Titanic Thompson: The Greatest Cheat of All T...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Jim McCloskey grew up in church, but by adulthood he wanted nothing to do with the faith of his childhood. He pursued the life he thought he wanted, serving in the Navy, working in Japan, and building a successful career in international b ...  Show more

On this episode of Our American Stories, on August 24, 1919, Cleveland Indians pitcher Ray Caldwell made his debut at League Park before a crowd of 20,000. In the ninth inning, with victory in sight, lightning suddenly struck the field and Caldwell himself. Fans thought he had be ...  Show more

Al Capone is one of the most notorious gangsters in US history. His story of rags to riches, set against the backdrop of the prohibition era, is worthy of the many movies that it has inspired.

Violent mobster, genius businessman or semi-professional baseball ...

The life of the gangster Al Capone could be understood as a violent expression of the American Dream. A poor kid from Brooklyn, born to immigrant parents, used his wits, fists, and a certain ruthless determination to build an empire. The underworld figure has been the fodder for ...  Show more

Get rich quick schemes have been around forever. But one con man not only made history, but became a household name. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

Earning money legally? Boooring. It's not just in the movies that you find dishonest people who will do anything to line their pockets. These crooks you're about to hear about have been making money by ripping off the world for years. Worthy of the greatest Hollywood scenarios!Bo ...  Show more