B+W photo of Stevens Institute students celebrating legalization of 3.2 pct beer, at 6th & River Sts., Hoboken, Apr. 7, 1933.
Entry/Object ID
2014.001.0087
Description
Black-and-white photo of Stevens Institute of Technology students celebrating the legalization of 3.2 percent beer on campus, Hoboken, April 7, 1933.
7" x 9" wide print. Photograph by Acme Newspictures. Reverse has their inkstamp credit; attached mimeographed caption; dated inkstamp: Ref. Dept. Apr 10 1933 N.E.A. [Newspaper Editors Association]
The April 7th date became known as "National Beer Day" as it was the first day in thirteen years that 3.2 percent beer could be legally brewed and sold. (Per the Cullen-Harrison Act, March 27, 1933, that amended the Volstead Act of 1920 - it was NOT the repeal date of Prohibition - see notes.)
See photos 2014.001.0086 and 2014.001.0135 for other images related to this event.
The view is southeast looking at the west side of Morton Memorial Building at Sixth and River Streets.
Text of caption on reverse:
230364
STUDENTS CELEBRATE
Equipped with steins and kegs of beer, students of Stevens Institute in Hoboken, N.J., staged a celebration on the campus of the school after informing teachers that they would not attend classes on April 7th. This elevated view shows some of the celebrants during their party.
CREDIT LINE (ACME) 4/7/33
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Acquisition
Accession
2014.001
Source or Donor
Purchase
Acquisition Method
Purchase
Credit Line
Museum Collections.
Made/Created
Artist
Acme Newspictures
Date made
1933
Place
Location
Hoboken
Dimensions
Height
7 in
Width
9 in
General Notes
Note
Notes: Per Wikipedia, 2014: The beginning of the end of Prohibition in the United States occurred as a result of the Cullen-Harrison Act and its signing into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 23, 1933. Sales of beer in the U.S would become legal on April 7, 1933, provided that the state in question had enacted its own law allowing such sales. The beer had to have an alcohol content less than 3.2% (4% ABV), compared to the 0.5% limit of the Volstead Act, because 3.2% was considered too low to produce intoxication. On the evening of April 6, people lined up outside breweries and taverns, waiting for midnight when they would be able to legally purchase beer for the first time in over 13 years. Since then, the night of April 6 has been referred to as "New Beer's Eve" and April 7th is known as "National Beer Day"
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December 5, 1933 is the date the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified and Prohibition was fully repealed at the federal level.
Original or Copy: Original
Status: OK
Status By: dw
Status Date: 2014-02-23
