. ♪ >> that is johnny depp as captain jack sparrow in pirates of the caribbean.? i looking to reboot the franchise that's already earned $4.5 billion worldwide. but the author of a new book says the real history of pirates is just as compelling as the stories on the big screen. tony dokoupil is here with more. tony, good morning. >> good morning. pirates were based in the caribbean, pirates like captain morgan, yes, that captain morgan, but they also lived throughout the american colonies. and their legacy and presence there can be felt to this day. along the waterfront in salem, massachusetts, yacht owners hoist a familiar black flag while nearby visitors linger at a museum for the men who once sailed under the skull and crossbones. >> this is the archetypal pirate, this is probably a combination of black beard and every other myth we could put together. we've got the peg leg, the hook for the hand, the eye patch. >> after years of researching, eric jay dolin has come around to a theory about why so many americans seem to love them. >> perhaps there'sing some ex