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Lost Roadhouses of Seattle
Prohibition came early to Washington State--in 1916--and kicked off an unforgettable era of nightlife.
Prohibition went national in 1920 and a network of roadside inns, taverns and dancehalls just outside of Seattle's city limits thrived well into the rockin' 1950s, providing illicit entertainment for those seeking a good time. Spurred on by early car culture and strict liquor laws, places like the Spanish Castle, The Jungle and The Black Cat sprang into being. Commonly called roadhouses, many of these remote outposts existed along two newly-built and parallel stretches of county highways - far from the prying eyes of city police. Fabled speakeasy operator, "Doc" Hamilton founded some of the earliest of these hideaways.
Join authors Peter Blecha and Brad Holden as they uncover the fascinating era of forbidden nightclubs.
Prohibition went national in 1920 and a network of roadside inns, taverns and dancehalls just outside of Seattle's city limits thrived well into the rockin' 1950s, providing illicit entertainment for those seeking a good time. Spurred on by early car culture and strict liquor laws, places like the Spanish Castle, The Jungle and The Black Cat sprang into being. Commonly called roadhouses, many of these remote outposts existed along two newly-built and parallel stretches of county highways - far from the prying eyes of city police. Fabled speakeasy operator, "Doc" Hamilton founded some of the earliest of these hideaways.
Join authors Peter Blecha and Brad Holden as they uncover the fascinating era of forbidden nightclubs.
- GenresHistory
144 pages, Paperback
Published August 15, 2022
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16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 29, 2023
Great book! I nearly read the entire thing in one sitting. Granted, it's short and has a fair number of pictures, but it's well-written and funny, and I didn't want to put it down. (A book can be short and still take weeks to be read.)
Blecha and Holden give a nice general history of Prohibition, alcohol laws, and the roadhouse phenomenon in Seattle, and spotlight a number of specific roadhouses, dine-and-dance venues, and some gambling dens in the greater Seattle area (including a chapter on locations within 15-ish miles north of the King County line, and a handful of south-of-the-city businesses).
Blecha and Holden give a nice general history of Prohibition, alcohol laws, and the roadhouse phenomenon in Seattle, and spotlight a number of specific roadhouses, dine-and-dance venues, and some gambling dens in the greater Seattle area (including a chapter on locations within 15-ish miles north of the King County line, and a handful of south-of-the-city businesses).
January 7, 2023
A fun survey of the roaring twenties and beyond in Seattle. A great compilation of pictures of people and places that not only detailed the roadhouses that sprang up during and after the Prohibition years but also the entertainers who performed at them.
December 15, 2023
Very nice collection of history, photos & information about the infamous roadhouses in the Seattle-Everett-Tacoma-Olympia-Edmonds-Bothell area in the 20th Century.
Just a great document about local history.
Just a great document about local history.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews