The Prohibition was an era in American history where alcohol was outlawed by the Federal Government. This was due to the vocality of the temperance movement, causing the Federal Government to pass the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. Granted, there were exceptions, including getting a prescription for alcohol by a doctor. Prohibition took place from 1920-1930, when it was ended with the passing of the 21st Amendment.
Cigars had a pretty big role during Prohibition, including being used as an alternative to alcohol, a sort of camouflage for speakeasies, and as a way to show defiance to the government. In this article, you will find all the ways cigars played a role during Prohibition. If you would like to hear a more in depth conversation about this topic, you can listen to the corresponding episode of the Great Cigars Podcast, titled The Legal Vice: Cigars During The Prohibition Era.
During Prohibition, cigars became known as the “Respectable Vice” or “The Gentleman’s Indulgence”. Cigars were displayed in this light by private clubs and lounges, giving people a way to enjoy a ritual and relaxation without breaking the law. Essentially, cigars filled the vacuum from the lack of alcohol, and in more ways that one. While alcohol was outlawed, cigars filled the void socially and economically. Cigar manufacturers took advantage of this, and used slogans such as “You can’t drink, but you can smoke” and “A pleasure that’s still permitted”. Needless to say, there were no Don Draper’s during Prohibition to come up with better slogans.
Cigars played a big role in speakeasies. In fact, they were a staple, just as much as alcohol was. One of the more popular reasons was that the cigar smoke helped to mask the smell of alcohol. Cigars were sold in these speakeasies, which helped spike the sales. They were also given away. Bartenders and bootleggers would hand out cigars to high-paying and returning customers. Not only did this make alcohol and cigar sales spike, but it also made the cigar a status perk.
As a result of alcohol being criminalized, the cigar industry grew. Cigar manufacturers kept producing cigars, and many expanded their operations. The more popular manufacturers, specifically in Tampa, Florida and Lancaster, Pennsylvania saw consistent production and export activity. While the cigar industry boomed, it also acted as an economic stabilizer, filling the void where alcohol was. This didn’t just stop in the United States. Cuba also saw a growth in their cigar industry. At the time, there was no Cuban embargo. Brands such as H. Upmann and Partagas held a steady demand for cigar exports in the United States. Tourism also flourished in Cuba. This was partly due to the cigar industry, but there was also no prohibition of alcohol in Cuba, giving tourists the best of both worlds.
While cigars had an economic impact, they also held a symbolic impact for almost everyone in the United States. For many, cigars became a symbol of rebellion. Gangsters like Al Capone were seen with cigars a majority of the time. This not only acted as a symbol of defiance, but as a symbol of wealth and power. Politicians and businessmen even used cigars to symbolize control and composure. Women even used them as a sign of defiance during the flapper movement, showing that women could smoke cigars, too.
In addition to alcohol, cigars shared a connection with the music of the time: Jazz. Cigars and jazz music were almost inseparable from the speakeasy scenes. In fact, many speakeasies had cigar girls offering cigars to patrons while jazz bands were playing. Cigar sales also often helped pay the musicians playing in these speakeasies.
While cigars were prominent with speakeasies and gangsters, they were also a part of the political machine of the time. In fact, the term “Smoke-Filled Room” came from Republican leaders smoking cigars in the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago when they were choosing Warren G. Harding as their presidential nominee. Politicians, like the gangsters and bootleggers, handed out cigars as a gesture of influence. Lobbyists and politicians used boxes of cigars as gifts, and cigars were even used for campaigns. Political cartoons and posters often depicted politicians with cigars. Pro-business candidates used cigars to show their support for American business and workers. Even anti-corruption reformers used cigars in their flyers, depicting politicians as “fat cat bosses”, smoking cigars. This was to symbolize greed and backroom politics. On both sides of the spectrum, cigars were used as a badge of influence and as a target of populist anger.
During this time, cigar companies became a lobbying force. Tobacco executives pushed back against the ever-growing temperance movement, attempting to restrict tobacco the same as they did alcohol. Tobacco lobbyists presented cigars as a patriotic product, supporting American labor. Politicians from tobacco states, such as Pennsylvania and Florida,, received campaign donations and publicity from cigar manufacturers. This is almost mirrored today, with cigar advocacy groups such as the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) and Cigar Rights of America (CRA). In fact, they are going against the same thing the temperance movement was trying to do. Today, those implementing restrictions on cigars are the federal government and even local municipalities.
While cigars held roles as symbols and political tools, they were also used as bribes. Many prohibition agents were underpaid. They were also under a lot of pressure from the Federal Government and the temperance movement. Many agents were given cigars as bribes to look the other way. Alcohol was obviously illegal and not a viable bribe, and cash would have raised too much suspicion.
Aside from the political machine and bribery, cigars were used heavily in entertainment. Comedians would use the cigar as a part of their act. The cigar would be placeholder, or timing device for the punchline. This method is still used today by some comedians, giving the audience a chance to laugh at the jokes before proceeding. They were also used as a stand in for vices on stage. Even in early movies, cigars added drama to a scene, and became a visual code for danger, wealth, or corruption. They were also a workaround for censorship. Alcohol, even fake alcohol, couldn’t be shown. As a result, many movies used cigars as a stand in. In radio, cigars manufacturers were able to advertise on the radio. Many radio hosts even used cigars as a part of their on-air personas. Cigars even made their mark on the burlesque scene, playing on the ideas of forbidden pleasures.
Of course, Prohibition wouldn’t be anything remarkable if it weren’t for the famous gangsters of the time. Some of the more famous gangsters, such as Al Capone, Arnold Rothstein, Dutch Schultz, Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, and Frank Costello were famously cigar smokers. Many of them used cigars as an intimidation tactic. For more information on the gangsters, you’ll have to go listen to the podcast episode The Legal Vice: Cigars During The Prohibition Era. The guest on the episode, Ethan Thomas, has extensive knowledge on these gangsters.
While cigars played a role during Prohibition, they also had a place in post-Prohibition United States. Cigar sales dipped slightly, but then came back up. Tampa in particular had its own post-Prohibition boom. New brands arose, and factories grew to meet demands. The Tampa Nugget, which was founded before Prohibition, grew in popularity as an affordable cigar. The Tampa Jewel cigar, Hav-A-Tampa, became one of the best-selling cigars post-Prohibition. Cuesta-Rey became a national brand after Prohibition, and La Gloria Cubana grew in popularity after Prohibition. Even Cuban brands saw a boom in the United States after Prohibition. Montecristo became a status symbol among Americans. Partagas and H. Upmann had a higher American demand than ever, and Romeo Y Julieta became a go-to celebration cigar.
Cigars had a very interesting role in Prohibition. From being an economic stabilizer, to a symbol of the political machine and criminals alike, the cigar industry had a wild time during Prohibition. In fact, many things involving cigars during Prohibition are still true today, including cigar advocacy against those who want to restrict them. No matter the time period, cigars play a role in history, especially American history.
