1. Playing Pinball
It might sound ridiculous, but according to History.com, pinball machines were banned in many U.S. cities for decades. From the 1940s to the 1970s, lawmakers viewed pinball as a form of illegal gambling because early versions of the game relied more on chance than skill. Officials feared that kids were wasting their money on what they saw as a “gateway” to more serious gambling habits. Some cities, like New York and Los Angeles, even conducted dramatic raids, smashing pinball machines with sledgehammers.
The ban lasted so long that it wasn’t lifted in New York City until 1976, when a pinball expert proved the game required skill. Before that, people had to play in secret, often in the back rooms of bars and bowling alleys. The ban might have seemed logical at the time, but in hindsight, it feels a little extreme. Now, pinball is just a fun, nostalgic arcade game that no one worries about anymore.
2. Wearing Swimsuits Without a “Modesty Panel”
Once upon a time, heading to the beach in a regular swimsuit could get you arrested. In the early 1900s, modesty laws required women to wear full-body bathing suits, sometimes including stockings, skirts, and even shoes. Swimsuit police (yes, that was a thing) patrolled beaches with rulers, measuring hemlines to make sure women weren’t showing too much skin. If you broke the rules, you could be fined, arrested, or forced to change into a more “appropriate” outfit.
Men weren’t entirely off the hook either—shirtless swimming was banned in some areas until the 1930s. It wasn’t until Hollywood and fashion designers started normalizing more revealing swimsuits that the laws faded away. Annette Kellerman, a famous swimmer, was even arrested in 1907 for wearing a form-fitting one-piece. These days, beachwear is all about personal choice, but it took a long time to get there.
3. Dancing on Sundays
Believe it or not, in many parts of the U.S., dancing on Sundays was straight-up illegal thanks to old “blue laws,” VICE reports. These laws were meant to enforce religious standards, and in some areas, they banned everything from alcohol sales to certain forms of entertainment. If you wanted to host a dance or even tap your feet to some music at a bar, you could get in trouble. While most of these laws have been repealed, a few places still have odd restrictions on dancing, especially on Sundays.
The most famous example is Purdy, Missouri, which held onto its no-dancing law until the late 20th century. Some communities justified these bans by saying dancing led to “sinful” behavior, like drinking or even—gasp—touching. While Footloose made this kind of thing seem like fiction, it was reality in many American towns. These days, the idea of outlawing dancing sounds absurd, but for a long time, it was a real issue in certain places.
4. Ice Cream Cones on Sundays
If you’ve ever enjoyed a nice ice cream cone on a Sunday afternoon, you should know that once upon a time, that simple pleasure was technically banned. In the early 1900s, some states had strict laws against selling “fancy” foods on Sundays, which included ice cream cones, according to Cater Naturals. The reasoning was tied to—you guessed it—blue laws, which tried to keep Sundays reserved for religious observance. Apparently, eating ice cream in a dish was fine, but the handheld cone was considered too indulgent for the Sabbath.
Some historians believe this law was also influenced by anti-immigrant sentiment, as ice cream parlors were often run by Italian and German immigrants. Eventually, the ban melted away (pun intended), but it’s wild to think that something as innocent as an ice cream cone was once considered controversial. Today, grabbing an ice cream cone on a Sunday is about as American as it gets. But for years, you had to settle for a bowl if you wanted to stay on the right side of the law.
5. Buying Margarine
Yes, margarine—the butter substitute—was once banned or heavily restricted in several states, according to the National Post. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the dairy industry fought hard to stop margarine from cutting into their profits. Some states outlawed margarine completely, while others forced manufacturers to dye it an unappetizing pink to make it less appealing. Wisconsin was especially strict, keeping margarine bans in place until the 1960s.
People would even smuggle margarine across state lines to avoid paying high dairy prices. Despite the dairy industry’s best efforts, margarine eventually became a staple in American households. Today, you can buy as much margarine as you want without fearing the law. But back in the day, spreading margarine on your toast was a rebellious act.
6. Tattoos
At different points in American history, tattoos were illegal in several states. New York City banned tattooing from 1961 to 1997, partly due to concerns about hygiene and partly because tattoos were associated with criminals. Other states had similar bans, making it difficult for tattoo artists to work legally. Some tattoo shops had to operate underground, and getting inked was seen as a sign of rebellion.
Fast forward to today, and tattoos are more popular than ever, with everyone from celebrities to soccer moms sporting ink. What was once considered a mark of delinquency is now just another form of self-expression. Many states now regulate tattoo parlors for health and safety, rather than banning them outright. It’s hard to imagine that something so common today was once illegal in major cities.
7. Interracial Marriage
One of the most infamous bans in American history was on interracial marriage. For decades, many states had laws that made it illegal for people of different races to marry. These laws were based on racist beliefs and were upheld in court for years. It wasn’t until the Supreme Court’s 1967 ruling in Loving v. Virginia that interracial marriage became fully legal nationwide.
Before that, couples who defied these laws risked arrest, jail time, and even being forced to leave their home states. It’s shocking to think that something as basic as the right to marry the person you love was once against the law. Today, interracial marriages are common and widely accepted, but the fight for that right was long and painful. Loving Day, celebrated every June 12, marks the anniversary of the ruling that finally ended these discriminatory laws.
