Prohibition: The History & Legends of Al Capone & Bootlegging in Moose Jaw
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 มี.ค. 2023
- In this video, Prohibition: The history & legends of Al Capone & Bootlegging in Moosejaw, take a journey through the Tunnels of Moose Jaw with Kevin Hicks. During the Prohibition era, Al Capone ran an extensive bootlegging operation, smuggling illegal alcohol from Canada into the United States. The small town of Moose Jaw, close to the US border with Montana, was a key hub for Capone’s operation.
Shot on location at the excellent tourist attraction of the Tunnels of Moose Jaw. tunnelsofmoosejaw.com
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#AlCapone #Prohibition #Bootlegging #MooseJaw #Capone #Smuggling
IMAGE CREDITS:
William Beamish: Tunnels of Moose Jaw Archives
Walter P Johnson: Tunnels of Moose Jaw Archives
Tunnels: Tunnels of Moose Jaw Archives
Moose Jaw Police Force: Moose Jaw Public Library Archives
Really different from the medieval stories you ordinary tell us, but like I already said before, you are an outstanding storyteller who could fascinate us just by reading a fridge's instruction manual. But Kevin, how did you dare enter this gloomy joint without your Tommy Gun in hand ?
He could make frozen maple syrup sound entertaining lol
The British tend not to have access to our American luxuries 😂 honestly, though, this man has captivated me with his style of teaching/storytelling. Just found his channel last night and I've been binging his videos non stop lol
You always manage to make the telling of the story so interesting. I have heard of these tunnels before, and of the Moose Jaw connection to Capone and Prohibition, but never had the chance to actually see them. Thanks for the little tour and telling the stories. Cheers from Texas.
Glad you enjoyed it. We did all three tours so I have some more stories from Moose Jaw coming in the future 👍🏻
There are many of Kevin’s stories, particularly that of Mad Jack Churchill that I have heard dozens of times but when you know a story by heart , the story becomes less important than the story teller , besides Kevin came up with a few facts I had never heard .
Thanks for taking us along! That was a lot of fun to watch… I like the “on location” type of films you do! I wanted to mention for the audience that prior to 1934 and the National Firearms Act (NFA), one could legally purchase and own a B.A.R. or Thompson .. can you imagine?! Some impressive firepower! I always have a chuckle when someone takes cover behind a Model A in the movies whilst being fired upon by a B.A.R. … as if! 😂
Haha, absolutely! Thanks for adding to our knowledge there 👍🏻
Technically, one can still purchase and own those weapons in the US. However, between the exorbitant "tax" placed on registration, and the even more exorbitant price of such weapons (as the supply isn't getting any bigger, and weapons manufactured after a certain date, even of the same model, *aren't* legal), few can afford to, even if they could afford the high cost of ammunition these days. ='[.]'=
I have to say, the Prohibition Era is one of the most interesting periods in history for me. The most interesting part is that the smuggling was international, with not only Whisky from Canada, but also Rum from Cuba and the Moonshiners in the south. It was also a time that defined the early 20th Century America in both style and society.
Great video Kevin can't wait for you got planned next !
Cheers Luis 👍🏻
Hello Kevin, I'm quite new to your channel but I have to say that I'm totally loving it and wish I'd found it sooner as your my kind of history guy. I love your attention to detail and the various time periods you cover and I absolutely love your outfits as it just adds to the authenticness of what history subject your teaching us, so now I'm binge watching your videos. Thanks for being you, Kevin. 👍☺️
Awesome, thank you and welcome to the channel 👍🏻
Yah ya notice that!😮
Another fascinating video Kevin. Al Capone has a connection to Guelph, Ontario, which isn't very far from where I live. He used to use a tunnel system there as well and he had a connection to Sleemans brewery and the Albion hotel. The tunnels are inaccessible now but the University of Guelph still uses tunnels for their mechanical systems in all their buildings, which go on for miles.
