68 Historical Photographs That Help Us Understand What Life Was Like in the 1920s

#39: The Speakeasy Era

1918 Prohibition turned ordinary citizens into outlaws over a glass of spirits. Captured in 1920, this image reveals the clandestine charm of a speakeasy, an open secret of the era. Amidst the legal limbo, these hidden havens flourished, offering a forbidden sip of rebellion against the dry mandate.

Dubbed blind tigers or blind pigs, speakeasies became the illicit playgrounds for those daring to defy Prohibition. More than just bars, they were symbols of resistance against the ‘noble experiment’ touted by Woodrow Wilson. Frequently linked to the mob, these venues weren’t just about drinking; they were a bold statement of dissent.