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Curious City

A Shot Of History: Ingredients Of The Chicago Speakeasy

Curious City

WBEZ Chicago

Society & Culture, Education, Public, Chicago, Arts, City, Radio, Curious, Investigation

4.8642 Ratings

🗓️ 7 August 2014

⏱️ 13 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The faux speakeasy is popping up everywhere these days, but what made the original Prohibition saloon work?

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome to Curious City, where we answer your questions about Chicago, the region, or its people.

0:08.5

I'm reporter Chris Bentley, and this week, well, this week's episode is brought to you by the letter B, for booze, bootlegging, and brawls.

0:17.0

Just ahead, we crack open two history stories involving Chicago's stumbly relationship to alcohol.

0:25.8

Curious City on WBEZ is supported by Old Town School of Folk Music, with new class sessions on guitar, banjo, singing, and more.

0:33.8

Classes available for beginners, advanced, adults, and kids. More at OldtownSchool.org.

0:38.8

And support comes from the University of Chicago Gram School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies Editing Certificate Program.

0:45.1

There's an online information session, August 13th. Details are available at gram school.uschicago.edu.

0:52.9

Who is the...

0:53.5

What is going to be? When were... Where do I... Why is it. Who's the... What is going to be? When we're...

0:55.0

Where do I...

0:56.0

Why is it?

0:57.0

What is the...

0:58.0

I'm Chris Bentley and welcome to Curious City,

1:00.0

where we serve up answers to the questions you order.

1:06.0

If you're fond of fine cocktails,

1:08.0

maybe you've been to one of those new bars with an old style, a modern

1:12.1

speakeasy. No sign, no windows, a hushed vibe, a general air of exclusivity. For example,

1:19.6

there's the Violet Hour in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. You just have to know where to enter.

1:24.3

The faux speakeasy is a popular style these days, but what were Chicago's original,

1:28.8

authentic speakeasies like, the ones from the days of Al Capone? We got a question along

1:33.9

those lines from Virginia native Elena Hajie Michael.

1:36.7

Where were there speakeas in Chicago and why were these buildings particularly well

...

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