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    Back to Which Way, L.A.?

    Which Way, L.A.?

    150 Years of Oil

    Back in 1850, a group of investors in Connecticut and New York had an idea. Perhaps some of that oil oozing out of the ground in Pennsylvania could be used as a fuel, one that could replace whale oil, which was in short supply.

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    KCRW placeholderBy Judy Muller • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Back in 1850, a group of investors in Connecticut and New York had an idea. Perhaps some of that oil oozing out of the ground in Pennsylvania could be used as a fuel, one that could replace whale oil, which was in short supply. They hired a retired railroad conductor with nothing better to do and asked him to try drilling for oil the way people drilled for water. Edwin Drake surprised everyone, including himself, when he struck oil.

    Daniel Yergin has written about the first oil strike, 150 years ago this week, and its consequences in

    The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power.

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    Concierge Doctors: Primary Care and the Well-to-Do
    1. 0:00Dalai Lama's Upcoming Visit to Taiwan Provokes China
    2. 7:35Concierge Doctors: Primary Care and the Well-to-Do
    3. 41:00150 Years of OilYou’re reading this
    • KCRW placeholder

      Judy Muller

      University of Southern California

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Frances Anderton

      architecture critic and author

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Rebecca Mooney

      Producer, The Treatment

    • KCRW placeholder

      Daniel Yergin

      IHS Inc.

      News

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    Concierge Doctors: Primary Care and the Well-to-Do
    1. 0:00Dalai Lama's Upcoming Visit to Taiwan Provokes China
    2. 7:35Concierge Doctors: Primary Care and the Well-to-Do
    3. 41:00150 Years of OilYou’re reading this
    Back to Which Way, L.A.?