History

The Real McCoy

Pioneering rumrunner Bill McCoy fueled the Roaring ’20s by smuggling more than one million bottles of alcohol from the Caribbean to New York. This documentary recounts the maritime daring and willful defiance of the unpopular 18th Amendment that made “The Real McCoy” a household name and earned him a Robin Hood-like mystique with the American public. Presented by Connecticut Public Television.

The Real McCoy

56m 11s

Rum runner Bill McCoy, earned the name "The Real McCoy" because he always delivered uncut, undiluted gin, rum and whiskey to patrons. This "gentleman crook" fueled the Roaring 20's by smuggling more than 1 million bottles from the Caribbean to New York. The film charts McCoy’s transformation from modest boat builder to public enemy #1 with archival materials, historic re-enactments and interviews.

Episodes

  • The Real McCoy: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Real McCoy

    56m 11s

    Rum runner Bill McCoy, earned the name "The Real McCoy" because he always delivered uncut, undiluted gin, rum and whiskey to patrons. This "gentleman crook" fueled the Roaring 20's by smuggling more than 1 million bottles from the Caribbean to New York. The film charts McCoy’s transformation from modest boat builder to public enemy #1 with archival materials, historic re-enactments and interviews.

WETA Passport

Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.