Setting

New York City, 1925

Prohibition

Despite the banning of alcohol nationwide, there are approximately 100,000 hidden speakeasies opened during prohibition in New York city alone, peaking at an estimate 32,000 open at the height of the period. Not all the clubs are tucked away in shabby alleys - a number of New York's high society assume the laws do not apply to them, and whole floors of posh apartment buildings may be used for discreet entertainment.

Its not just alcohol that feels the brunt of official attention. Over the last twenty years the relatively unregulated narcotics trade has become prescription-only, then illegal. In 1924, the manufacture and posession of heroin become illegal in the US, creating a profitable black market.

Gangs

Although Chicago is the centre of most gang activity, 6 major gangs (mostly Italian, Jewish and Irish gangsters) operate in New York, bringing in booze from Canada, and generally clashing hard together. Figures such as Lucky Luciano and Dutch Schultz are on the rise in New York.

"vs" Law and Order

Corruption runs throughout the whole legal and political systems, from the policeman on the take on the corner to judges, officials and so on. Kickbacks and bribes are standard procedure, and many of the highranking officials have ties with gangsters.

Immigration

New York is the main point of all incoming immigration from Europe and Africa. Hundreds of thousands of people see the Statue of Liberty as their first glance of the new world. Many of these people do not find the life of milk and honey they'd expect, and gravitate to slums and poor districts near their arrival points. Racial tensions are at an all-time high - the KKK in southern US has a peak membership in 1924.

Technology

Radio is becoming more and more common - the BBC airs a daily weather forecast from 1923. Motion pictures are still silent, often with live orchestras providing a soundtrack in the more high class establishments (Broadway is still popular). There are more than 15M telephones in use in the Bell system, but all calls are routed through an operator. Commercial picture facsimile radio service across the U.S. The Goodyear blimp floats ads through the sky.

Travel

Cars are relatively common, trains or trolley cars are how the avergage guy moves around. It takes about 13 days to reach California from New York. Planes are still very short range - long range travel is done by steamer. It takes 5-9 days to cross the Atlantic, depending on the quality of the ship and costs between $50 - $100 depending on the ship.

Culture

Calvin Coolidge is US president. The Scopes monkey trial, arguing evolution is held in 1925. Labour unions are growing in power. Women got the vote in the US in 1920. Unemployment is 5%, illiteracy is 6%. Life expectancy is about 55year. Cosmetics come into common use again. Jazz and speakeasies go hand in hand. Flappers, bathtub jin and the Charleston. The FBI is formed. The first volume of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf, written in prison.

Money

Average annual earnings are $1236. A wool suit is $15. Cigarettes are 10c a pack. A Ford is $290.