Wild West Tech is an American television 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); his half-brother, David Carradine, took over hosting duties for season 2 onward. The show illustrates a variety of technologies used in the Wild West, and features interviews with numerous Western historians, as well as recreating versions of important events in Western history.
The series was created by Dolores Gavin 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 people developing the "soldier's 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. Code Airdate Title 1 Pilot–1 Aug 25, 2003 Outlaw Tech 2 Pilot–2 Aug 19, 2003 The Gunslingers
Season 1 No. Code Airdate Title 1 1–1 Mar 30, 2004 Cowboy Tech 2 1–2 Apr 6, 2004 Execution Tech 3 1–3 Apr 13, 2004 Military Tech 4 1–4 Apr 20, 2004 Hunting Tech 5 1–5 Apr 27, 2004 Western Towns 6 1–6 May 4, 2004 Brothel Tech 7 1–7 May 11, 2004 Native American Tech 8 1–8 May 18, 2004 Train Tech 9 1–9 May 25, 2004 Gambling Tech 10 1–10 Jun 8, 2004 Gold Rush Tech
Season 2 No. Code Airdate Title 11 2–1 Nov 9, 2004 Six–Shooter Tech 12 2–2 Nov 16, 2004 Vigilante Tech 13 2–3 Nov 23, 2004 Alamo Tech 14 2–4 Nov 30, 2004 Deadwood Tech 15 2–5 Dec 7, 2004 Massacre Tech 16 2–6 Dec 14, 2004 Biggest Machines in the West 17 2–7 Dec 21, 2004 Freak Show Tech 18 2–8 Dec 28, 2004 Disaster Tech 19 2–9 Jan 25, 2005 Shootout Tech 20 2–10 Feb 1, 2005 Saloons 21 2–11 Feb 15, 2005 Law & Order Tech 22 2–12 Feb 22, 2005 Gang Tech 23 2–13 Mar 22, 2005 The Road West 24 2–14 May 24, 2005 Civil War in the West
Season 3 No. Code Airdate Title 25 3–1 Sep 13, 2005 Revenge Tech 26 3–2 Sep 20, 2005 Freak Shows II 27 3–3 Sep 27, 2005 The Unexplained 28 3–4 Oct 4, 2005 Massacres II 29 3–5 Oct 11, 2005 Bounty Hunters 30 3–6 Oct 18, 2005 Vices 31 3–7 Nov 1, 2005 Grim Reaper 32 3–8 Nov 8, 2005 Gadgets
External links Episode guides