Speakeasies, which were the bane of law enforcement officials around the United States, are one of the most interesting items that existed during Prohibition.  The speakeasy was the liquor shop of the Prohibition era and provided alcohol to the masses for somewhat low prices.  A speakeasy was a bar that remained open during Prohibition.  They were not out in the open, as they were illegal and usually run by a gang or mob, but were easy enough to find.  While it may have been easy to find a speakeasy, getting in was impossible if you didn’t know anything about it.  Each speakeasy devised its own method of choosing who got to enter.  These included codes, passwords, and secret handshakes.

Speakeasies were extremely popular during the Prohibition era.  Before Prohibition, there were about 16,000 saloons in New York City alone.  In the years after the 18th amendment was ratified and the Volstead Act was passed, the number of speakeasies in New York City was between 30,000 and 100,000.

A speakeasy was not restricted to being a bar, and usually contained at least one brothel, gambling den, or drug dealer.  These combinations made for popular venues around the cities of America and many were disguised as nightclubs, where the patrons could dance, drink, and spend a night of pleasure with “woman” of his choice.   All in all, the speakeasy was the central piece in the jigsaw puzzle of the Prohibition underworld.