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Tag: prohibition

Bootleggers and Bohemians: The Defiant Nightlife of Greenwich Village During Prohibition

Enacted into law in October 1919, the Volstead Act took effect January 16, 1920, enforcing the then-newly established 18th Amendment and thereby prohibiting the manufacture and distribution of alcoholic beverages. Now known as Prohibition, this era of federally-mandated teetotalism lasted thirteen years, only to be repealed in 1933 by the ratification of the 21st Amendment, […]

    The Stories of South Village Speakeasies

    On July 31, 1923, The New York Times published an article sounding the alarm about an existential threat to the bohemian life of Greenwich Village—Prohibition. The Federal Prohibition Director had initiated an injunction against seven restaurants and bars in the South Village that were repeatedly violating Prohibition laws by serving alcohol. Prohibition agents had quietly […]

      Why Isn’t This Landmarked?: New York Woman Suffrage League Headquarters at 10 East 14th Street

      Part of our blog series Why Isn’t This Landmarked?, where we look at buildings in our area we’re fighting to protect that are worthy of landmark designation but somehow aren’t. Women have not always had the right to vote in New York State. In fact, the battle to grant suffrage to women took decades, and faced much […]

      The Pepper Pot Inn, “The Realest Thing in Bohemian Atmosphere”

      When searching through the chronicles of Greenwich Village history, some things almost seem too Village-y to be true, with all their quirky details and theatrical anecdotes. A prime example: The Pepper Pot Inn at 146 West 4th Street, a 1920s multi-level restaurant that became a sensation. Purchased in 1918 by Carlyle “Doc” Sherlock and his […]

        Hair-of-the-Dog Blog Posts from 2018

        Happy New Year and welcome to 2019! Perhaps you welcomed in the new year a bit ‘robustly’ last night.  In that spirit, we thought we’d look at a few posts from this past year about the free flow of alcohol.  So put a cold compress on your head, grab your coffee, put your feet up […]

          Prohibition Hits The Village

          There have been a handful of times in this country when the outcome of a political campaign was truly stunning. Such was the case in 1919 when several groups known as the “Drys” won a 70 year campaign to prohibit the production, sale, and distribution of alcohol.  The 18th Amendment abolished booze in on January […]

          When Sundays Ran Dry

          On March 23, 1896, a law introduced by New York State Senator John Raines was passed by the state legislature, making the sale of liquor illegal on Sundays, except at hotels. The law defined a hotel as a place that served food and had at least 10 rooms to let, so rather than shut down, […]

          The South Village and Prohibition

          On July 31, 1923, the New York Times featured an article about an injunction against seven places of business located in the South Village that served alcohol against the strictures of the Volstead Act, or Prohibition. The article refers to “anti-Bohemian” sentiment by neighbors resulting in tip-offs to the authorities about the  speakeasies. As GVSHP […]

          Before the 21 Club: Greenwich Village Speakeasies

          On this day, January 16, in 1919, Prohibition took effect, prohibiting the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes.”  Today, the Prohibition speakeasy has become a novelty in New York City.  Countless new bars and restaurants spring up in “hidden” locations and seek to embody the old-time spirit of these illegal establishments.  […]

          Prohibition is Back

          Right around this time last year, we were more than excited by the filming of Boardwalk Empire at nearby restaurant John’s of 12th Street (check out photos from the filming HERE).  So we were thrilled last week when EV Grieve alerted us that the prohibition-era mob show would be back .  Today the HBO series […]

          Prohibition Revisits the East Village

          Get out your trilby hats and flapper dresses- Boardwalk Empire, the HBO Prohibition-era mob drama, is filming right here on East 12th Street and 2nd Avenue at John’s Italian Restaurant.  Set in Atlantic City, the series often departs to New York to check in with Jewish mob boss Arnold Rothstein and his then-“employee” Sicilian-American gangster […]