Al Swearengen & the Notorious Gem Theater

The dusty streets of Deadwood, South Dakota, in the late 1870s, echoed with the clamor of fortune seekers, the rhythmic clang of mining tools, and the boisterous sounds emanating from establishments catering to their needs. Among these, the Gem Variety Theater stood as a prominent, albeit controversial, landmark, inextricably linked to the name of its proprietor, Ellis Albert "Al" Swearingen. To understand the Gem, one must first delve into the life of the man who conceived and controlled it, a man whose legacy remains a complex blend of entrepreneurial spirit and ruthless exploitation.

Ellis Albert Swearingen, known simply as Al, was born on July 8, 1845, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, alongside his twin brother Lemuel. They were the eldest of eight children born to Daniel J. and Keziah Montgomery Swearingen. The twins spent their formative years in Iowa, a far cry from the lawless, gold-hungry boomtown that would later become their stage. It was a world away from Al Swearengen & the Notorious Gem Theater.

Swearingen’s arrival in Deadwood in May 1876 marked a significant shift in his life and the town’s entertainment landscape. He was not a miner, but rather a shrewd businessman with an eye for opportunity. Within a week, he had erected a temporary dance hall, a testament to his swift action and understanding of the camp’s immediate needs. He arrived with his wife, Nettie, but the marriage was short-lived, ending in divorce amid accusations of spousal abuse. This pattern of marital discord would repeat itself twice more during his time in Deadwood, further solidifying his reputation as a man of questionable character.

Before the opulent Gem Variety Theater, there was the Cricket Saloon. This humble establishment, described by local newspapers as more of a "hall" than a saloon due to its narrow dimensions, served as a proving ground for Swearingen’s business acumen. The Cricket offered a peculiar form of entertainment: "prize fights" confined to a minuscule 5×5 foot space. These were not professional bouts, but rather impromptu matches between miners, coaxed by Swearingen to engage in unsanctioned combat for the amusement of the saloon’s patrons. It was a crude beginning, but it laid the foundation for something far grander, and far more controversial.

The year 1877 witnessed the birth of Al Swearengen & the Notorious Gem Theater, a venue that would quickly become synonymous with Deadwood’s dark underbelly. The Black Hills Daily Pioneer initially praised the Gem as "neat and tastefully arranged as any place of its kind in the West." This description, however, masked the theater’s true purpose. While it did offer entertainment in the form of comedians, singers, and dancers, as well as the continuation of the "prize fights," its primary function was as a brothel.

The Gem’s operation was built upon a foundation of deceit and exploitation. Swearingen actively recruited women from the East, placing advertisements promising employment in hotels or as stage performers at his theater. These advertisements were nothing more than lures. Once the women arrived in Deadwood, armed with one-way tickets purchased by Swearingen, they found themselves trapped and without options. They were left with the grim choice of working for Swearingen or being cast out onto the unforgiving streets. The conditions within the Gem were appalling, and it was common knowledge that the women were subjected to physical abuse, sometimes to the point where some would take their own lives rather than endure the servitude. Al Swearengen & the Notorious Gem Theater was a place of despair.

Despite the unethical and brutal practices employed by Swearingen, the Gem Variety Theater flourished. It quickly became the most popular attraction in Deadwood, drawing in miners and other denizens eager for entertainment and companionship. The theater’s financial success was substantial, and its influence extended throughout the town. Law enforcement and leading citizens seemed to turn a blind eye to the Gem’s activities, perhaps swayed by financial incentives or a pragmatic acceptance of the realities of a lawless frontier town.

The layout of the Gem was designed to facilitate its dual purpose. The front of the theater featured a bar and seating for spectators, where patrons could enjoy performances and engage in social interaction. The rear of the building was a labyrinth of small, curtained rooms, where the Gem’s "painted ladies" catered to their clients. The Gem’s band played nightly from a balcony, their music serving as both entertainment and a siren call to potential customers. Prices were set: ten cents for a dance, twenty cents for a beer, and a dollar for a bottle of wine. The cost of "other" services, however, remained unspoken, shrouded in the secrecy of the back rooms.

