Dan Allen (gambler)
Encyclopedia
Dan Allen was an pioneer
gambler in Omaha, Nebraska
. He had great influence throughout the young city and was the long-time companion of Anna Wilson
, the city's foremost madam
for almost 40 years. Allen was influential throughout early Omaha.
and lived in Peoria, Illinois
for some time before coming to Omaha. He arrived in Omaha in 1866, and opened a gambling house in Downtown Omaha
in 1878. It is believed that Dan met Anna Wilson in New Orleans
, eventually persuading her to come to Omaha with him.
Omaha was known as a "wide-open" city for its first 50 years, with explicit prostitution
in the Burnt District
and gambling
in the Sporting District, both located in Downtown Omaha
. Allen ran one of the most infamous saloons and gambling
houses in Omaha from the 1860s through the 1870s on the second floor of the city's Pioneer Block. On the first floor of the building Allen ran a pawnshop; on the second, a gambling hall. The two enterprises worked in sync: if players were out of money they could lower watches, diamonds or other valuables on a dumbwaiter
down to the pawnbroker
, who in turn would hoist the equivalent value in money back to the players. In a contemporary account from 1880 Allen was alleged to have run Keno
and poker
rooms in the open, with little or no resistance from local police or politicians.
Allen had a reputation as an honest man, and was considered well-matched with Anna Wilson
, his romantic interest throughout his life. The couple was reputed to help out the needy whenever possible. In a case involving the theft of $10,000 worth of jewelry from Wilson, Allen told the accused thief that if he relinquished the items he would spare his life. The thief did and ended up going to jail instead.
When Allen died in 1884 Wilson spent considerable money keeping his grave adorned with fresh flowers for the rest of her life. They were buried together in Omaha's Prospect Hill Cemetery under a concrete slab and upright columns designed to look like bedposts.
Founding figures of Omaha, Nebraska
The following people were founding figures of Omaha, Nebraska. Their period of influence ranges from 1853 through 1900. Many in this group were members of the Old Settlers' Association and/or the Omaha Claim Club...
gambler in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. He had great influence throughout the young city and was the long-time companion of Anna Wilson
Anna Wilson (madam)
Anna Wilson was a pioneer madam in Omaha, Nebraska. When she died she bequeathed her life savings to the City of Omaha, along with her 25-room mansion brothel, which was used as a hospital...
, the city's foremost madam
Pimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
for almost 40 years. Allen was influential throughout early Omaha.
About
Allen was born in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and lived in Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
for some time before coming to Omaha. He arrived in Omaha in 1866, and opened a gambling house in Downtown Omaha
Downtown Omaha
Downtown Omaha is the central business, government and social core of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, and is located in Omaha, Nebraska. The boundaries are 20th Street on the west to the Missouri River on the east and the centerline of Leavenworth Street on the south to the centerline...
in 1878. It is believed that Dan met Anna Wilson in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, eventually persuading her to come to Omaha with him.
Omaha was known as a "wide-open" city for its first 50 years, with explicit prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
in the Burnt District
Burnt District
The Burnt District was the original red light district in Omaha, Nebraska in the late 19th century. The area was located east of Creighton University from Douglas Street six blocks north to Cass Street and from the Missouri River west to Sixteenth Street. It was the location of several notorious...
and gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
in the Sporting District, both located in Downtown Omaha
Downtown Omaha
Downtown Omaha is the central business, government and social core of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, and is located in Omaha, Nebraska. The boundaries are 20th Street on the west to the Missouri River on the east and the centerline of Leavenworth Street on the south to the centerline...
. Allen ran one of the most infamous saloons and gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
houses in Omaha from the 1860s through the 1870s on the second floor of the city's Pioneer Block. On the first floor of the building Allen ran a pawnshop; on the second, a gambling hall. The two enterprises worked in sync: if players were out of money they could lower watches, diamonds or other valuables on a dumbwaiter
Dumbwaiter (elevator)
Dumbwaiters are small freight elevators intended to carry objects rather than people. Dumbwaiters found within modern structures, including both commercial and private buildings, are often connected between two floors...
down to the pawnbroker
Pawnbroker
A pawnbroker is an individual or business that offers secured loans to people, with items of personal property used as collateral...
, who in turn would hoist the equivalent value in money back to the players. In a contemporary account from 1880 Allen was alleged to have run Keno
Keno
Keno is a lottery or bingo gambling game often played at modern casinos, and is also offered as a game in some state lotteries. A traditional live casino keno game uses a circular glass enclosure called a "bubble" containing 80 balls which determine the ball draw result. Each ball is imprinted...
and poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
rooms in the open, with little or no resistance from local police or politicians.
Allen had a reputation as an honest man, and was considered well-matched with Anna Wilson
Anna Wilson (madam)
Anna Wilson was a pioneer madam in Omaha, Nebraska. When she died she bequeathed her life savings to the City of Omaha, along with her 25-room mansion brothel, which was used as a hospital...
, his romantic interest throughout his life. The couple was reputed to help out the needy whenever possible. In a case involving the theft of $10,000 worth of jewelry from Wilson, Allen told the accused thief that if he relinquished the items he would spare his life. The thief did and ended up going to jail instead.
When Allen died in 1884 Wilson spent considerable money keeping his grave adorned with fresh flowers for the rest of her life. They were buried together in Omaha's Prospect Hill Cemetery under a concrete slab and upright columns designed to look like bedposts.