80. Today in 1920s Turkey: 26 April 1924 (The End of “Prohibition” in Turkey)

(Painting and news story, Resimli Gazete, or “Illustrated Gazette,” 26 April 1924, no. 34, page 8.)

Comments:
Ninety-three years ago today this picture, along with a short news story, appeared on the back cover of the thirty-forth issue of Istanbul’s weekly illustrated journal, Resimli Gazete. Every issue of Resimli Gazete terminates with a segment called “A Glance at World Events” (Dünya Vukuatlarına Bir Bakış) on the eighth page, which is where this picture was featured. Of the six stories included on this page, the present example occupies the largest amount of space. To get a sense of the scope of this magazine’s interests here are the other stories located on this page: “Women, too, are becoming boxers,” “A car with a chimney,” “Prefabricated, cheap homes,” a picture of a farmer in front of Istanbul's famous Sultanahmet Mosque, and a cartoon about the closing of Christian religious schools in Turkey.

Like the other stories, this one includes an illustration. An interesting addition to the arrangement of images, this one was made by the gazette’s private illustrator, as mentioned in the text below. The image bears a signature in the lower left corner which is difficult to read and since the text omitted the name of the artist I cannot say for sure whose work this is. Sometimes these kinds of publications include the names of staff members on their cover page; but unfortunately, Resimli Gazete does not include this information.

The unidentified artist’s work illustrates a tavern in Istanbul's Westernized entertainment district of Galata (Pera) that is now able to legally sell and serve alcohol. Four years ago (during the War of Independence), on 14 September 1920 the Turkish Grand National Assembly banned the sale of alcohol with the Men-i Müskirat Kanunu. Whereas recently, on 9 April 1924 the ban was lifted. The blurb accompanying the illustration explains that despite the ban, many taverns still served alcohol which is why the article bears the title “Some Things Never Change.” It is the interpretation for the Turkish proverb *Eski tas, eski hamam” which is the original title. Literally it translates to “Old bowl, old hamam.” Like the United States’ experience with alcohol prohibition, Turkish authorities found the law to be fundamentally unenforceable. However, unlike their American counterparts, the Turkish government came to its senses after only four years of prohibition. Whereas it took American law-makers thirteen long years to realize their mistake (1920-1933).

Finally, the article brings our attention to the unlikely timing of the legislative change by mentioning that those entertaining themselves at the bars must be early revelers for the upcoming religious holiday, Şeker Bayramı or quite literally “Festival of Sweets” (Eid al-Fitr) due to begin next week, on May 6. A three-day celebration marking the end of Ramadan, Şeker Bayramı constitutes one of two major religious holidays in the Islamic faith. In the case of consuming alcohol, “celebrating” the holiday early means that the patrons of such establishments must not be fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.

Incompatibilities between the social demands of modern life and religious or otherwise traditional practices is a reoccurring theme in the popular press in Turkey at this time. For instance, last month in Post #66: Father Ramadan Visits the 1920s and Finds People Dancing we see that by 1927 couples dancing was in the process of gradually being added to the list of acceptable Ramadan (post-fast) past-times for modern, upwardly mobile, young couples.

English
(Above)
Some Things Never Change: Taverns with Live Music Have Opened Their Doors Once Again
(Below)
Following the repeal of the Alcohol Prohibition Law taverns with live music and bars have opened their doors once again, and beautiful Russian women have begun serving wine to the love-sick. As a matter of fact, the taverns had never actually closed their doors when the Alcohol Prohibition Law was initially announced! This picture, which we had our private artist make, shows those who have already started celebrating the holiday in Galata’s taverns which have been affected by the reversal of the Alcohol Prohibition Law.

Türkçe
(Üstte)
Eski Tas Eski Hamam: Çalgılı Meyhaneler Yine Kapılarını Açtılar
(Altta)
Men-i müskirat kanununun ta’dilinden sonra çalgılı meyhaneler ile birahaneler kapılarını yine açtılar, ve dilber Rus haraşoları bağrı yanıklara mey sunmaya başladılar. Esasen meyhaneler men-i müskirat kanununun neşrinden sonra da kapılarını kapamamışlardı ya! Hususi ressamımıza yaptırdığımız bu resim Galata’daki meyhanelerin dahilindeki men-i müskirat kanununun ta’dili dolayısıyla şimdiden bayramı tesid edenleri gösteriyor.

(Entire page, Resimli Gazete, or “Illustrated Gazette,” 26 April 1924, no. 34, page 8.)