Wild West Tech

Wild West Tech is a program that aired on The History Channel in the United States from 2003 to 2005. The show was originally hosted by Keith Carradine (2003–04), but his half-brother, David Carradine, took over hosting duties for season 2 and subsequent seasons. The show illustrates a variety of technologies used in the Wild West, and features interviews with numerous Western historians, as well as re-creating versions of important events in Western history.

Wild West Tech
StarringKeith Carradine (season 1)
David Carradine (seasons 2 and 3)
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes34
Production
Running time60 minutes
Release
Original networkThe History Channel
Original releaseAugust 19, 2003 (2003-08-19) –
November 8, 2005 (2005-11-08)

The series was created by Dolores Gavin (History Channel) and supervising producer Louis Tarantino.

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 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 at 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 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 viewers that heroin, along with other drugs, was only criminalized in the United States 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.

Episode guide

Two pilot episodes were produced, hosted by Keith Carradine, to help sell the History Channel on the concept of the series. Seasons 2 and 3 were hosted by David Carradine.

Pilots
No.CodeAirdateTitle
1Pilot–1Aug 25, 2003Outlaw Tech
2Pilot–2Aug 19, 2003The Gunslingers

Season 1
No.CodeAirdateTitle
11–1Mar 30, 2004Cowboy Tech
21–2Apr 6, 2004Execution Tech
31–3Apr 13, 2004Military Tech
41–4Apr 20, 2004Hunting Tech
51–5Apr 27, 2004Western Towns
61–6May 4, 2004Brothel Tech
71–7May 11, 2004Native American Tech
81–8May 18, 2004Train Tech
91–9May 25, 2004Gambling Tech
101–10Jun 8, 2004Gold Rush Tech

Season 2
No.CodeAirdateTitle
112–1Nov 9, 2004Six–Shooter Tech
122–2Nov 16, 2004Vigilante Tech
132–3Nov 23, 2004Alamo Tech
142–4Nov 30, 2004Deadwood Tech
152–5Dec 7, 2004Massacre Tech
162–6Dec 14, 2004Biggest Machines in the West
172–7Dec 21, 2004Freak Show Tech
182–8Dec 28, 2004Disaster Tech
192–9Jan 25, 2005Shootout Tech
202–10Feb 1, 2005Saloons
212–11Feb 15, 2005Law & Order Tech
222–12Feb 22, 2005Gang Tech
232–13Mar 22, 2005The Road West
242–14May 24, 2005Civil War in the West

Season 3
No.CodeAirdateTitle
253–1Sep 13, 2005Revenge Tech
263–2Sep 20, 2005Freak Shows II
273–3Sep 27, 2005The Unexplained
283–4Oct 4, 2005Massacres II
293–5Oct 11, 2005Bounty Hunters
303–6Oct 18, 2005Vices
313–7Nov 1, 2005Grim Reaper
323–8Nov 8, 2005Gadgets

Trivia

The History Channel sometimes airs re-edited versions of the episodes to fill odd bits of time on the schedule; these 30 minute versions feature no new content.

There is a video that documents how Keith lost the show to David in a poker game that appears at the beginning of episode 2–1.

Shortly before leaving the show, Keith Carradine grew a mustache for his role in the TNT production of Monte Walsh.

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