In the years between 1920 and 1933, America was restricted under the 18th amendment from manufacturing, selling, and transporting alcohol, or ‘intoxicating beverages.’ 

Though it was passed with overwhelming support, Prohibition turned out to be one of the most calamitous laws in American history.
The Fullerton Museum Center’s current exhibit, “Spirited: Prohibition in America” focuses on the effects of prohibition here in Fullerton.

Museum Educator Aimee Aul is fascinated by the prohibition era.

“Fullerton was a ‘dry’ town before prohibition and for years after, if you can believe that” says Aul.  “Speakeasies did exist and can still be seen in Fullerton. The Imperial Ballroom was one”.

The exhibit opened Nov. 12 with live music, antique furniture, costumes, and a pre-Thanksgiving feast, attracting a crowd of more than 300 people.

“It was crazy,” said Aul. “Everyone dressed up in period attire. It was very well attended, not only because of the interest in the topic but also because we opened a new Fender exhibit the same night.”

The museum served to educate people on the effects of Prohibition at Speakeasy Music Night on Saturday, November 19.

The auditorium was transformed into a 1920s speakeasy bar, with costumes, snacks, and a presentation by the DixieDelics, a local dixieland band. They gave a lecture on jazz history and prohibition as well as a performance featuring music from the Prohibition era while also including renditions of more modern tunes, like the Star Wars cantina song and ‘I Wanna Be Like You’ from Disney’s The Jungle Book.

“Jazz educator Steve Kraus [DixieDelics frontman] connected the dots between the legal and cultural issues and the music of the 1920s,” said Aul. “He explained the difficult topics of jazz’s relationship to the underworld in a way that made sense and made the audience better able to appreciate the music.”

The exhibit features more programming than past exhibits due to extra funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

“This is a great example of federal tax dollars supporting local art experiences,” said Aul.

Spirited: Prohibition in America has been open to the public from Nov. 12 and will run through Jan 8. You can visit the exhibit from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.