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Has anyone watched that show (can't remember the name) on the History Channel where there's a group of workers who build some sort of historical building or renovation in the home or property of some history buff? It's an interesting show, and I've recently been watching some cool episodes that I had recorded on my computer. Last night I watched an episode where they built a “speakeasy” in someone's basement. While the homeowner was gone for two weeks (the wife was still at home) the workers began renovating the basement, putting in a bar, card playing area, roulette table, etc., all of which could be concealed through the help of revolving panels, flipping stuff around, and so forth. When the homeowner came home after his trip, they all surprise him with the renovation.They tried to model the speakeasy after those made in the 1920s, a few of which still survive today. They showed that in 2004, a guy in Montana broke through a wall or old door somewhere in an old building and entered a room which was a speakeasy – barricaded off from the world for some 70 years or so. Apparently this speakeasy still had things like American and National League scoreboards on the wall, a teletype machine which would receive scores over the wire, barrels for whisky (empty, unfortunately), and other things. Another speakeasy that they featured was the “21 Club” in New York, which apparently went legit after prohibition ended in 1933. Anyway, if you ever get a chance to see this show on the History Channel, you may find it to your liking, especially if you enjoy carpentry/home building.
Hey that show was on tonight, But for the life of me I cant remember the name, sorry. But they had some history on it and showed the guy who 'invented' the speakeasy, I was heading out the door when it was on, I need to check and see if it's coming on again anytime soon.
What's interesting is that there may be some speakeasies that still exist in the U.S. today, waiting to be re-discovered. If they were built in the recesses of buildings, behind walls and such, there may be more that were simply boarded up when Prohibition ended. It would be neat to hear about ones that are found.
It looks like one was discovered in Los Angeles a few years ago.
http://www.latimes.com/local/great-reads/la-me-c1-hidden-speakeasy-20141031-story.html