Brilliant! It's believed there are still plenty of unexplored tunnels down in Moose Jaw too 👍🏻
20 minutes passed in the blink of an eye. Really interesting stuff. Will have to visit there one day when I'm
Back in Canada
Thank you, Kevin for posting my request!!! Much appreciated mate
You're most welcome! Hope you enjoyed the angle. 👍🏻
Very cool part of history that I don't think many people know about. Being right next door to Saskatchewan, I'm gonna have to plan a trip to check this out. Thanks for the video and sharing this👍
You're most welcome!
There’s a small town near Kankakee, Illinois called St. Anne’s. Capone had a hideout there. There locals would give a nod and a wink. No problems.
Intriguing stories, enjoyed the history. 🙋♂️🐈🐈
Kevin, thanks for for filling in a gap in my historical knowledge. I never realized that Canada had prohibition. Even more, thanks for collecting and preserving those oral histories! I had an interesting encounter with such a story myself, back in the 1980s, when I lived for a while near the Black Hills of South Dakota (seemed like a good idea at the time, but I'm a 6th generation Californian, and all the genes that tolerate cold winters were bred out of my family!).
Anyway, to the story: A lady in her upper eighties told me that when she was a little girl, her father was a cabinet maker, there in Belle Fourche. He also made coffins. One day, he had a visit from none other than Calamity Jane, who wanted to order one. Jane was then working as a cook and housekeeper in Dora Du Fran's Belle Fourche brothel. He said that he could do the work, but to test for the right size, would she please lie down in one of the ones he had on hand. Very practical, I guess, but that was too much for Jane. She left and didn't return...
She passed away in 1903, and was buried in Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood, next to Wild Bill Hickock. Apparently not in one of my informant's dad's custom coffins...
What a great story Dave. Julie & I had the pleasure of visiting the Black Hills ourselves back in September, we visited Mt Moriah and did the tours, I wasn't disappointed, it was excellent and what a character old Calam was.
@@thehistorysquad We used to go over to Deadwood fairly often, but not so much after casino-style gambling was put in place. A friend who was in law enforcement there told us that in the weeks before the casinos opened, they had gotten 3,000 applications for concealed weapons permits!
@@davefinster8697 Crikey, I never knew that! Not being gamblers and Deadwood having so many casinos, we felt a bit overwhelmed to be honest. We struggled just to get a decent coffee......until we found a Starbucks right at the end of the street on the last day.
@@thehistorysquad I don't know what the current situation is, but when the law was passed to allow casino gambling in Deadwood, it was sold to the public as a measure to generate funds for "historic preservation". The law also required that at least one partner in a casino had to be a South Dakota resident. But pretty much every casino was actually operated by Nevada-based organizations.
I guess that the casinos aren't so far off from Deadwood's history...but we used to enjoy going to a restaurant in one of the buildings that was converted for casino operations. They kept the restaurant on a kind of "mezzanine", but the constant ding-ding-ding of the machines made it hard to enjoy supper!
My granddad was a young man in the late 1920s, working as a lumberjack cutting cypress in the Okefenokee Swamp, and he learned from cousins or possibly coworkers how to build a still. He remembered years later in the 1980s when my mother, his daughter, wondered aloud how to make one. Here was Grampa, eagerly launching into this detailed explanation, which shocked all of us!
😂 love it! How lovely
Kevin is such a historian, when he travels to another country HE is the story teller! 💚
Great video! I live about 20 miles from Canada in a little railroad town with a hotel spanning across the local river, and during the prohibition casks of whiskey would come down on the train, loaded onto a row boat and taken across the lake, down the river about 100 feet to the bottom of the hotel, where they were delivered through a secret hatch under the hotel! And as legend goes, there's still 3 casks at the deepest point on the lake...
Very cool! Thanks for sharing that story 👍🏻
Excellent story brilliantly told. You did forget to mention[for people abroad] that alcohol was legal in Canada, so Capone was paying the Moosejaw police chief primarily to pay extra attention to Capone's business interests, especially against rival gangs. Except for the odd fight with rival gangs, most of what Capone did was legal in Canada.
