Episode Details

Beneath the bustling streets of New York City lies a hidden world of tunnels, trapdoors, and secret passageways — once filled with jazz, gin, and the ghosts of rebellion. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, host Amy unearths the forgotten speakeasy tunnels that fueled the city’s underground nightlife during Prohibition. From the shadowy corridors beneath McSorley’s Old Ale House to the legendary escape routes of the 21 Club and the mob-run catacombs under Harlem’s Cotton Club, we’ll uncover true stories of bootleggers, mobsters, and musicians who defied the law — and sometimes physics — to keep the party going. You’ll hear about real modern-day discoveries of sealed tunnels beneath Manhattan and Brooklyn, ghostly jazz music echoing through forgotten cellars, and bars that still stand on top of the same secret networks that once hid the city’s most daring drinkers. With humor, history, and a few fake sponsor ads you definitely shouldn’t try at home, Amy guides you through New York’s secret nightlife — from the roaring 1920s to the haunted present day. So grab your fedora, pour yourself something (strictly legal), and step into the world beneath the world — where the booze never really stopped flowing.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-strange-history-podcast--5773362/support.

🎧 The Strange History Podcast Love bizarre true stories, forgotten scandals, and history’s most unhinged moments?
Submit your ideas for The Strange History Podcast
Follow The Strange History Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode. 🔗 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Audible
New episodes regularly. History gets weird here.