profitable and the war on illegal narcotics is money laden and keeps a lot of people employed. |
Rustic Member Username: Rustic
Post Number: 2216 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.163.181.81
| Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 8:53 am: | |
Yay Detroit! |
Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001
Post Number: 2053 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.14.135.95
| Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 11:56 am: | |
The History Channel will rotate this through their lineup about every month or so. Their website has a link to their program guide as well a a listing of when a particular program will be shown in the future. |
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz
Post Number: 476 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 68.2.191.57
| Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 2:12 pm: | |
I vaguely recall another (PBS?) documentary about Henry Ford's "Service Bureau" run by, um, Harry Bennett? Ford wanted his employees to live virtuous lives outside of work and the Service Bureau would pay visits to their homes to check for alcohol, etc. In the end, the Service Bureau became so corrupt that Ford had to disband it (to protect his own family?). I'd like to find that documentary or, better, a webpage that tells the story. |
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg
Post Number: 28 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 69.136.155.244
| Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 2:55 pm: | |
Michigan's oldest continually operating bar, The Stonehouse Bar, is located in Detroit, near the State Fairgrounds. Their website claims that their building was a clubhouse for the Purple Gang during Prohibition, however, I don't think that place was anywhere near the Purple's turf. The Stonehouse was originally known as the "Sportsmen's Rendezvous Bar", when a distant cousin of mine opened it in May of 1933, within days of the repeal of Prohibition in Michigan. Upon his death in 1940, it was sold to his business partner and it has remained in operation ever since, even though it has changed names and ownership several times. |
Danny Member Username: Danny
Post Number: 3817 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 141.217.174.223
| Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 9:44 am: | |
I wonder did the Purple Gang and Oakland St. Sugar House Gang did some booze smuggling? |
Walkerpub Member Username: Walkerpub
Post Number: 83 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 24.57.42.143
| Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 9:47 am: | |
Read up: http://www.walkervilletimes.co m/prohibition.html |
J32885 Member Username: J32885
Post Number: 23 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 68.41.108.161
| Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 10:11 pm: | |
I saw that special a while back on the History Channel, and it was a good one. |
Crash_nyc Member Username: Crash_nyc
Post Number: 566 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 24.193.163.82
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 5:02 am: | |
I'm an Editor at A&E Networks (A&E, History Channel, etc), and love to delve into our video library in my off-hours to check out video footage of old Detroit. A few months ago I stumbled upon some archival footage of a prohibition-era booze-bust in Detroit. The Feds were hauling barrels out of a place that vaguely resembeled the old Woodbridge Tavern in Rivertown. I worked at the Woodbridge during the early '90s, and remember hearing stories about how it's basement was once used as a temporary storage location for booze that was smuggled across the river from Canada. My great-grandfather operated a prohibition-era blind pig in a basement somewhere the vicinity of 8 Mile & Woodward, and he was one hardcore mofo. He had scars on his forearm & chest after surviving a shotgun blast from the Purple Gang, who busted into his place one night to 'deliver a message' that they weren't happy with his establishment. |
Sailor_rick Member Username: Sailor_rick
Post Number: 120 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 12.2.192.223
| Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 6:55 am: | |
Yikes! Not as risky as getting a chestfull of lead, but my grandfather used to run booze between between Canada and Wyandotte in his fliver whem the ice froze. In the warmer months, he'd use his fishing/duck hunting boat. I understand back in the day, this was quite the "cottage" industry downriver. |
Digitaldom Member Username: Digitaldom
Post Number: 433 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 24.192.148.150
| Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 1:06 am: | |
Correct the purple gang did ALOT of smuggling during this period.. My great-grandfather was on the Detroit Police gang squad to fight the purple gang during this period.. Unfortunately he passed away several years ago, otherwise I would ask him for details... |
Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2
Post Number: 6 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177
| Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 2:31 am: | |