The moonshine/bootlegging industry in the states didn't start and end with prohibition. My husband's grandfather ran the biggest still in the American southwest, supplied most big cities west of the rockies, and it took til the 1960s for the FBI to catch him in the act
Nice surprise, to have a 20th Century episode. Again, well done and entertaining. Until the next one.
Cheers Kevin. Thanks for another fabulous video. Al Capone had a hideout built in the Madawaska Highlands in Ontario, and he stiffed the guy he bought it from. As the story goes this carpenter went down to Chicago to ask for his money. He was roughed up a bit by a couple of Capone's thugs. The thugs then told him he could come in and ask for his money, or come back tomorrow. The carpenter left and never went back. The hideout is a tourist attraction now. Thanks again, David near Kingston 🍻
Local histories really are fascinating aren't they 👍🏻
Greetings once again from nova Scotia, thanks for A very interesting slice of history, I never would have thought....be safe and as always best regards, Arthur
Our pleasure!
Last night a friend and I were talking about al Capone. I live in northern Wisconsin and I never knew this but underneath like the city I live near there were tunnels underneath the city where al Capone and his bootleggers would come to distribute the alcohol. The bar his parents own used to have a tunnel right underneath them. Sadly they’re all filled in now. But it would’ve been so cool to see them. I never knew he came all the way up here that’s so cool. And then to see this today just makes this that much better.
My pleasure!! 👍🏻
Way to go Kevin, British history and the American gangsters are in my top three or four favourite historical stories! Thanks mate. 👍🏻
I use to know a musician who was related to Al Capone. He was his great great uncle, his great grandfather was Al Capone's older brother
Cool 👍🏻
@@thehistorysquad Yep, I thought so, he was a great guy with a infamous family name
Perfect start to the weekend right there!
Saskatchewan has lots of history: Sitting Bull's summer range, Watrous was a hot spot in the 1920's, a member of Jesse James gang hid out around Dundurn. The Big Muddy was a hideout for the outlaws.
During and after the depression, the SK government would hand out stills to farmers to purify water. Farmers would dig a dugout, then dig a well near the dugout, in hopes to let the ground filter the water. Either this did not work that well and/or the dust would fill in the dugouts. Not all of them were used for water, our old neighbours used to make whisky.
Excellent, thanks for the comment 👍🏻
@@thehistorysquad We should go "crop checking" sometime, and I can tell and show what I know.
@@bradyelich2745 Sounds good. I've been down to the Cypress Hills but not been to the Grasslands yet. I'll get there one of these days.
@@thehistorysquad I can take you out to my farmland and show an old homestead.
Well? I guess send me an email. 1 hour out. Roads will be muddy now, should have went week ago when everything still frozen.
I have family in Moose Jaw....they will enjoy this. Thanks ! PS: I played the Royal Hotel in the late 80's in a band called Against the Grain. The hotel manager said he thought Capone hung out there.
I'm getting thirsty just by watching this. Keep em coming
Love the outfit Kevin! Here in Michigan you never too far from a bootlegger story. In the Upper Peninsula you can find rum runners on the lake. Capone himself is an interesting figure to say the least, a ruthless killer and psychopath yes but I know a few people who have told me that they don’t talk bad about Capone in their house because as children during the Great Depression they had received charity personally from him in food, clothing and other things do many people were lacking during the Depression.
Yes, this is true, I understand he even opened soup kitchens. Quite a paradox 👍🏻. Thanks for watching Jodie and your support. Have a great weekend.
@@thehistorysquad You have a wonderful weekend as well and enjoy your up coming trip, I'm really looking forward to seeing what you might film across the pond!
@@jodieg6318 Cheers Jodie, we have some gems for you, you'll love them 👍🏻
Thanks for taking us with you on this adventure, Kevin. Brilliant upload for a Friday afternoon!
It's night time in my part of world
@@muhammadnursyahmi9440 Shouldn't you be in bed, then..?
😴
Fascinating bit of 20th century history well told and very enjoyable well done Kevin
Love this style Kevin! Excellent as always man
Appreciate it!
