Additional Coverage:
- 23 Scenes From the Wild World of Prohibition (wealthgang.com)
From hidden speakeasies to bootleggers with trunks full of contraband liquor, Prohibition was a time of rebellion and resourcefulness. The nationwide ban on alcohol couldn’t stop Americans from drinking. Instead, it fueled a shadow economy where jazz, cocktails, and crime mingled, driving the party underground.
These vintage photos capture the era’s chaotic yet glamorous side, revealing how a single law changed social interactions and the lengths people went to for a drink.
1. Last Call: Men enjoy a final drink before Prohibition begins in 1920.
2. “Lumber” Truck? A police officer’s nose leads him to inspect a suspicious truck in Los Angeles, 1926.
3. Busted! Undercover cops raid a Boston speakeasy in 1920.
4. Down the Drain: NYPD Deputy Commissioner John Leach oversees the disposal of illegal booze in 1921.
5. Loophole: One resourceful man finds a way to access wine during Prohibition.
6. Secret Stash: A female rum-runner displays her hidden cargo in 1920.
7. July 4th Protest: A parade float urges the public to “Use a Little Wine for Thy Stomach’s Sake” in 1921.
8. Temperance Strong: Women from the temperance movement deliver a powerful message in 1919.
9. Paris Celebrates: Americans in Paris revel in the end of Prohibition in 1933.
10. Back in Business: A New York City bar on the night Prohibition ended in December 1933.
11. Taking to the Streets: Protesters march with clear demands in 1931.
12. Flappers Flout the Law: Young women disregard Prohibition in 1925.
13. Bootleggers: Prohibition-era bootleggers in St. Paul, Minnesota, 1921.
14. Post-Prohibition Cheers: A flapper serves drinks after the ban is lifted.
15. Speakeasy Scene: Women enjoy drinks at a speakeasy bar during Prohibition.
16. George “Machine Gun” Kelly: FBI agents escort the notorious gangster to court in Memphis, Tennessee, 1933.
17. Secret Still: Bootleggers produce illegal liquor in 1930.
18. Ohio’s First Delivery: The first legal beer delivery in Ohio after Prohibition’s repeal in 1933.
19. Stroh’s Celebrates: Julius Stroh of the Stroh Brewing Company marks his company’s first legal pour in May 1933.
20. The Morning After: The aftermath of Prohibition’s end in 1933.
21. Farewell to the 18th Amendment: Patrons celebrate with large goblets in December 1933.
22. Hidden Flask: A flapper reveals a clever method for smuggling alcohol.
23. Mocking the Law: Partygoers toast with hidden bottles in the 1920s.
Read More About This Story:
- 23 Scenes From the Wild World of Prohibition (wealthgang.com)