Boardwalk Empire discussion
The Roaring 20s!
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How historically accurate is the show?
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The basis is fact but the story-line is fiction..
But it is well written stuff, am I right?!??!

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Thank you!!
You are right if you look at all the characters history's (real life) they are not far off base... I do not want to spoil anything but if I am right the O'Banin guy is a man to keep eyes on though out the show!!! He's a MAJOR PLAYER IN HISTORY!!! (Dutch Schultz)
New post-
Dutch Schultz(O'Banin) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Sc...
Al Capone - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Capone
Arnold Rothstein - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_R...
Joe Masseria - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Mass...
Johnny Torrio - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_T...
Meyer Lansky - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meyer_La...
Charlie "Lucky" Luciano - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_Lu...
Bugsy Seigle - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugsy_Si...
Enuch L Johnson(Nucky Thompson) -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enoch_L....
That's all I got for now. Hope it helps
I think Chalky White is supposed to be a Bumpy Johnson type
Bumpy Johnson - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumpy_Jo...
And I think the good Dr.(if you can call him a Dr.) is a
Prophet Elijah Mohammed type. ( I put prophet for respect to his title,not because I belive it...)
Prophet Elijah Mohammad - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah_M...
Anyone else have a guess who is who?!?!?!
I would love to hear other opinions!

No problem hope it helps anyone thinking about who's who...
How much has knowing the history behind it effected you as you watch the show? Has it ruined plot lines or helped make them more exciting?

I've always been a big history buff, particularly from the late 1800s through the mid 1900s. Many of these historical figures fit into that time frame effortlessly and I love seeing what they go on to accomplish (or not accomplish, in the case of unfortunate early deaths).
I definitely grew to love many characters on Boardwalk. It's even better when I can then go outside the show and access so much more about these people whose lives fascinate me.
And yes, they do deviate from actual events. There was never any bad blood between Charlie and AR, for instance. So while I do find the history is enriching, it's important to bear in mind that Boardwalk Empire is a piece of historical fiction. The character may have been a real person, but they aren't producing a biopic of that person. They're telling a largely fictional story, with history neatly woven into that.
It can also be really assuring, when one of your favorites is a historical character, because you know their exact date of death and you don't have to worry about anything happening to them (or even if they do have a rapidly approaching date of death, you know to prepare yourself).
oh wow, thanks for sharing Emeline! Great point about getting read about your favorite characters too. I think they do a great job of weaving the fiction into the history.
Of course there are some exaggerations and some made-up characters that add to the story as well. Do you think this adaptation does the real-life gangsters justice?
What do you know about the similarities?
Check out Wired's TV Fact-Checkers article, the Quora topic on it, Fact and Fiction in a Tale of Two Nuckys, and the Boardwalk Empire historical figures Wiki page.