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.
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This episode of The Strange History Podcast was lovingly crafted with the help of ElevenLabs.io — the magical technology that gives Amy her time to sleep, eat, work and spend time with her dog Jack. While some might say she sounds too good to be true, we assure you, Amy is absolutely a real person… who just happens to have access to studio-grade AI vocal cords and an unnatural ability to pronounce “necromancy” without flinching. Any resemblance to an AI is purely coincidental — and mildly flattering. Dan the announcers name is really Bill and Patrick, the fake ad guy who thinks he is funny? well he is questionable at best. So yes, AI was used but the people are real and the shinanigans are.... well.... shinanigans.