Prohibition Museum, Savannah, Georgia:
When alcohol went from savior to sinful – and back again

The entrance way immediately transforms you to the era just preceding Prohibition from 1920-1933. A larger-than-life 1918 street scene of a truck transporting alcohol being prevented from moving by an angry crowd of protesters sporting signs reading “Liquor is a curse,” “Alcohol is poison” and “Bread not beer.” The protesters somehow felt uncomfortably reminiscent of today…

Welcome to Savannah, Georgia’s Prohibition Museum, the only museum of its kind in the country, where you don’t just learn about prohibition, you actually re-live it. The visit is only one of the many enticing excursions aboard American Cruise Lines Intra-Coastal Waterway Cruise from Amelia Island, FL to Charleston, SC – also the only cruise of its kind in the country.

Back to the immersive 1920’s, famed evangelist Billy Sunday is railing against “King Alcohol,” loudly proclaiming Savannah as the wickedest city in the world. Life-size re-enactments of the many facets of prohibition from the massive attempts to rid the sinners of demon drink to the creative efforts of moonshiners to replenish the loss greet you around every corner. Political cartoons lining the walls elucidate the conflict: what caused prohibition, how people responded to it, got around it and eventually over-rode it. Vintage newsreels – for example, of a coast guard vessel chasing a rum runner boat – further bring the era to life.

As I made my way through, I was mesmerized by how clever the whole presentation was. “Moderation is the key, not prohibition,” says August Busch, of the famed Anheiser-Busch Company. Literally says! He’s just a picture on the wall before he starts talking. And then gets into a fiery debate with a lady of the Temperance League several picture frames down. They really go at it. How can you not delight in such an imaginative historical spectacle!

The 18th Amendment prevailed enabling barrel bashing and bottle breaking while the economy itself tanked. People out of jobs, taxes lost, manufacturing hobbled – pretty sobering news, I’d say… But there were those who thrived. Al Capone, for instance. Also Lucky Luciano, Bugsy Moran and their compatriots.

Observed Capone: “When I sell liquor, it’s called bootlegging; when my patrons serve it on Lake Shore Drive, it’s called hospitality.”

A separate observation came from famous raconteur Will Rogers: “During prohibition it was said tailors would ask customers what size pockets they wanted: pints or quarts. “And others found ways around the restrictions. Pharmacists issued prescriptions for liquor for “medicinal purposes.” Take three ounces every hour for stimulant until stimulated. Doctor’s Orders.

And, of course, moonshiners across the country reaped in the prophits from the grain alcohol produced secretly at night. Ergo, the famous moniker. Another of the life-size exhibits had one such backwoods culprit talking directly to us about his business. Eerie – and effective!

The tour ends at a nondescript wooden door – somewhat imposing – but what kind of Prohibition Museum would it be without a speakeasy. Immediately, you know you need a password. A knock brings a small open slit in the door with a pair of menacing, shifty eyes behind it and a growl that says, “Who sent you?” The temptation, of course, is to say, “Al did,” until you notice scratchy chalk marks close by with Al crossed out and an admonition to say Gus. So you say Gus, and the voice behind the eyes mumbles something and then says okay. And in you go. The menu includes a long list of libations famous at the time and the modern versions they most represent. I had a Mary Pickford and my husband, the much-revered prohibition Boilermaker. Apparently fancy cocktails were the norm as bartenders had to get creative in order to mask the taste of poor-quality liquor. But at least these drinks were legal!

Throughout the bar, not surprisingly, are newspaper headlines announcing the end of prohibition: Happy Days are Beer Again and Sober City Hails Liquors Return. And apparently, the ramifications of that era exist today – at least according to the museum. There’s a whole section celebrating the fact that moonshine runners were the origin of Nascar. Not entirely sure how I feel about that particular legacy….

And like every other museum tour in the world, there is a gift shop with the de rigueur t-shirts that say: “Alcohol will not solve your problems (but neither will milk)” and “Technically speaking, beer is a solution.” Some teetotalers might regret the failure of the Prohibition Era but for one, a Fireball aficionado, certainly do not. For more information, contact americancruiselines.com; americanprohibitionmuseum.com.

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QUALITY

Five years ago we bought a shiny stainless steel Whirlpool gas range. It looked robust and sparkled under the store lights. The design was solid and we thought it would last forever. Unfortunately, we were dazzled by the shell. Yesterday I had to put my handyman cap on because, after cooking our dinner, the knob of the gas range wouldn’t turn to the OFF position. I had to shut down the main gas valve, dig into my dusty toolbox and proceed to repair the appliance.

FLASHBACK
Ever since I was a child, like many curious kids, I would open up radios, TV sets, car engines, brakes, Christmas lights, computers (lots of these) … sometimes they needed fixing and other times I just wanted to see how they worked. When the internet was just starting, I was curios to see how that worked and this led me to programming as well. I’m confident that I can fix any basic logical mechanical or electrical gizmo. My parents “forced me” to fix stuff because they recognized I had that aptitude. I thought then that it was unfair that they singled me out to repair while my other siblings continued to play with their toys. In hindsight I appreciate what they did. I learned a skill. Because of them, I believe I will survive if I were ever stuck in a deserted island.

INSIDE THE BEAST
Removing the low-quality parts (the screws, springs, patented parts) of that stainless cooking monster, I realized how easily the manufacturer could have spent a few more dollars to make their product last longer. I figured that their real business model was making a ton of money through maintenance. For instance, when I got to the innards of the defective switch and considered buying a new switch online, that simple patented part cost around $60. Shock!! Even a regular screw cost $5 in their “official” website. That same screw purchased at a hardware store would have only cost 10 cents at the most. And don’t forget the real killer — $300 for labor! My advice to you (if you ever decide to repair your appliance): don’t buy from the crooked manufacturer and its subsidiaries. Youtube is full of “How to fix things” videos and in EBAY there are people selling the same parts for less than half the cost. Just make sure you research the exact part number for your particular model.

I was so mad. I wasn’t going to spend a small fortune and wait 3 days for shipping for any part. I got creative and tinkered with that stove for a few hours and I got it done. Thanks to my early training. Praise God!

QUALITY
It’s obvious — there are SALESMEN and there are CRAFTSMEN. There are manufacturers who invest/focus on the sparkle in order to sell. And there are craftsmen who go after quality rather than profit. One succeeds temporarily while the other starts a legacy. People used to laugh at Japanese products in the 50s but Japanese products have matured in quality and have been outselling American products since the 70s. We’ve all been unappreciated but let’s be patient and take pride in what we do. Let’s be craftsmen!

TGIF people!

“You can tell the passion of the HEART by the craftsmanship of the HAND.”
— Raoul Pascual

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. for sending this joke.

Video of the Week

Where’s My Donkey?
Sent by Naomi of North Hollywood,CA

When was the last time you forgot where you left your donkey? I thought so. Here’s a good tip.

WATCH VIDEO

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Heavy Thought of the Week

Sent by Tom of Pasadena, CA

Parting Shot

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. who shared this.

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