Ep 12. Wildcatter: a Story of Texas Oil

In season 2 episode 12 of American Experience, viewers are taken on a journey through the early days of the Texas oil boom through the eyes of a wildcatter named Hugh Roy Cullen. Born in 1881, Cullen began his career selling groceries and became involved in the oil industry after meeting a successful oilman named Joseph Cullinan. After working for Cullinan's company for several years, Cullen decided to strike out on his own and formed his own oil company in 1920.

The episode explores the risks and rewards of being a wildcatter in Texas during the 1920s and 30s. At the time, the oil industry was largely unregulated and wildcatters like Cullen were willing to take enormous risks to drill for oil in unproven areas. The episode shows how Cullen and his team used seismographs and other technology to scan the land for potential oil deposits, often setting up drilling rigs in remote and dangerous areas.

One of the challenges facing early oil companies was how to transport the oil from the well to the refinery, as there were few pipelines in place at the time. Cullen came up with a novel solution to this problem: he hired his own railroad and began transporting his oil in specially designed tank cars. This allowed him greater flexibility in where he could drill for oil and gave him an advantage over his competitors.

As the episode unfolds, viewers see how Cullen's company grew and became one of the most successful oil companies in Texas. Cullen himself became one of the state's wealthiest men, and his philanthropic efforts helped to shape Houston's cultural landscape.

However, the episode also explores the darker side of the oil industry and the impact it had on the environment and the people of Texas. As more and more oil companies rushed to drill for oil, the state's pristine landscapes were destroyed and many of its citizens were left struggling to make a living after oil prices crashed in the 1930s.

Overall, Wildcatter: a Story of Texas Oil offers a fascinating look at a pivotal era in American history and sheds light on the individuals and companies that played a major role in shaping the modern oil industry. Through the lens of Hugh Roy Cullen's life and career, viewers gain a deeper understanding of the complex and often contradictory forces at play in the early days of the Texas oil boom.