Through an exploration of Los Angeles’ theatres and tunnels, we’ve come to the conclusion that speakeasies may have existed in downtown Los Angeles during Prohibition. Due to the placement of tunnels around the downtown area, paired with the evidence we were able to collect, we can at least acknowledge that both theatres and speakeasies played important roles in entertaining the public during Prohibition. Whereas theatres were places for literal entertainment and introduced some of the very first movie palaces to downtown Los Angeles, speakeasies provided an entirely different method of entertainment using alcohol as a means of defying the law. In today’s world, theatres still maintain their grasp on entertainment, and flourish as homes to Broadway productions, plays, musicals, and various film screenings. Likewise, speakeasies, and their counterparts, bars, contribute to most of Los Angeles’ nightlife. Seeing as both theatres and speakeasies were such homes for entertainment, during Prohibition and present times, it isn’t entirely ridiculous to assume some relationship between the two. Although speakeasies being housed in theatre basements are oftentimes purely speculation, there were speakeasies around the theatres (as seen in our CARTO map). Patrons could have very well visited a speakeasy before or after viewing a production in one of downtown’s many beautiful theatres. 

 

When looking for evidence, it was quite difficult to find information confirming theatres were speakeasies considering the time frame we were looking at. For example, there was no public crime data that was specifically associated with theatres. Several sources mentioned the idea of speakeasies but showed no conclusive evidence during that time period. Since speakeasies were illegal during the Prohibition period, how people knew about these speakeasies, exactly which entrances and exits were used, and generic information about the establishments remain unknown. It was also difficult to discover where tunnels were, because, although we were able to find information about more well-known tunnels, it was extremely difficult to find smaller tunnels.

 

We were able to tour the Globe theatre and personally ask the current manager whether the theatre had any tunnels. The manager mentioned that there were no existing tunnels within the Globe but did show us the very interesting underground area known as Wanderlust, a place where booze very well could have been held. While touring, we could see the distinct graffiti and artworks on the walls. As for the columns and architecture near the stage area, it was very intriguing to see how the material is durable and still intact. We were not able to tour other theatres so it continues to be unknown exactly the path of these tunnels, if any, connected to theatres.