Prostitution was a big thing back in the old west. Even though it was mostly illegal, brothels were common and in plain sight. Some respectable madams even donated most of their profits back to society.
Since working in the gold mines was mostly lonely and cold, that’s when scarlet women and madams came along.
Rotgut Liquor
Back then, any kind of liquor was not cheap, especially Rotgut Liquor. For saloons to generate more money, owners would dilute their good liquor by adding other ingredients into it, like ammonia and turpentine. Woah, that sounds like a dangerous combination!
Besides, hard liquor, some of the most popular drinks included the Allston Cocktail, which was made with peppermint schnapps, gin, lemon juice, and a classic mix of brandy and soda called B&S. No wonder people were always drunk! The drinks back then were super deadly!
Chicago Joe
This photo is of the Queen of the Red Light District, Josephine Airey or otherwise known as Chicago Joe. She was a business owner and popular prostitute from Helena, Montana.
Aside from being the successful madam that she is, she also owned a few brothels, theaters, dance halls, and saloons, as well as a whole lot of land. Wow!
Pear Heart
Known for her stagecoach robberies, Pear Heart was another woman from the old west that had a lot of spunk! She was the gutsy gal that escaped from prison and reached celebrity status during her lifetime.
Although she is a famous robber, she was well educated and came from a wealthy family.
Poker
Poker is another favorite pastime in the old west. If you were not a gambler, you weren’t a cowboy. It was a popular form of entertainment.
This game was originally developed in the United States during the 19th century and was documented as early as 1836, in a book called “Dragoon Campaigns to the Rocky Mountains.”