The Painted Ladies of Deadwood Gulch
The story of Deadwood, South Dakota, during its late 19th-century boom, is inextricably linked to the lives of the women known as "painted ladies." These women, offering companionship and more in a town teeming with miners and fortune seekers, were as much a part of the landscape as the dusty streets and the clatter of gold pans. While the exact arrival date of the first prostitutes in Deadwood is debated, documented evidence points to their presence as early as July 1876. They arrived with Charlie Utter’s wagon train, which also included the legendary Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. Among these newcomers were two experienced madams, Dirty Em and Madam Mustachio, veterans of the California and Nevada mining camp circuits. The arrival of these women was met with enthusiastic cheers from the predominantly male population, highlighting the instant demand for their services.
In 1876, it was estimated that approximately 90% of the women in Deadwood were "painted ladies," underscoring the significant role prostitution played in the town’s economy and social fabric. The painted ladies represented a complex reality for women in the American West, where economic opportunities were limited. For single women or widows without male support, prostitution was often seen as a necessary, if undesirable, means of survival. The hardships of the era pushed many into this profession, while others were lured under false pretenses.
The notorious Al Swearengen, owner of the Gem Saloon, exemplifies the darker side of this trade. He enticed unsuspecting women to Deadwood with promises of respectable employment as stage performers, only to trap them in a cycle of debt and dependence. Stranded without money or viable alternatives, these women were effectively enslaved within the dance halls and brothels. These establishments not only offered sexual services but also relied on the women to sell drinks, perform dances, and sometimes even take to the stage as entertainers.
The geographic heart of the painted ladies‘ world was the Badlands district, located at the north end of town. Saloons and theaters typically occupied the ground floors of buildings, while the upper levels housed the brothels. By the turn of the century, the Badlands had expanded to encompass an entire block of two-story buildings on the west side of Main Street, solidifying its reputation as Deadwood’s red-light district.
Life in the Badlands was fraught with peril. The women often faced violence at the hands of both customers and employers, driving many to seek solace in drugs and alcohol. Opium, laudanum, and morphine were common escapes, with laudanum being particularly prevalent. Tragically, some doctors even initiated the women’s drug use to reduce the frequency of their calls. In other instances, employers used drugs to exert greater control over their workforce. Suicide was a grim reality in the camp, and Dr. F.S. Howe, the sole physician in Deadwood during its early days, routinely carried a stomach pump on his nighttime calls to the Badlands.
Lacking legal protection, the painted ladies were vulnerable to abuse. One notable incident involved a Gem Theatre prostitute named Tricksie, who shot a man after he assaulted her. Though Dr. Howe was astonished to find the man still alive after such a wound, he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. While the women were sometimes victims of theft themselves, they generally prospered due to the high demand for their services.
Payment for services was typically rendered in gold dust, valued at approximately $20 an ounce upon the arrival of the first "sporting girls." With a significant imbalance of men to women, estimated at 200 to 1, even a brief encounter could yield a substantial amount of gold dust. Rumors circulated that the youngest and most attractive women could receive as much as three ounces of gold dust for their attention.
Early operations often took place in tents or covered wagons. However, it didn’t take long for madams to establish more permanent brothels. These women generated revenue not only from a 40% cut of the earnings of the painted ladies but also from the sale of liquor. It was customary for visitors to purchase drinks for themselves and for the women they were with. The madam provided room, board, and a degree of "protection" in exchange for her share, but the women were responsible for their clothing and personal expenses.
As prostitution declined in other areas due to legal restrictions and social reforms, Deadwood’s sex industry continued to flourish. Its profitability led madams to expand their operations to nearby towns, including Belle Fourche, Sturgis, Keystone, Custer, and Rapid City. A floating brothel even operated on the Belle Fourche River.
Even after the gold rush subsided, the painted ladies remained, and their establishments became a crucial part of the local economy through Prohibition and the Great Depression. The upper floors of Main Street buildings became as integral to Deadwood’s identity as the legends of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.
Despite state laws prohibiting prostitution, Deadwood never enacted a city ordinance to outlaw the practice. The industry continued for decades with minimal interference from the outside world. A brief interruption occurred in 1952 when a newly elected States Attorney attempted to shut down the brothels. However, his efforts failed, and the brothels reopened within six months due to technicalities. His subsequent reelection bid was unsuccessful.
The brothels continued to thrive for another 28 years until a 1980 FBI raid, prompted by rumors of biker gangs "selling" girls as young as 14. The authorities padlocked the four remaining brothels, leaving residents puzzled. The Deadwood police chief’s explanation was vague, suggesting that the closure was due to past inaction.
