Sunday, October 2
8:00-10:00pm and 10:00pm-12:00am
"A Nation of Drunkards"
In the mid-1800s, alcohol abuse is wreaking havoc on American families, and new groups — the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the Anti-Saloon League — form to push for Prohibition. (Part 1 of 3)
Monday, October 3
8:00-10:00pm and 10:00pm-12:00am
"A Nation of Scofflaws"
In 1920, Prohibition goes into effect and millions of law-abiding Americans become lawbreakers overnight. Drys had hoped Prohibition would make the country a safer place, but the law has many victims. (Part 2 of 3)
Tuesday, October 4
8:00-10:00pm and 10:00pm-12:00am
"A Nation of Hypocrites"
Gangsters make huge profits and wreak havoc in cities across the country. By the late 1920s, many Americans believe that Prohibition — the "Noble Experiment" — has failed. After the election of FDR in 1932, Prohibition is repealed. (Part 3 of 3)
In anticipation of Ken Burn's series Prohibition, WHRV's Sondra Woodward spoke with local historians about attitudes towards alcohol in Virginia during the years leading up to the Prohibition era.
Tuesday, September 27
Sondra visits Colonial Williamsburg to find out what people were drinking in the 18th century.
(Photo courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg)
Play Program
Wednesday, September 28
While drinking alcohol anytime, anywhere and for any reason was accepted practice during the Revolutionary period, drinking to excess was not. Sondra Woodward continues her discussion with local historians about pre-Prohibition attitudes in Virginia.
(Photo courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg)
Play Program
Thursday, September 29
Sondra finds out what effects the early Temperance movement had on Virginia as the Civil War era begins.
(A cartoon in support of the Temperance Movement, circa 1846, by Nathaniel Currier.)
Click on the thumbnail to see a larger version.
Play Program
Friday, September 30
Alcohol is a booming business in Virginia as the Civil War ends and the 20th century looms. As Sondra wraps up her conversations with local historians about the pre-Prohibition years, find out which local county went dry and what that meant to its economy.
To read the play Carson Hudson mentioned, 10 Nights in a Bar Room, a Temperance-era play written Timothy Shay Authur in 1854,
click here.
Play Program
Join Cathy Lewis for a look at how PROHIBITION affected Virginia and Hampton Roads. HearSay with Cathy Lewis presents a six week look at Prohibition laws and how attitudes towards alcohol affect our society today. The series airs on HearSay at Noon on 89.5 WHRV-FM.
Tuesday, August 30
Prohibition: Part 1
Play Program
Filmmaker Ken Burns's latest documentary, "Prohibition" will air in October and it tells the history of the rise and fall of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The saga of prohibition goes far beyond the oft-told tales of gangsters, rum runners, flappers and speakeasies. It is the story of unintended consequences and a nation divided by politics, religion and , individual rights and responsibilities. On today's program, we begin a six-part series on the legacy of prohibition: how it transformed America and the challenges we face as we continue to wrestle with alcohol and drug abuse.
Wednesday, September 7
Prohibition: Part 2
Play Program
On Wednesday's program, we continue our month-long weekly series focused on filmmaker Ken Burns's latest documentary, "Prohibition." The program will air in October on WHRO-TV and tells the history of the rise and fall of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The saga of prohibition goes far beyond the oft-told tales of gangsters, rum runners, flappers and speakeasies. It is the story of unintended consequences and a nation divided by politics, religion, and individual rights and responsibilities.
Wednesday, September 14
Prohibition: Part 3
The Temperance Movement and Women's Rights
Play Program
The 19th century movement to end drinking in America was born to counter the destructive forces of grain-based alcohol. Those forces were often felt by women and children, as their head-of-household abused alcohol and then came home to abuse them. On today's program, we'll examine the role women played in getting the amendment passed – and the unintended consequences that played out after their successful efforts.
Tuesday, September 20
Prohibition: Part 4
Legislating the Drinking Age
Play Program
The legal drinking age was raised to 21 in the mid-1980s. While that law is credited with reducing the number of alcohol-related highway fatalities, some experts believe it inadvertently created a youth culture of reckless behavior and binge drinking. On today's program, we'll examine the growing debate to lower the drinking age.
