How did the Untouchables (1959-1963) were able to air on TV back then?

Mr. Smartypants

It was on later at night where supposedly kids wouldn't see it. It talked about heroin and prostitution but you never actually saw them on screen. It was just assumed that people would know what those things were.

Midnight Run

The standards you describe were not part of the mindset of Americans in those days. In today's world where everyone is offended by everything, political correctness has been established to censor and insulate people from events of everyday life. It's interesting to note that in those days, there were government agencies like the FCC that controlled the explicitness of entertainment. There were ratings like "G". "PG", "R", and "X" on movies that were strictly enforced - TV shows were also more closely monitored. In the 1930s and 40s, you couldn't show even a man and wife in the same bed, and one always had to have at least one foot on the floor. Blood and gore were a part of everyday life - there was no need to censor them. Back in those days, there was such a thing as "real" newspaper reporters, and newspapers competed for your business. It was not unusual to see a dead body and all its blood and guts on the front page. Today they censor that kind of stuff because "it offends so many people". What they're actually doing is censoring the truth, and this is why so many people today can't face reality. The freedom like back in the 1950s and earlier can be compared to the difference between being in a smokey room or stepping outside for a breath of fresh air. Today's political correctness is suffocating the world and everyone in it - they're dying a slow death.

PAMELA

Because the series was set in the 20's they got away with a bit more blood and guts.

Anonymous

The show was just propaganda for the FBI, Elliot Ness in reality did very little to break up the mob and he ended up a drunk, he was not the hero portrayed on the show.

ꀘꍟꍟᖘꀤꈤꁅ ꀤ꓄ ꍏ꒒ꀤᐯꍟ ❤️

It probably escaped prohibition (lol), as it was used as Law Enforcement propaganda, like The F.B.I (1965) was for the F.B.I.