Risky Ways Oklahomans Snuck Alcohol During Prohibition

Americans have always loved their alcohol, especially when told they can't have it. During the Prohibition days, people simply got more creative with how they produced, transported and kept their prized jack and bourbon.

Speakeasies and Bootleggers

According history.com, "Prohibition was more popular in rural areas rather than the cities." However, deep in the underground of cities lied secret passages to hidden illegal bars and lounges that required a secret passcode to be "spoken easy" or softly in order to enter, hence the name "speakeasy." Although we no longer live in a Prohibition, we've still continued the thrill of searching for hidden secrets and have different speakeasies across the state, a list of which can be found here.

Bootleggers also came out from this event in history. While transporting bottles of liquor, they obviously couldn't just hide them in their pockets. Instead, they stowed them away in their boots, which is where the name "bootlegger" was coined. Nowadays, we refer to a "bootlegger" as someone who sells illegal goods, not just alcohol.

Hidey-Holes and Secret Furniture

When you're hiding things, you have to get creative and learn to hide things in plain sight. Learn where others will predict and think ahead. That's why people who turn their normal furniture and objects, like lamps and books, into secret flasks and storage spaces. One that is still sold to this day is the hollow flask, pictured above.

Take to the Skies

One of Oklahoma's most infamous bootleggers, Lindsey Chambless, was one of the only booze-dealers that used planes to transport his goods. In an incident where he was almost caught, historians noted "Oklahoma County officers got a tip that a plane carrying whiskey was flying into Tulakes Airport in Bethany. Chambless arrived to wait for the plane, along with an accomplice, William Jefferson Hutto.  According to police, Chambless learned of the stakeout by listening to the Highway Patrol wavelength on his radio and ran onto the airfield to wave the plane off." After keeping the plane from landing, officials were only able to charge Chambless without proper license tags.

There were several ways Oklahomans kept their alcohol hidden away, although we've always been considered a "dry" state. How do you think you'd hide yours if we were to enter a present day Prohibition? Tell us your thoughts by messaging us on the app:

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