Life — February 13, 1931 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Barber Who Opened a Speakeasy" This cartoon satirizes Prohibition-era speakeasies—illegal bars operating during the 1920s alcohol ban. The title suggests a barber has disguised his establishment as a front for serving drinks. The scene depicts a crowded, lively illegal bar with patrons enjoying cocktails and beer. Dialogue bubbles reference typical speakeasy offerings: "Scotch highball," "beer," and fashion advice alongside drinks—suggesting the establishments' role as social gathering spots beyond mere drinking. The man in the center (fully blackened in figure) appears to be the proprietor or a server. The casual mingling and visible alcohol bottles on shelves mock both the public's disregard for Prohibition laws and authorities' difficulty enforcing them. The cartoon satirizes how ordinary businesses circumvented Prohibition through creative disguises and community complicity.