THE PROHIBITION TUNNELSLocation: Downtown Los Angeles, CA
Accessibility: Closed to the Public Created: Early 20th Century |
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Under the crowded, robust, and bright streets of Los Angeles are miles of service tunnels with a history filled with corruption and prohibition. During the 1920’s, a decade later dubbed “The Roaring 20’s, a movement known as the Dry Crusade began a campaign to prohibit the production and sale of alcohol. The intent was to stop family violence, political corruption, and to strengthen society.
The 18th amendment of the constitution intended to stop sale and transportation of alcohol and was later repealed by the 21st amendment after the realization that the prohibition led to a fresh crime wave that lived under the city lights in the darkness of it’s tunnels. These miles of service tunnels became passageways to speakeasies and a highway for liquor, as well as those selling it, to flow through.
One popular speakeasy was The King Eddy on 5th and Main Street. It posed as a piano store during prohibition, and still stands as a popular spot to unwind and enjoy a piece of history in Downtown. The underground tunnels of Los Angeles, not only saw corks pop off from bottles of alcohol, but the faces of mobster, including Mickey Cohen while he was on trial and stacks of cash from taxes being transported by police officers. Once a network to conceal the underbelly of crime, these tunnels are now officially closed off to the public... however, we found a way in. Watch our episode for an exclusive look at The King Eddy and the inside of the Prohibition Tunnels!
The 18th amendment of the constitution intended to stop sale and transportation of alcohol and was later repealed by the 21st amendment after the realization that the prohibition led to a fresh crime wave that lived under the city lights in the darkness of it’s tunnels. These miles of service tunnels became passageways to speakeasies and a highway for liquor, as well as those selling it, to flow through.
One popular speakeasy was The King Eddy on 5th and Main Street. It posed as a piano store during prohibition, and still stands as a popular spot to unwind and enjoy a piece of history in Downtown. The underground tunnels of Los Angeles, not only saw corks pop off from bottles of alcohol, but the faces of mobster, including Mickey Cohen while he was on trial and stacks of cash from taxes being transported by police officers. Once a network to conceal the underbelly of crime, these tunnels are now officially closed off to the public... however, we found a way in. Watch our episode for an exclusive look at The King Eddy and the inside of the Prohibition Tunnels!