Swearingen’s operation was not a one-man show. He employed a staff of individuals who contributed to the Gem’s success, and often, to its brutality. Dan Doherty served as the general manager, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the theater. Johnny Burns was responsible for managing the women, and a team of bouncers maintained order, often through the use of violence. These men were said to be as ruthless as Swearingen himself, and the beating of the women was a common occurrence.

The Gem’s reputation as a violent establishment was well-deserved. Gunshots were a frequent occurrence within its walls, often the result of drunken brawls or directed at the women themselves. One infamous incident involved a prostitute named Tricksie, who shot a man through the skull after he had assaulted her. The man miraculously survived the initial gunshot but died approximately 30 minutes later.

The question of law enforcement’s role in Deadwood during this period is a complex one. According to historical accounts, Marshal Seth Bullock reached an understanding with Swearingen, dividing Main Street into two distinct zones. Swearingen controlled the lower portion of Main Street, known as the "Badlands," while Bullock maintained authority over the upper portion. This arrangement allowed Swearingen to operate with relative impunity, shielded from the full force of the law by his alliances and financial influence. It seemed that Al Swearengen & the Notorious Gem Theater was above the law.

The Gem’s history was not without its setbacks. In the early summer of 1879, a fire caused damage to the theater, but Swearingen quickly rebuilt. However, a far more devastating fire struck Deadwood in September 1879, consuming approximately 300 buildings, including the Gem Theater.

Undeterred, Swearingen rebuilt the Gem from the ground up, creating a larger and more elaborate establishment. When the new Gem opened its doors in December 1879, The Daily Times hailed it as the finest theater building ever constructed in Deadwood.

The Gem continued to thrive, generating an average nightly profit of $5,000, with some nights reaching as high as $10,000. However, Swearingen’s reign was not destined to last forever. In 1899, another fire struck the Gem, this time proving to be its final demise. Swearingen, weary of the constant rebuilding, decided to leave Deadwood for good.

Following its destruction, the local newspaper offered a scathing assessment of the Gem’s legacy: "harrowing tales of iniquity, shame, and wretchedness; of lives wrecked and fortunes sacrificed; of vice unhindered and esteem forfeited, have been related of the place, and it is known of a verity that they have not all been groundless."

Despite its long tenure as a Deadwood entertainment venue, the Gem was ultimately remembered as "the everlasting shame of Deadwood," "a vicious institution," and a "defiler of youth and a destroyer of home ties."

After leaving Deadwood, Swearingen returned to Iowa and married Odelia Turgeon in 1899. Six months later, another fire destroyed the buildings adjacent to the remains of the Gem, leaving a vacant lot. In 1921, the site became the location of Deadwood’s first gas station. Today, the Mineral Palace Casino stands where Al Swearengen & the Notorious Gem Theater once stood.

Tragedy continued to follow Swearingen’s family. On October 2, 1904, his twin brother Lemuel was attacked after leaving his meat market, suffering a head injury and five gunshot wounds. He died eight days later without regaining consciousness.

Shortly thereafter, Al Swearingen made his way to Denver, Colorado. On November 15, 1904, he was found dead on the street near his home, having suffered a blow to the head. While the Denver police were unable to determine whether his death was an accident or murder, later reports suggested he died penniless while attempting to hop a train.

Modern historians speculate that Lemuel’s attack was a case of mistaken identity, with Al being the intended target. If this theory is correct, Al’s death was a homicide, a final act of retribution for his actions in Deadwood.

The story of Al Swearengen & the Notorious Gem Theater is a complex and unsettling chapter in the history of the American West. It is a tale of entrepreneurial ambition, exploitation, violence, and the dark underbelly of a boomtown society. While the Gem may be gone, its legacy continues to resonate, serving as a reminder of the moral compromises that were often made in the pursuit of fortune and power on the frontier.