Part 2 of this Ken Burns’ production examines the problems of enforcement, as millions of law-abiding Americans become lawbreakers overnight

The Prohibition “A Nation of Scofflaws” airs Friday, September 12 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

On January 16, 1920, the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution goes into effect, making it illegal to manufacture, transport or sell intoxicating liquor. Episode Two, A Nation of Scofflaws, examines the problems of enforcement, as millions of law-abiding Americans become lawbreakers overnight. While a significant portion of the country is willing to adapt to the new law, others are shocked at how inconsistent the Volstead Act actually is. Many had believed that light beer would still be available, but the Act defines “intoxicating beverages” as anything containing a half of one percent of alcohol. Under these draconian terms, even sauerkraut is illegal.

Exceptions and loopholes in the law make a mockery of it: a family can legally make wine at home but not beer, a friendly doctor’s prescription is all that’s needed for whiskey, and anyone claiming to be a rabbi can buy, and sell, “sacramental” wine.

**********************

Episode 3: A Nation of Hypocrites airs Friday, September 19 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV
In the mid 1920s, an unprecedented winning streak continues on Wall Street, and it feels to many like the good times will go on forever. Americans during the Jazz Age, writes F. Scott Fitzgerald, are “a whole race gone hedonistic, deciding on pleasure.” Prohibition, with its moralistic underpinnings, begins to feel anachronistic at best. In Episode 3, A Nation of Hypocrites, support for the law diminishes as the playfulness of sneaking around for a drink gives way to disenchantment with its glaring unintended consequences.

Episode 1: A Nation of Drunkards, aired Friday, September 5 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV
Americans have argued over alcohol for centuries. Since the early years of the American Republic, drinking has been at least as American as apple pie.
As Episode 1: A Nation of Drunkards begins, clergymen, craftsmen and canal-diggers drink. So do the crowds of men who turn out for barn-raisings and baptisms, funerals, elections and public hangings. Tankards of cider are kept by farmhouses’ front doors, and in many places alcohol is considered safer to drink than water. Alcohol, along with its attendant rituals and traditions, is embedded in the fabric of American culture.

In this 30th anniversary special, gain access to some of America’s best railway adventures, from the Rocky Mountaineer to the Skyrail as they offer a glimpse into our nation’s legacy of railroad that rewrote the history of transportation and defined the spirit of North America.

Great Scenic Railway Journeys 30th Anniversary Special airs Friday, September 5 at 4 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

Hop aboard the Rocky Mountaineer for unparalleled views of the American west with vista dome cars, tour the legendary Canadian rail line spanning from the Atlantic to the Pacific with non-stop views of the country’s majestic scenery, or head back in time to 1872 with the East Broad Top railway of Pennsylvania. This special also takes viewers on a breathtaking journey by steam along the ocean’s edge with the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, a quaint tour through Pennsylvania on the Reading Blue Northern Railroad that includes a stop at Jim Thorpe, PA, and a scenic ride on the Potamic Eagle Scenic Railway with fantastic views of bald eagles in nature.

Photo: A man taking pictures of a scenic ride from a train.
Credit: American Public Television.

Determined to hold major pharmaceutical companies accountable, West Virginian attorney Paul Farrell takes an unprecedented step by filing a civil suit in his county, aiming to secure justice for those suffering from addiction.

The Bitter Pill airs Monday, September 22 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

When attorney Paul Farrell Jr. takes on pharmaceutical giants to help his opioid-ravaged West Virginia hometown, his innovative legal strategy gains traction. As his local battle transforms into the largest civil litigation in U.S. history, he must navigate increasingly high stakes to secure justice—not just for his community, but for an entire nation in crisis.

Photo: Paul Farrell Jr. typing on a keyboard.
Provided by PBS

Discover the visionary world of legendary African American painter and philosopher Dewey Crumpler as he connects the slave trade to modern globalization and demonstrates what it means to be a working artist with a conscience in today’s society.

Post Atlantic: The Art of Dewey Crumpler airs Thursday, September 18 at 10:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

Artist Dewey Crumpler’s beautiful, often abstract paintings explore slavery, Black liberation, globalization, and pop culture. A crucial figure in the Black Arts Movement, Dewey challenges orthodoxies, exclusions, and foregone conclusions. This documentary offers viewers an intimate portrait of a working artist in his studio, at home, at the Oakland port, and at a recent high-profile opening at a New York gallery.

Photo: Dewey Crumpler sitting in front of his painting
Provided by APT

This heartwarming program sheds light on the incredible bond between guide dogs and their owners, highlighting the vital role these dogs play in the lives of those with visual impairments.

The Secret World of Guide Dogs With Martin Clunes airs Thursday, September 4 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

This film accompanies Martin Clunes (Doc Martin) after he adopts Laura, a retired black Labrador guide dog. Exploring the history of guide dogs, from the first four trained in 1931 to the current process used at Britain’s best-loved charity, this film follows all the ups and downs of the serious and challenging responsibility of preparing each dog for this daunting role.

Photo: Martin Clunes with Jaina Mistry and four guide dogs surrounding them.
Credit: American Public Television.