One of the stories that used to be told in my family of origin, is that, as an RCMP constable in the Northwest Territories (Saskatchewan), one of my ancestors was one of the first people to use a gun to rob a train in Canada. LOL! He was a copper, and robbed trains!
My goodness, there's certainly some great history stories if you look for them here in Canada. 👍🏻
Kevin I'm going to try to comment as I watch your videos but this has been my go to channel for the past couple weeks. Last night i put the Jack the Ripper victim one on thinking Id fall asleep to it, but 5 minutes in and Im sat up in bed aty 3am hanging on your every word, I actually feel like Im getting the history lesson I didnt get in school from you so thank you very much
Wow, thank you too for watching, esp. at 3am! I'm glad you're enjoying the channel 👍🏻
Wow, what a VERY INTERESTING video!! I NEVER knew Al Capone had a Canadian connection!! XXXX ❤👍💗🤗
Yippee another one from you Kevin educational as always . Also told in a wonderful exciting way. 🎉
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks 👍🏻
Loved the video and loved going to the tunnels as a kid!
I wonder, will you be doing a video on the Chinese Laundry story of the tunnels as well?
Aslo, related to prohibition, in the summer time, I highly recommend visiting the Badlands in South Saskatchewan where famous gangsters and wild west outlaws were said to have fled to and camped in the caves to avoid the law. It's a beautiful stretch if country and definitely worth a viewing!
Greta video as always and love to see my Saskatchewan history shared to the world!
Excellent Sandy, our pleasure!
Yes, we did all 3 tours (there's a new one now) at the tunnels so will be sharing some more Moose Jaw & Canadian history in the due course. 👍🏻
@@thehistorysquad Fantastic, I don't think I know about the 3rd one, so I can't wait!
Born and raised prairie girl here. You nailed the pronunciation of Saskatchewan. Most people who aren't from here can't do it ❤ 🇨🇦 I really enjoy your videos Kevin!
Thanks Wolfie. I've been living in Toon Town for nearly 5 years so am getting the hang of it 😜
Unfortunately the Hotel Lexington is no more. But I have a wooden hanger my Dad brought home from it after a business trip to Chicago. Great video Kevin !
Thanks 👍🏻
This was so good but too short! Please do more from this era. When I saw this was about prohibition and Al Capone I had no idea it was created by History Squad. In the words of another TH-cam channel I watch a lot, “Well, I never”.
Thanks Pauline! I do have another of this era I'd like to cover early next year 👍🏻
Hey There Kevin,
My step-grandfather used to deliver newspapers to the Lexington Hotel on Al Capone's floor.
Wow, I wonder if he was ever tipped like the lad in this video. 👍🏻
I've also heard the Thompson, most beloved weapon of the allied troops in WWII, as the Chicago typewriter. Never heard it called the, "piano."
Yes apparently it has a couple of names 'piano' 'typewriter' and even 'overcoat'
The days when we had a better quality of gangster, refused to sell narcotics in his controlled areas. There is a bit of myth around his Canadian connection, honestly can't remember what that myth was, sorry. Loved this and will share it on my FB timeline, cheers Kevin!
Cheers Dan, glad you enjoyed it and as ever am grateful for your support and for sharing the vids. Have a great weekend!
My father and his 2 brothers came over from Germany in the late 20's. I am a surprise child. He used to paint speakeasy for Dutch Shultz. He would tell me a lot of stories about those days.
Loved these stories, keep them coming!
Great stuff - cheers 😊
love your content kevin!
Thanks for sharing 👍
Great video, I really enjoyed it
Great Video and fantastic Stories
Love your story telling thank you again
👍Great job again Kevin ..... Thank you
Great video very intriguing
Really nice and interesting. Thanks a lot
Another great job Kev. My wife, Tina, ordered me to write immediately and say how great it was. I wasn't about to disobey!.
Haha, always best to do what the Missus says. I do 😜
Well done Kevin. Very interesting.
Excellent little documentaries these 👍 🍻 🍻
Sir, this was very fascinating and well done, cheers!
