On an October morning in 1904, in the town of Iowa where he had returned after decades away, Al Swearengen’s life came to an abrupt and violent end. His body was discovered on the street near his residence, the head bearing the marks of a heavy, blunt blow. Denver police were baffled. They could not determine whether the man who had once ruled Deadwood’s most notorious establishment had been murdered or had simply died in an accident.

Subsequent reports suggested that Swearengen, who had once grossed five thousand dollars a night, died penniless while trying to hop a freight train. It was a grim and solitary finish for a man whose name had become legend in the lawless wild west town of Deadwood, where chaos reigned and one name rose above all else: Al Swearengen, holding power in hand, the man who shaped Deadwood’s destiny. Alfred Swearengen was an American entertainment businessman and pimp in the vibrant town of Deadwood, South Dakota. He was the owner of the Gem Theater, a notorious brothel that operated in the late nineteenth century.

Swearengen and his twin brother, Lemuel, were born on July 8, 1845, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Their parents were Daniel J. and Kaziah Montgomery Swearengen. As the eldest in the family, the twins grew up in Iowa with eight siblings and remained there until adulthood.

Al Swearengen ventured into Deadwood, South Dakota, in May 1876. He was one of the earliest non-mining individuals to settle in the area. Within a week of his arrival, Swearengen wasted no time and set up a makeshift dance hall in the Black Hills. The Pioneers’ 1882 New Year’s Edition, describing the early history of the city, recorded that Al Swearengen was running a dance house of 30 by 150 feet in dimensions, and day and night a man had to push and crowd to get in.

Along with his wife, Nettie, Swearengen’s home life in Deadwood soon became turbulent. In September, Nettie decided to leave him, eventually filing for divorce on the grounds of her husband’s abuse. Swearengen would marry two more times while in Deadwood, and both marriages resulted in divorce with similar allegations of abuse. Swearengen replaced his makeshift dance hall with a permanent building known as the Cricket Saloon.

Despite its small size, often referred to as a hall by the press due to its narrowness, the pub became a popular entertainment destination. Swearengen introduced entertaining matches in a limited five-by-five space, providing enjoyment to participants, though without any rewards. The non-professionals participating in the matches were generally ordinary working miners whom Swearengen persuaded to join. On April 7, 1877, Swearengen successfully opened the Gem Variety Theater, described by the Black Hills Daily Pioneer as a theater of impeccable style and sophistication, surpassing any venue of its kind on the Western frontier.

This theater quickly became a popular entertainment spot in the area, home to beautiful comedians, singers, and dancers. In addition to the diverse repertoire, the theater continued to perform attractive matches to bring excitement to the audience. However, it is important to acknowledge that the Gem Theater was not simply an entertainment venue but rather served as a brothel. The establishment’s notoriety stemmed from the fact that women were forced to serve and entertain wealthy men.

Al Swearengen used deceptive tactics to recruit women from the eastern states, luring them with promises of luxury hotel jobs and big stage performances at his theater. However, upon arrival, these unlucky people would have to work under the infamous Swearengen or be kicked out into the streets. Forced into a form of slavery, some women even considered taking their own lives instead of suffering such a fate. The women who remained faced a life of suffering marked by the physical bruises and emotional pain they endured.

Despite this, the Gem Theater grew stronger, offering many rich and attractive entertainment activities. The beautiful women quickly became the main attraction of the camp, attracting the attention and patronage of many famous citizens. Despite the complicity of so-called citizen leaders, the authorities turned a blind eye, allowing the pub to operate with impunity. The Gem Theater had a spacious bar area and plenty of seating that served as a prelude to the main event.

Towards the back of the building, discreetly hidden between curtains, were several small rooms where the Gem’s painted ladies would entertain their guests. Legend has it that the Gem band would sing into the night from their balconies, after which glamorous women would lure potential customers inside. Once inside, the ladies would charge their customers twenty dollars for a dance, ten dollars for a beer, and a substantial ten dollars for a bottle of wine. As for the charges for the other services, they remain unknown.

In addition to the many women, Swearengen’s staff included Dan Doty, the general manager, and Johnny Burns, who was responsible for overseeing the women, along with a security team. Unfortunately, these men, like Swearengen himself, were known for their brutal treatment of the women, with physical abuse being a regular occurrence. Though originally an entertainment venue, the Gem quickly became known as a violent pub where the echoing gunshots became an all-too-familiar sound within its walls. These shots were fired not only during scuffles between drunken men but also in amusements, often aimed at the girls themselves.

In one notable case, a prostitute working at the Gem known as Louisa shot a man in the head after he brutally beat her. Incredibly, the man did not die instantly. A doctor was hastily called, who placed a probe on the man’s head and was shocked to learn that he had miraculously survived the bullet. About thirty minutes later, the man died.

Amidst the chaotic events taking place in the infamous theater, the whereabouts of field marshal Seth Bullock remains a subject of curiosity. It is said that Bullock and Swearengen reached an agreement, drawing an imaginary line along Main Street. This boundary, known as the Bad Lands, effectively divided the town. Thereafter, Swearengen took control of the lower part of Main Street, while Sheriff Bullock maintained control of its upper part.

This division not only separated their spheres of influence but also set them apart in financial interests, wherein Bullock emphasized the general well-being of the community while Swearengen focused on his lucrative projects along the lower section of the street. In the early summer of 1879, the Gem Theater was engulfed in flames, causing considerable damage. However, Swearengen wasted no time in quickly repairing and rebuilding the facility. Just three months later, in September 1879, tragedy struck the entire town of Deadwood when a catastrophic fire ravaged the area, consuming about two hundred buildings, including the Gem Theater.

Undeterred, Swearengen embarked on another ambitious endeavor, rebuilding the Gem from scratch. This time, the newly emerged theater was more majestic and magnificent than before. Its opening in December 1879 was met with great anticipation, with the Daily Times enthusiastically calling it the most splendid theater ever to appear. The Gem Theater continued to thrive, raking in substantial profits nightly.

On average, it grossed five thousand dollars, with nights even surpassing eleven thousand dollars, which is three hundred thousand dollars in 2023 currency. However, it did not last long. In 1899, the Gem faced its final demise: a devastating fire that left it in ruins. Swearengen’s reign in Deadwood came to an end as the Gem was permanently closed, severing his ties to the town for good.

On October 2, 1904, an unfortunate incident happened to Lemuel, Al Swearengen’s twin brother. While leaving the local butcher market, Lemuel was assaulted, receiving a severe blow to the head. The attacker tried to rob him. Lemuel was discovered the next day unconscious.

Despite receiving medical attention, eight days later he passed away. Al Swearengen then left Iowa, embarking on a new journey. Less than two months later, on November 15, 1904, Al Swearengen’s life came to an abrupt and tragic end. His body was discovered on the street near his residence.

Similar to his brother, Al was also brutally hit on the head by a heavy and blunt object. The circumstances surrounding his death baffled Denver police, who were unable to determine for certain whether his death was an accidental incident or an intentional act of violence. Subsequent reports suggested that Swearengen died penniless while trying to hop on a freight train. The man who had built Deadwood’s most infamous establishment, who had rebuilt it from ashes twice and filled it with music, glamour, and brutality, ended his days alone on a street, his death a mystery that would never be fully resolved.

For a deeper dive into the fascinating history of the Gem Theater and the town of Deadwood, the Adams Museum at 54 Sherman Street in Deadwood, South Dakota, holds a wealth of information and beautiful pictures related to the Gem Theater, where the stories of the famous characters around it come to life.