Theodore Allen (saloon keeper)
Encyclopedia
Theodore Allen, or known simply as The Allen, (fl.
1880-1890) was an American gambler, political organizer, saloon keeper and head of a criminal family in New York City during the mid-to late 19th century. Born to a devout and prominent Methodist family, he and four of his brothers were notorious underworld figures; Wesley, Martin and William Allen were professional burglars while the fourth brother, John Allen
, ran an illegal gambling den.
He was the owner of The American Mabille, named after the Jardin de Mabille in Paris
, originally located at a Bleecker Street
home. The popular resort included a dance hall and concert saloon, in the basement and first floor respectfully, which housed "all classes of the demi-monde from the sun-bleared Cyprian of the Bowery ... to the diamond-bedecked mistress of some sporting man" and where it was said "dissolute women in gaudy tights danced and sang ribald songs". It was also notorious for luring its female working class patrons into prostitution
, one journalist claiming that the concert saloon caused "the ruin of more young girls then all the dive keepers in New York". Allen owned half a dozen similar establishments, among them the St. Bernard Hotel at Prince and Mercer Streets, as well as financed gambling dens, brothels and other "places of ill-fame". Closely associated with many criminals and gang chieftains of the period, as well as the principal competitor of Billy McGlory
's Armory Hall, he planned and participated in numerous bank and store robberies. He eventually fled the city after killing a gambler and disappeared.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1880-1890) was an American gambler, political organizer, saloon keeper and head of a criminal family in New York City during the mid-to late 19th century. Born to a devout and prominent Methodist family, he and four of his brothers were notorious underworld figures; Wesley, Martin and William Allen were professional burglars while the fourth brother, John Allen
John Allen (saloon keeper)
John Allen was an American saloon keeper and underworld figure in New York City during the early-to mid 19th century. A former religious student, Allen was considered one of the most notorious criminals in the city and was known as the "Wickedest Man in New York"...
, ran an illegal gambling den.
He was the owner of The American Mabille, named after the Jardin de Mabille in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, originally located at a Bleecker Street
Bleecker Street
Bleecker Street is a street in New York City's Manhattan borough. It is perhaps most famous today as a Greenwich Village nightclub district. The street is a spine that connects a neighborhood today popular for music venues and comedy, but which was once a major center for American bohemia.Bleecker...
home. The popular resort included a dance hall and concert saloon, in the basement and first floor respectfully, which housed "all classes of the demi-monde from the sun-bleared Cyprian of the Bowery ... to the diamond-bedecked mistress of some sporting man" and where it was said "dissolute women in gaudy tights danced and sang ribald songs". It was also notorious for luring its female working class patrons into 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...
, one journalist claiming that the concert saloon caused "the ruin of more young girls then all the dive keepers in New York". Allen owned half a dozen similar establishments, among them the St. Bernard Hotel at Prince and Mercer Streets, as well as financed gambling dens, brothels and other "places of ill-fame". Closely associated with many criminals and gang chieftains of the period, as well as the principal competitor of Billy McGlory
Billy McGlory
William "Billy" McGlory was an American saloon keeper and underworld figure in New York City during the mid-to late 19th century. He was a popular character in the Bowery and Five Points districts owning a number of popular establishments throughout the city, most notably McGlory's Armory Hall, up...
's Armory Hall, he planned and participated in numerous bank and store robberies. He eventually fled the city after killing a gambler and disappeared.
Further reading
- Asbury, Herbert. Sucker's Progress: An Informal History of Gambling in America from the Colonies to Canfield. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1938.
- French, Joseph Lewis. A Gallery of Old Rogues. New York: A.H. King, 1931.
- Leach, Duane M. and Monroe Billington. American Democracy on Trial. Berkeley, California: McCutchan Publishing Corp., 1968.
- Wrong, Dennis Hume and Harry L. Gracey. Readings in Introductory Sociology. New York: Macmillan, 1977.