Not to be outdone by the Capone Gang the Purple Gang had an answer to the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Three members of the "Little Jewish Navy," a group of Purples who owned several boats and participated in rumrunning as well as hijacking, decided they would break away from the gang and become an underworld power themselves. The three men, Hymie Paul, Isadore Sutker aka Joe Sutker, and Joe Lebowitz, were lured to an apartment on Collingwood Avenue: http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_res ult?addr=collingwood&csz=detro it%2C+mi&country=us&new=1&name =&qty= on September 16, 1931. They believed they were going to a peace conference with Purple Gang leaders. In reality, they were only going to their deaths. After a brief discussion, the three unarmed Purples were shot to death by the Purple Gangsters they had gone to meet. A bookie named Sol Levine, who had transported the three men to the fatal rendezvous, was arrested soon afterwards and was quickly frightened into becoming a State's witness. Levine had been allowed to live because he was a friend of Ray Bernstein. The State had a live witness to the murders and Levine's testimony was devastating. Three of the four Purples involved in the incident which became known as the Collingwood Manor Massacre were quickly arrested. Irving Milberg, Harry Keywell, and Raymond Bernstein, three high ranking Purples, were convicted of first degree murder in the Collingwood Manor Massacre and sent to prison for life. |
Detroit_stylin Member Username: Detroit_stylin
Post Number: 2585 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.202.227.12
| Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 11:32 am: | |
I remember watching that particular special on the HC. I found it interesting that 95% of the illegal booze that was sold in the US originated in Canada and crossed into the US through Detroit. Another intersting fact that I found out was how Canada at the same times as the US had gone dry, however seeing how profitable bootleging was in the US authorized Canadian distilleries to open up on the river and legally make alcohol, but illegal to sell it in Canada... How's that for international cooperation? |
Detroit_stylin Member Username: Detroit_stylin
Post Number: 2586 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.202.227.12
| Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 11:34 am: | |
BTW the bldg where the massacre took place is no longer standing, I believe... |
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1
Post Number: 7097 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 198.208.159.20
| Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 11:41 am: | |
Ah during the good old days when Detroit was crime free and a perfect place. Funny how people ignore how violent our past was to think about the 'good old days' |
Detroit_stylin Member Username: Detroit_stylin
Post Number: 2588 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.202.227.12
| Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 11:46 am: | |
Yanno Jt1? Back in the days when no one had to think about leaving the city for safer crime free areas... lol |
Rustic Member Username: Rustic
Post Number: 2279 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 130.132.177.245
| Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 12:11 pm: | |
DS and Jt1, nonsense! Crime was CLEARLY the reason Hupp Motor Car company went outta business and of course crime chased Ford out of Highland Park down to Dearborn. Take off your blinders, guys! ps -- Nowadays crime is the reason that the Ford Wyoming Drive in is likely gonna close, and with GM troubles, forget about eroding market share, legacy costs and sclerotic management -- crime is the culprit! |
56packman Member Username: 56packman
Post Number: 160 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.234
| Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 12:40 pm: | |
Jimaz--the Ford "service bureau" stayed intact during old man Ford's lifetime, and as he became more mentally feeble (but no less powerful), Bennett weilded more power. The Fed Gubb-ment went and early-discharged HFII (Hank the duce) to take things over, so that war goods would flow from Ford without the interupptions of a senile old man. Upon arrival, HFII began a big power struggle between himself and Bennett. |
Wabashrr1 Member Username: Wabashrr1
Post Number: 24 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8
| Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 1:00 pm: | |
From.. http://www.autolife.umd.umich. edu/Design/Gartman/D_Casestudy /Harry_Bennett.htm "Harry Bennett (1892-1979) was head of Ford’s Service Department, or internal security. He ruled the Rouge Plant, and some say Henry Ford himself, through threats and intimidation, arguably becoming more influential than Edsel Ford, Henry’s son and the company’s President from 1919 to 1943. He first worked in Ford’s art department in 1917, but his “tough guy” manner got him appointed head watchman, and eventually he supervised over 3000 reputed crooks and retired policemen in the Service Department. “The Battle of the Overpass,” Ford’s 1937 response to attempts at unionization, was led by Bennett. Ford fought unionization until 1941. While rumor had it that Ford wanted Bennett to replace him as president, that job went to Henry Ford II, who fired Bennett in 1945." The Battle of the Overpass http://www.reuther.wayne.edu/e xhibits/battle.html Some photos at the site too though, most were destroyed by bennett and his thugs. I wonder if Ford Motor Co. would have survived if not for W.W.II (war production needs). |