8. Long Hair on Men
In the 1960s and 70s, some schools and workplaces actually had rules against men having long hair. In some towns, having hair past a certain length could get you kicked out of school, denied a job, or even arrested for “disorderly conduct.” Authorities associated long hair with rebellion, hippie culture, and anti-establishment movements. Some men were even physically attacked for daring to grow their hair out.
Today, no one bats an eye at a guy with long hair, and plenty of professional men wear their hair however they like. Back then, though, long hair was seen as a threat to traditional values. The idea that the government once tried to police men’s hairstyles feels ridiculous now. But for years, hair length was actually a legal battleground in parts of the country.
9. Women Wearing Pants
Believe it or not, laws once restricted women from wearing pants in public. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, many places had laws that required women to wear skirts or dresses. Women who defied these dress codes could be fined or even arrested for “impersonating a man.” Some women pushed back, like suffragists and factory workers, but the rules didn’t start to change until World War II.
As more women entered the workforce, pants became more practical, and laws started to relax. By the 1970s, pants on women were widely accepted, but it’s crazy to think it took that long. Today, women can wear whatever they want, but for a long time, even something as simple as wearing pants was considered a crime. That’s a reminder of how far gender equality has come.
10. Owning a Pet Ferret
Ferrets might be adorable, but at one point, they were illegal in several states—and in some places, they still are. California, for example, has long banned pet ferrets, arguing that they could become an invasive species if released into the wild. Other states once worried that ferrets were too aggressive or that they carried diseases, leading to blanket bans. In the past, if you wanted a pet ferret in one of these states, you had to keep it under wraps or risk fines and confiscation.
Over time, most of these fears turned out to be exaggerated, and many states dropped their bans. Today, ferrets are legal pets in most of the U.S., and ferret lovers continue to push for changes in states like California and Hawaii. While they might not be as mainstream as cats or dogs, ferrets are now widely accepted as lovable, mischievous pets. It’s funny to think that at one point, owning one was seen as a serious crime.
11. Whistling on Sundays
In some parts of the U.S., whistling on Sundays was once against the law. Cities like Louisville, Kentucky, had ordinances banning public whistling on the Sabbath to maintain peace and quiet for religious observance. Some towns even extended the ban to singing or playing instruments outdoors. If you whistled a tune while walking down the street, you could find yourself facing a fine or a stern warning from local authorities.
Over time, these laws faded as society became more secular and less concerned with enforcing strict Sunday behaviors. Still, for years, people had to be careful about where and when they let out a cheerful whistle. Today, whistling is just an innocent habit, but back then, it was considered disruptive and disrespectful. The idea that you could get in trouble just for being in a good mood on a Sunday feels downright bizarre now.
12. Selling Pumpkin Pie on Christmas
Pumpkin pie might be a holiday staple now, but in the 17th century, some American colonies actually banned its sale on Christmas. The Puritans in New England frowned upon Christmas celebrations, considering them too frivolous and unbiblical. As part of their crackdown, they outlawed certain festive foods, including pumpkin pie, which was seen as a symbol of indulgence. Bakers who sold it could be fined, and families had to enjoy their pies in secret.
As time passed and Puritan influence declined, Christmas and its beloved traditions made a comeback. By the 19th century, pumpkin pie had regained its place as a holiday favorite. It’s strange to think that a dessert so closely tied to American culture was once outlawed. Now, the only controversy surrounding pumpkin pie is whether it’s better with whipped cream or ice cream.
13. Owning a Goldfish in Your Dorm
Believe it or not, some states once had laws against college students keeping goldfish in their dorm rooms. In Ohio, for example, there were rules prohibiting students from owning goldfish out of concern for “animal cruelty.” The fear was that irresponsible students might swallow them as a prank, something that actually happened in the 1930s. Rather than trust students to be responsible pet owners, schools and local governments simply banned goldfish altogether.
Though these laws were mostly ignored, they technically remained on the books for years. Some colleges still have rules against pets in dorms, but enforcement is usually lax when it comes to harmless fish. Today, most people see goldfish as low-maintenance pets, not potential victims of college pranks. It’s hard to believe that keeping a tiny fish in a bowl was once considered a legal issue.
14. Playing Dominoes on Sundays
At one time, playing a simple game of dominoes on a Sunday could get you in trouble with the law. Some Southern states, like Alabama and Texas, had old blue laws that banned games considered too distracting from religious observance. Even harmless activities like playing cards, dice, or dominoes were off-limits in certain communities. The logic was that these games encouraged gambling and idleness, which were frowned upon on the Sabbath.
Over the years, these laws were mostly ignored and eventually repealed, though some remained technically enforceable for decades. Now, people can play games whenever they want without fear of legal consequences. The idea that a game as innocent as dominoes was once a crime seems ridiculous today. But at one point, a quiet Sunday afternoon with friends could have been enough to land you in hot water.
15. Crossing the Street on Your Hands
One of the strangest laws in American history once made it illegal to cross the street on your hands in certain cities. In the early 20th century, some towns enacted bizarre public decency laws aimed at preventing “unusual behavior” in public spaces. Cities like Hartford, Connecticut, specifically banned hand-walking across streets, likely in response to circus performers and street entertainers. The law may have been intended to prevent accidents, but it was oddly specific.
As pedestrian laws evolved, these strange restrictions were gradually dropped. Nowadays, you might get some funny looks if you decide to cross the street on your hands, but you won’t get arrested for it. It’s one of those quirky pieces of legal history that makes you wonder what inspired lawmakers in the first place. After all, how many people were actually hand-walking across busy intersections to begin with?