Many residents hoped the closure would be temporary, as they viewed the painted ladies as vital contributors to the city’s economy. One businessman described them as "a public service, not a public nuisance." However, officials reportedly continued to occupy the upstairs apartments on Main Street for years afterward to prevent the resurgence of prostitution.
After more than a century, a Deadwood institution had come to an end, with most of the women relocating elsewhere. However, the sporting ladies of Deadwood Gulch are not forgotten. They are still celebrated in parades, stories, and musical revues.
Notable Figures:
Madam Dora DuFran – The Black Hills’ Leading Madam:
While many of the painted ladies of Deadwood remain nameless in historical records, some, like Madam Dora DuFran, achieved notoriety. Dora quickly found success upon arriving in Deadwood and expanded her business to include branch houses in Sturgis, Rapid City, and Belle Fourche.
Born in England, Dora immigrated to Nebraska with her parents. As Amy Helen Dorothy Bolshow, she arrived in Rapid City and began working as a dancehall girl. By the time of the Deadwood gold rush, she had become a full-fledged madam. She married Joseph DuFran, a gambler who supported her business endeavors.
Dora befriended and occasionally employed Calamity Jane, who sometimes worked as a prostitute. She was also known for her generosity, providing nursing care and assistance to the poor. Her establishment in Belle Fourche, "Diddlin’ Dora’s," advertised itself as "Three D’s – Dining, Drinking, and Dancing – a place where you can bring your mother." While popular with cowboys, most were interested in more than just dining and dancing.
In 1903, a worn-out Calamity Jane sought refuge at Dora’s brothel in Belle Fourche. Jane earned her keep by cooking and doing laundry for the other women before her death on August 2, 1903.
After her husband’s death in 1909, Dora returned to Rapid City and opened another successful brothel, which also operated as a speakeasy during Prohibition. One anecdote recounts how a flood stranded several Rapid City businessmen at Dora’s brothel, leading to confrontations with their wives upon their return.
Dora DuFran died of heart failure on August 5, 1934, at the age of 60. Her obituary in the Black Hills Pioneer lauded her as "a noted social worker." Her grave is marked by four urns featuring grinning imps, symbolizing the four brothels she owned.
Mollie Johnson – Queen of the Blondes:
Mollie Johnson, known as the "Queen of the Blondes," ran a brothel at the corner of Sherman and Lee Streets. She was known for her flamboyant behavior, renting a carriage and parading through town, snubbing both "proper ladies" and rival "sporting ladies."
Her antics made her a frequent subject in Deadwood’s newspapers, which both criticized and reported on her activities. In 1878, she married "Dutch Ni**er" Lew Spencer, a black minstrel, which surprised his friends. However, their marriage was unconventional, as Mollie continued her profession.
Mollie employed three blonde protégées – Ida Clark, Ida Cheplan, and Jennie Duchesneau – whom she took with her on her outings. In 1878, Mollie hosted several dances and "balls" in the firehouse and warehouses, which likely served as marketing opportunities for her business.
Newspapers also reported on a buggy race between her girls, which ended in a collision due to their inexperience and intoxication. The press also highlighted conflicts between Mollie and rival brothels, often attempting to instigate feuds.
When the Times reported the arrest of three of Mollie’s competitors for selling liquor without a license, they accused Mollie of providing the information. Mollie denied the accusation in a note to the Times, stating that she would never harm her "sisters in sin."
In 1879, Mollie’s husband, Lew Spencer, fatally shot his "wife" in Denver. Spencer was imprisoned but later released and went on to record an early version of "A Hot Time in the Old Town" in 1896.
Mollie continued to host raucous parties. Though scorned by many and arrested several times for selling liquor without a license, her business thrived until the Deadwood fire of November 1879.
During the fire, Mollie ensured the safety of her girls, including Jennie Phillips, who had died the day before and was lying in a coffin in Mollie’s parlor. After the fire destroyed her property, Mollie quickly rebuilt, but was plagued by two more fires. Despite these setbacks, she continued to operate a boarding house.
The newspapers continued to report on her activities until January 1883, when Mollie Johnson left Deadwood. Her fate beyond Deadwood remains unknown.
Inez Sexton – Escaping the Trade:
Inez Sexton distinguished herself by refusing to join the ranks of the painted ladies. In the early 1880s, she fell victim to Al Swearengen’s scheme to lure women to the Gem Theatre. Swearengen advertised for "stage performers" in the East, offering high wages and paid travel. However, upon arrival, the women discovered that their duties differed significantly.
Swearengen intended to turn Sexton into a prostitute, but she refused, declaring, "Although my voice is for sale, nothing else is!" She left the saloon, and the respectable ladies of Deadwood organized a benefit to raise money for her return home.