80 years later: The anniversary of Prohibition repeal
Many Americans today will toast the 80th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition, a 14-year ban on the sale and production of alcohol that turned booze-smuggling thugs into celebrities and otherwise law-abiding citizens into criminals.
- Celebrating the end of Prohibition on Dec. 5, 1933. (Baltimore Sun file)
- Celebrating the end of Prohibition on Dec. 5, 1933. (Baltimore Sun file)
- Celebrating the end of Prohibition on Dec. 5, 1933. (Baltimore Sun file)
- Celebrating the end of Prohibition on Dec. 5, 1933. (Baltimore Sun file)
- Celebrating the end of Prohibition on Dec. 5, 1933. (Baltimore Sun file)
- Celebrating the end of Prohibition on Dec. 5, 1933. (Baltimore Sun file)
- Loading bottle of scotch into sacks to be taken aboard sailboats bound for unidentified locations. (Baltimore Sun file/Oct. 21, 1929)
- Aza Stanton, left, and Dr. E. Irving Baumgartner symbolize the division that exists in Oakland, Garrett County. The east side of town allows the sale of liquor but the west side is dry. Beer has been legal on both sides since 1935. (A. Aubrey Bodine/Baltimore Sun/July 14, 1961)
- A taxicab driver, looking forward to a busy night as Baltimore prepared for a wide-open celebration of the coming of 1960, paused yesterday on Exeter Street, north of Lexington, and scratched his head at this 26-year-old reminder of things past, before repeal of prohibition made New Year’s drinking legal. (Baltimore Sun file)
- Inspectors discover 700 cases of whiskey in the Flora Belle tied up at the Pratt street dock. (Baltimore Sun file/Jan. 6, 1933)
- HL Mencken celebrating the end of prohibition. with Francis Jenks, James McGill, Hamilton Owens.
Here’s a look at some of the memorable Baltimore Sun photos from the beginning and end of the days of Prohibition.