Your big smiles just brighten my day, Kev!
Very Interesting. Thank you
'The Roaring Twenties' eh? . . . one hundred years later & we're stuck in 'The Tweeting Twenties'! Good tales, nice outfit : )
❤❤❤❤ thank you very much enjoyed this session thank you so much
So interesting to hear about this time. I was particularly tickled to hear about the tunnels. I was told, during a tour of an historical building in Poughkeepsie, NY( I had my Girl Scout troop with me), that there were indeed tunnels between the important buildings on the main drag…so that drinkers could avoid capture by any raiding police!
Once again thank you Kevin!
My pleasure 👍🏻
That was awesome!!!.. really loved it.
Cheers buddy, a change from he norm 👍🏻
I always learn something new when I catch one of your videos! Thx Sir Kevin
Oh this is great! I went here as a kid, my grandparents lived In moose jaw. Very nostalgic, thank you so much for sharing this with us!
And because you tell peoples stories, they won't be forgotten. And the word is spread across the world and not being only local stories you will only here when you go on of those tours.
Fantastic! We love your channel!
That's great to hear, thanks so much for your support and watching all these videos 👍🏻
Once again brilliant 😊
Thank you so much 😀
This is why we like you. Never know what's up next....
😜 thanks
Wow how cool! ❤
I love the local histories!
Went there! a few years ago prior covid!! Thanks for the visit, Loved Sass.
Another wonderful video I would like to go see the tunnels in I don't even change glad to see another video and I like the hat jacket
Best storytelling in the business. Cheers Kevin and Co!
Thanks Matthew!!
Lived in Saskatchewan for ten years. Loved visiting the tunnels
Great video, I had some ale watching your video!
Oooh, sounds good 👍🏻
You're good and Getting Even better. Thanks
Cheers, I appreciate that!
Unusual topic for you, but nevertheless very well presented, like always. If you want so see an excellent TV show about the Prohibtion "Boardwalk Empire" with Steve Buscemi produced by Martin Scorsese, Mark Wahlberg, Tim van Patten and many more.
How did I not know of Seagrams' Saskatchewan connection!?
Seagrams VO is my favorite whiskey.
Thanks Kevin.
Yes, I believe Seagrams had a base near Regina 👍🏻
My g-grandfather had a still in the family barn. He would have the occasional poker game with friends/family and local sheriff + deputies. The local law didn't care. They were all simple farmers and childhood friends. No one caused trouble. I have a photo somewhere where he and a friend enjoying a beer after a day's work.
How lovely 👍🏻
Very interesting, I’d never heard of moose jaw before and it’s history. Great work!
incredible stories in an incredible place
Ty Mr Hicks,
Looks like Hunting in Sasquatchewan not the only game... Seagram's mix drink I guess Al Capone back in the day must of enjoyed, maybe after his tonsils were operated on....never knew Seagram's history.. interesting and great story...
stay warm and safe..
looking forward to next cup of coffee ..
Cheers Pete 👍🏻
@@thehistorysquad
Kevin ( hard for me to call you Kevin I respect you sir.)
I am disabled ( my friends from VA n vets state it is Agent Orange...I don't know if it's true....don't care...really...but agent orange travels like Asbestos...Pop was a chief of Helicopters picking up troops in Nam...of course they were in areas affected by Agent orange....but I still love America...
Pop was instrumental n first instructors at the first Helicopter training college in Virginia near Fort Eustis....I have too much time on my hands my friend....your very much a part of my day...I wish I could come "have a tea n biscuit", with you...instead I have to keep you in my prayers n enjoy your films...
I hope u don't mind my response...don't want to bother...but I truly enjoy watching.
