Sustain LAist today!

Your monthly gift during our June member drive powers our local newsroom.
1,535 sustainers of 2,500 goal
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Arts & Entertainment

Today's the 75th Anniversary of Repeal Day, Where Will You be Drinking?

This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.

Remember when the manufacture, sale, or transportation of alcohol was illegal? Yeah, neither do we, and thankfully so.

Around the turn of the 20th century, booze started to get a seriously bad rap as the beverage of the unsavory folk, so the 18th Amendment went into effect in 1920. While this "Noble Experiment" didn't specifically outlaw consumption, it sure as hell made it difficult to procure, and public saloons were effectively disseminated.

But one man's trouble is another man's (or mobster's) opportunity, and the rise of the speakeasy flourished in the (supposedly dry) Roaring Twenties. After being in place for more than a decade, it was finally repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933 and we became a wet country once again (Thanks, Roosevelt!).

December 5th marks the 75th anniversary of this ratification, and scotch whisky giant Dewar's has taken stewardship of the holiday by throwing a bunch of 30's-themed nights around town (fancy map courtesy of the nice folks over at Thrillist). They're providing $0.75 Dewar's drinks (yeah, you read that right - 75 cents?!) from 8-11 pm tonight - you're on your own dime (or $14 raping for a Grey Goose and soda...I mean SERIOUSLY) for other libations. If you're up to it, you can dress the part; alternatively, boas and fedoras will be provided to those early birds (and gents) at the participating bars. Stay wet!

Cole's (118 E. 6th St.; Downtown)
Golden Gopher (417 W 8th St.; Downtown)
Casey's Pub (613 S. Grand; Downtown)
Broadway Bar (830 S. Broadway; Downtown)
Redwood (316 W. 2nd St.; Downtown)
R Bar (3331 W. 8th st.; Koreatown)
4100 (4100 W. Sunset Blvd.; Silver Lake)
Bigfoot Lodge (3172 Los Feliz Blvd.; Atwater Village)
The Derby (4500 Los Feliz Blvd.; Los Feliz)
The Dresden (1760 N. Vermont; Los Feliz)
3 Clubs (1123 N. Vine St.; Hollywood)
Mandrake (2692 S. La Cienega; Culver City)

Graphic by Studio Number One

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.

Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.

If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.

Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today