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City Speakeasies -- 1920 to 1933
Posted by:
nordsider
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: October 06, 2013 07:26PM
I've read, that Chicago had, during Prohibition, some twenty thousand saloons that remained in business. My great uncle was an owner of a saloon located at 1600 Wells St., in 1918. However, in the 1920 Census he is listed as a proprietor of a cafe, without an address given. What I know about his personal life is only what I've been able to glean from genealogical research, but I wondered if in 1920, when Prohibition was enacted, whether his cafe was in reality one of the many thousands of speakeasies.
I have also read of two Prohibition era speakeasies, that existed in my old neighborhood in Lincoln Park; one that was well known and located at Willow and Howe streets; and the other, at Halsted and Willow.
I wonder if anyone has a story, handed down from relatives, that lived in that 20s and early 30s era, about speakeasies in Chicago . . . I would be most interested.
I have also read of two Prohibition era speakeasies, that existed in my old neighborhood in Lincoln Park; one that was well known and located at Willow and Howe streets; and the other, at Halsted and Willow.
I wonder if anyone has a story, handed down from relatives, that lived in that 20s and early 30s era, about speakeasies in Chicago . . . I would be most interested.
Re: City Speakeasies -- 1920 to 1933
Posted by:
b.a.hoarder
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: October 06, 2013 08:25PM
I'm plugging this in from an earlier thread-
Posted by: b.a.hoarder ()
Date: November 16, 2010 07:54PM
My grandparents had a tavern on the NW corner of 25th & Rockwell during that time and according to my dad their bar became a "tea house". Apparently the locals would gather for a spot of tea, but of course they also had the stuff everyone was really after. There was a Sgt. on the police force that was the bagman for whoever it was that got the payoffs that kept the heat off. Also, according to family lore Luther St. (2442 S. from 2600 to 2658 W.) was known as Moonshine Alley, with many on the street making 'shine. Berwyn Frank, have you ever heard this about Luther St.
Posted by: b.a.hoarder ()
Date: November 16, 2010 07:54PM
My grandparents had a tavern on the NW corner of 25th & Rockwell during that time and according to my dad their bar became a "tea house". Apparently the locals would gather for a spot of tea, but of course they also had the stuff everyone was really after. There was a Sgt. on the police force that was the bagman for whoever it was that got the payoffs that kept the heat off. Also, according to family lore Luther St. (2442 S. from 2600 to 2658 W.) was known as Moonshine Alley, with many on the street making 'shine. Berwyn Frank, have you ever heard this about Luther St.
Re: City Speakeasies -- 1920 to 1933
Posted by:
Richard Stachowski
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: October 06, 2013 09:03PM
[b]If you look up in Polk's 1928 chicago street directory you will see most of the old taverns listed as Soft Drinks. Look up your local tavern if it's old.[/b]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/2013 05:13PM by Richard Stachowski.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/2013 05:13PM by Richard Stachowski.
Re: City Speakeasies -- 1920 to 1933
Posted by:
nordsider
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: October 13, 2013 04:04PM
deleted
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/15/2013 09:11AM by nordsider.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/15/2013 09:11AM by nordsider.
Re: City Speakeasies -- 1920 to 1933
Posted by:
nordsider
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: October 14, 2013 07:50PM
deleted
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/15/2013 09:11AM by nordsider.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/15/2013 09:11AM by nordsider.
Re: City Speakeasies -- 1920 to 1933
Posted by:
Fscott
(198.161.141.---)
Date: January 04, 2015 09:27PM
My grandfather operated one at 33rd and Troop in Bridgeport, across from "bubbly creek".
It had a phone booth at the back where one wall of the booth had a spring hinge that was a secret door to let you into the speak in the back.
Dad and Auntie's told me the story of riding with their father in a big old Cadillac on Sunday's down to Capone's still to pick of five gallon cans of moon shine that were hidden in the floorboards. The kids on Sunday out for a drive was the cover.
My Dad took that booth with him when he opened another place on Archer av a few miles south. I loved playing in it as a kid.
My Aunt operated the place in Bridgeport for many years as a well known local tavern/restaurant.
It had a phone booth at the back where one wall of the booth had a spring hinge that was a secret door to let you into the speak in the back.
Dad and Auntie's told me the story of riding with their father in a big old Cadillac on Sunday's down to Capone's still to pick of five gallon cans of moon shine that were hidden in the floorboards. The kids on Sunday out for a drive was the cover.
My Dad took that booth with him when he opened another place on Archer av a few miles south. I loved playing in it as a kid.
My Aunt operated the place in Bridgeport for many years as a well known local tavern/restaurant.