I use to be a taxidermist for Cabela's...n love where your living....great n beautiful as is UK...good bye for now....ty
@@petemarcantel4056 Hey Pete thank you for your kind words, I appreciate the time you give to your comment. Julie (my wife and other half of history squad) thinks the animal displays are the best part of Cabela's My daughter in law has a friend who's a taxidermist, Mike Mose here in Saskatoon. All the best for the weekend 👍🏻
That was an excellent story! You rock that hat man…
06:30 All machine guns "pull up" to some extent because of the recoil and the rifling will cause the weapon to move in the opposite direction of the rifling so a Sterling sub machine gun for example would pull up and to the right whilst being fired on automatic. A good grip and steady hold of the weapon is what is needed to counteract this but it does happen with all weapons. It's just more pronounced and more difficult to manage when a weapon is being fired on automatic because of the repeat shots causing recoil faster than you can react to it. The muzzle of the Thompson sub machine gun you are holding is fitted with a "Cutts Compensator" which was designed to mitigate or lessen the muzzle moving upwards due to recoil by directing some of the gas upwards at the muzzle end through the slots in the compensator. It reduced upwards movement by up to 45% depending on weapon it was fitted to and the ammo load.
Thank you mister Kevin.
Really. Wow.
Good videos.
Another hit, great work Kevin! Would like some more crime underworld stuff, perhaps the Kray twins?
This is a great little city, love it there. Living in S'toon, it's an easy day trip. Fascinating place thank you for telling the story so well! That bit at the end about the haunting was very good.
Great stories!!!! I saw several orb’s flying around during the episode
I live in Moose Jaw and toured the tunnels. So awesome!! You do awesome videos love your channel 😊
Thanks Sharon, glad you like them.
I also enjoy the story you are amazing guy Kevin
Great story. One point, one does not pop over to Newfoundland from PEI. There's about a 100 miles of Atlantic to cross 😁🇨🇦. A long trip for a pint lol.
Haha, be alright on a rowing boat 🤪
Great info about Al Capone ......I had never heard any of the accounts you shared. I love your stories and the background info you research and so willingly share. Thank you again!
My pleasure Janet 👍🏻
@@thehistorysquad Being in the US, my background is Welsh and German, you cover such a wide variety of historic topics that totally appeal to me! Your presentations are so well thought out and your regalia is such a great touch! I have done
Colinial Rev War living history for over 30 years so I am thrilled with what all you present. Thank you!
Thanks Janet. Interestingly, where do you get your kit from? I'm keen to get some of the gear so I can cover some of that topic. I have an early brown bess I'd like to put to good use 👍🏻@@janetbowersox83
@@thehistorysquad i have made most of mine and my ex husbands.....but there is a company call
Townsend that sell regalia. They feature different time lines. It can be pricey....but its nicely made. If you have some one you know who sews you could order patterns and have it made. If u order it premade at least you will know its out of the appropriate fabrics.
Townsends does sell fabric yardage as well. They offer linen, wool, canvas and cotton.
If u r interested in patterns I could point u in the direction of purveyors.
One would imagine Al would have gotten the pure Seagrams Whiskey, transported it to it's final destination for consumption and only there done the dilution as that would have reduced his shipping costs. Unless he was concerned about quality control.
You look very dapper, Mr.Hicks.
Thank you very much!
Lookin dangerous, Kev!
Great film Kevin. Something a little different but amazing.
Glad you think so! Thanks.
When my dad was a young boy he used to bring Al buckets of beer up to his room in the hotel. True story. Twin Lakes Wisconsin was known as little Chicago as Al and his gang would go on the lamb there.
Brilliant 👍🏻
Fun Fact
Moose Jaw is the current home of one of Canada’s favourite sons.
Burton Cummings.
He likes it because it’s the prairies without Winnipeg’s big city BS.
An interesting man indeed.
Al Capone was a man who would dress up one day santa and hand over gifts to the children in a local school and who would be arranging a hit upon a man the next.
He could be helping out locals with his connections and offering them charities, whilst merely hours later beating up his own men with a bat for disapointing him.
It is hard to say whether he was simply a hard man in a tough world doing his best and offering his help to those who were his own, his friends and his neighbours whenever he could or a complete psychopath who knew how to play others like a fiddle. Perhaps he was one of these things, perhaps both or maybe something else entirely.
it does reminds us that people are rarely as simple as we would like them to be though.