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Post by Admin on Dec 20, 2013 12:41:42 GMT -5
As the holiday season arrives, I'm reminded of the rural South during the 30's, 40's and into the 50's. Most of the rural South was "dry", meaning you couldn't legally buy any alcohol (other than beer) without traveling to a large city where liquor stores were allowed. I remember Daddy would go to the local "bootlegger" around this time of year to purchase his pint of Christmas spirits! smiley-laughing024 The local law enforcement (sheriff) knew where the bootleggers lived, but chose to let them exist for the benefit of the drinking public, along with the knowledge that if they did arrest them, there would always be a loop-hole that would let them off the hook. Then there were, of course, those who made their own holiday spirits (and the spirits for the remainder of the year). I'm talking about the Moonshiner's, who would brew their 180 proof +/- white lightning. If you knew the guy who cooked off his in a good copper rig (not through an old lead rich radiator), this was the best money could buy...I would get a 10 gallon milk can of some good 120 proof stuff for around $10.00 back then. It could also fill in a pinch for gasoline if you happened to run out of petrol visiting the moonshiner. These subjects - Moonshine, bootleggers, prohibition have been the source of many great tunes. I could list some here, but Smithsonian Folkways has already done this for us. www.folkways.si.edu/the-new-lost-city-ramblers/american-moonshine-and-prohibition-songs/american-folk-historical-song-old-time/music/album/smithsonian
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Post by Admin on Dec 20, 2013 12:45:46 GMT -5
Remember Robert Mitchum's "Thunder Road"
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Post by Admin on Dec 20, 2013 12:55:59 GMT -5
And don't forget Ma Rainey - Moonshine Blues
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Post by Admin on Dec 20, 2013 12:59:04 GMT -5
The economic times prompted this Mavis Staples song:
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Post by billf on Dec 20, 2013 13:32:07 GMT -5
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