I recently had the pleasure of eating at a restaurant called Blind Pig. The food was tasty, and the atmosphere was cozy. After some inquiring, the owner explained he was fascinated by the prohibition era. The building we were in was rumored to be a speakeasy during that time. Hence the name Blind Pig. Prohibition stories are so intriguing, the emotions were running wild and each side was doing anything and everything to win. Times were hard, and the fight was dirty. From all the stories I've heard, though, I've never encountered the word blind pig. Commence internet search.
Interesting Terminology The word speakeasy came about when counties became dry (no alcohol allowed), and those who went into an establishment to drink would ask if they could drink in a secret room. Sometimes the whole establishment was the secret room. They had to request entrance in a soft tone; they had to speak easy. These establishments were nicknamed speakeasies. In areas where liquor could be consumed but not sold, establishments became creative and would charge its customers to see an "attraction," usually a pig, but could be other farm animals. The customers were charged to see the pig and given a complimentary drink. Although the article from Drinking Cup states that the word Blind Pig originated from someone showing an actual blind pig, I wonder if the "blind" part continued because it was a hush hush situation, and if anyone asked, you saw nothing. Funny Story Excerpt from the article Speakeasies and Blind Pigs: The influence of the illicit prohibition bar by Drinking Cup: In 1928, Detroit Police raided a popular high-class speakeasy known as the Deutsches Haus located on the corner of Mack and Maxwell. Included in the bust was their local Detroit Mayor John Smith, Michigan Congressman Robert Clancy, and resident Sheriff Edward Stein. Going to trial didn't guarantee a conviction. The previous year in the San Francisco law court, the case of a local hotel clerk who had been caught selling prohibited liquors had to be acquitted after nine members of the jury drank the incriminating evidence. After being themselves charged for "Breach of Conduct," the jury simply argued that they were determining whether or not the evidence contained alcohol…it did. The unexpected This was such a heated time, evoking hostile emotions and convictions from every direction. Prohibition sparked several changes. Women, during this era, were not allowed to drink in public, and segregation was still a horrible law. When the liquor was flowing behind many of these closed doors, none of that mattered. Men and women of different races came together to drink, dance, and have a good time. This may have been a temporary change back then, but what a wonderful one while it lasted. These "closed doors" also allowed gangsters to position themselves in the middle of all the money. Rum running and other bootlegging of alcohol became very common and very profitable. This created its own set of problems with violence and other illegal activities. The 16th amendment was ratified, allowing income tax collection by the Federal Government. If America was going to ban a substance that generated a ton of excise tax, they had to create another revenue stream; income tax. References http://www.drinkingcup.net/speakeasies-blind-pigs-influence-illicit-prohibition-bar/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n-s77FFgX4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ynk6uD78tI&t=318s Your characters are in a county that is dry, and although they can consume alcohol, it cannot be sold legally. Create a brief character profile for eight people. One person needs to be the owner of an establishment that uses a pig for an attraction while giving complimentary drinks. One person is the lawful authority, and one is the judge. Those that are left are divided; some people are for prohibition, and the rest are against it. Write a short story where this entire group is in one room, arguing in front of the judge. Happy Writing! Dusty