Beneath the Glamour
Ah, Los Angeles—the land of stars, luxury, and endless sunshine. But beneath all that glamour (quite literally) lies something a bit more interesting than overpriced avocado toast. The city is laced with underground tunnels, which, depending on who you ask, were either the ‘Actor Bahn’ escape routes for A-listers dodging paparazzi or—wait for it—booze highways. Spoiler alert: it’s the latter, and rum flowed through those tunnels faster than gossip through Hollywood.
We’re talking a labyrinth of tunnels hidden beneath downtown LA, once buzzing with illicit activity. While some believe Hollywood’s elite used these tunnels to slip in and out unnoticed, the reality was far more… intoxicating. Built in the early 1900s, these tunnels became key during Prohibition, when LA’s nightlife went from glitzy to gritty, and rum-runners used them to smuggle booze into speakeasies without a whisper of suspicion.
One of the most famous tunnels runs under the Los Angeles Hall of Justice, connecting with government buildings like City Hall. During the 1920s and 30s, this tunnel network wasn’t just for sneaky drinks—city officials were rumored to have used it to move contraband alcohol during raids, conveniently avoiding the embarrassment of being caught red-handed. The tunnels also connected to the now-sadly-closed King Eddy Saloon, speakeasies from Prohibition.
Some of these tunnels are still accessible to the public. While most are sealed or part of government buildings, certain walking tours in downtown LA offer a glimpse into these hidden passageways that once shuttled rum and other illegal booze across the city. The LA Conservancy and Esotouric occasionally run tours that include parts of the old Prohibition tunnels, letting you quite literally walk in the footsteps of rum-runners.
Despite their covert use during Prohibition, these tunnels symbolize LA’s ability to live large and party hard, no matter the laws. While you won’t find A-listers sneaking through them today, the tunnels still echo with LA’s rebellious, rum-soaked past.
An Underground Party
Before the days of Instagrammable rooftop bars and “secret” password-only cocktail lounges, LA’s scene was a bit more underground—literally. In the 1920s and 30s, while the government was busy trying to kill the party with Prohibition, Los Angeles was busy digging in—beneath the streets. A web of tunnels crisscrossed downtown, and while you might picture glamorous A-listers sneaking through in designer gowns, the reality was far grittier (and far more exciting).
These tunnels were the superhighways of the speakeasy world, smuggling all manner of illegal spirits—rum being a top favorite—between hidden watering holes. Bootleggers, dodging the ever-watchful eyes of the law, made sure the booze kept flowing to the city’s elite and everyday folk alike. Picture it: dimly lit basements, crates of rum hidden behind false walls, and whispers of “the feds are coming!” as someone dashed through the tunnels with a contraband bottle in hand. Forget your fancy cocktail lounges—this was the real LA nightlife.
The tunnels didn’t just keep the drinks pouring; they also gave certain… influential citizens a chance to slip away from pesky raids. The rum-runners? They were the unsung heroes of LA’s Prohibition party scene. And if you thought all the drama was happening on Hollywood sets, think again.
Keeping the Party Going
Los Angeles, with its sunny ports and strategic coastal location, was the perfect playground for rum smugglers during Prohibition. While rum might conjure up images of Caribbean breezes, back in the 1920s, the stuff was making its way into LA faster than a Hollywood scandal. Smugglers, known as “rum-runners,” used boats to bring Caribbean rum into the city, with Catalina Island serving as one of their most notorious drop-off points. From there, small vessels would sneak through the foggy night, delivering the goods to shore, where they were whisked into town via trucks—or even those infamous tunnels.
The real rum party began when bootleggers struck deals with local speakeasies, filling their shelves with contraband liquor. One key player was Bill McCoy, a notorious rum-runner whose name became so synonymous with authentic booze that people referred to unadulterated spirits as “The Real McCoy.” He smuggled high-quality rum up and down the coast, including into LA’s underground party scene, steering clear of the diluted swill that plagued the black market. LA’s elite didn’t want just any booze—they wanted the best.
Catalina Island wasn’t just for wine mixers—it was a key smuggling hub. Coast Guard reports from the era describe boat chases with rum-runners under the cover of darkness. Catalina’s role as a smuggler’s paradise made it as essential to LA’s booze supply as any distillery.
These rum-runners weren’t amateurs. Their operations were sophisticated, often outmaneuvering the Coast Guard. The smuggling rings became so effective that federal authorities increased patrols along California’s coast, turning it into a cat-and-mouse game. But despite the risks, LA’s rum smugglers kept the flow going, ensuring the city’s speakeasies were always well-stocked with the good stuff.
Rum, Bribes, and LA’s Dark Side
Of course, we can’t talk about Prohibition-era LA without spilling some tea (or more appropriately, rum) on the corruption that greased the city’s underground operations. In the 1920s and 30s, it wasn’t just bootleggers getting their hands dirty—LA’s political elite were more involved than they’d care to admit, often turning a blind eye in exchange for some… incentive. Nothing says “I’m upholding the law” like sneaking a cash-stuffed suitcase through a secret tunnel.
Take Mayor Frank L. Shaw, for example. His administration was so famously corrupt, it was like something out of a mobster movie. Shaw’s ties with organized crime turned LA’s political scene into a playground for shady deals. Bootleggers didn’t just use the tunnels to move booze; they moved bribe money, too—quietly shuffling cash between speakeasies and City Hall. Occasionally, the authorities launched raids to save face, but let’s be real—most of the illegal rum that flooded LA was conveniently “overlooked” by officials getting their cut.
In 1938, the Shaw administration’s corruption was finally exposed, leading to his removal from office. His downfall highlighted the tangled web of crime and politics, where even the most powerful figures were complicit in keeping LA’s Prohibition party alive. And yes, some of these shady dealings happened right under the streets, thanks to the tunnels that connected the dots between corruption, crime, and rum-running.
LA’s love affair with rum wasn’t just about quenching the city’s thirst—it was about fueling a system of corruption that made the city both rich and notorious. While politicians smiled for the cameras above ground, the real action was happening below, where deals were made, palms were greased, and everyone knew better than to ask too many questions.
Still Buzzing After All These Years
While LA’s underground tunnels are no longer filled with rum-runners dodging the law, they remain a reminder of the city’s wild past. The rebellion, the parties, the corruption—it’s all part of what made Prohibition-era LA a cocktail of glamour and grit. Today, these tunnels might be sealed off (or only visible on a tour), but the stories live on, echoing through every cocktail that celebrates the bold spirit of defiance.
Curious to explore more of rum’s rebellious history? Stick around and dive deeper into the world of rum-running, speakeasies, and the spirits that defied the odds.
The Rumosphere 