The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

According to BBC Radio 3, today is the 100th anniversary of the introduction of Prohibition in the USA, which proved to be a bonanza for organised crime.

To mark the occasion I will be playing "Hello Montreal" by Ted Lewis and "Simon the Bootlegger" by Flotsam and Jetsam, both on the Columbia label. Needless to say, I will be enjoying a glass of strong liquor while I listen.

I must also get round to watching my new DVD box set of "Boardwalk Empire" which commences at that very time 100 years ago. With a total running time of over 50 hours, the long winter evenings should be fully occupied for quite a while.

What will you be playing today?

So many to choose from....I think I'll pull out the Irving Aaronson DD of "Just A Little Drink".

A word about "Boardwalk Empire", it was absolutely wonderful and highly addicting! Be sure to pay close attention and don't have too many glasses of rot gut while you watch or you'll need to go back and re-watch! I speak from experience...ahem. I enjoyed it so much, I've seen each twice and will be going for a third run through again this winter. It really is just that good.

Enjoy!

Sean

Here's a past thread about prohibition songs:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=38677&hilit=prohibition+london

My favorite is Billy Murray singing "How are You Going to Wet Your Whistle (when the whole world goes dry)"

. . . and leave us not forget, "I Faw Down 'An Go Boom."

I'm partial to Shilkret and the Victor Orchestra's "Bottoms Up!" but that seems to have more to do with getting blotto than Prohibition. It's likely also a decade late for our purposes. Incidentally, to my ear, this is actually The High Hatters including a Frank Luther vocal.

There's a line in "Crazy Rhythm" that goes

What's the use of Prohibition
You produce the same condition
Crazy rhythm I've gone crazy, too!

"Alcoholic Blues," Billy Murray, 1919

"What-cha Gonna Do When There Ain't No Jazz," Esther Walker, 1924

Here is a pretty fun picture of Ernest Hare that has a definite prohibition theme.

He's trying to keep from laughing but it's not working. Ernest Hare was a funny guy.

The Happiness Boys are like nothing else, and I'm pretty sure they were definitely glad when the Act was repealed.