B+W photo of Stevens Institute students in snake line celebrating legalization of 3.2 pct beer, at 4th & Hudson Sts., Hoboken, Apr. 7, 1933.
Entry/Object ID
2014.001.0086
Description
Black-and-white photo of Stevens Institute of Technology students in a snake line celebrating the legalization of 3.2 percent beer, at Fourth and Hudson Streets, 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]
See photos 2014.001.0087 and 2014.001.0135 for other images related to this event.
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.)
View is northeast to the street intersection with Hudson Square Park beyond. A white elevated police box is on the northeast corner of the intersection with direction signs to Holland Tunnel and Hoboken Piers. A three-lamp traffic signal is on the southeast corner. The students form a single-file line with hand to shoulder on the person ahead while marching into and through the park.
Text of caption on reverse:
230366
"SNAKES ALREADY"
A lone participant steadies himself on the sidewalk and apparently is elated at the strength of 3.2 percent beer as a long snake uncurls itself before his eyes. The snake is composed of hundreds of students of Stevens Institute, who were also celebrating in a dance through Hoboken, N.J., on April 7th.
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
