"Be it here or any other room in this theatre, death was the dessert plate of the foolish."
(Taul Tales)
 

The Bird Cage Theatre opened it's doors in December 1881 and kept them open 24/7 for eight years until they closed in 1889. The entertainment consisted of gambling, theatrical plays, drinking saloon and a house of ill repute. There are at least 140 bullet holes in the floors, walls and ceilings, with 16 gun and knife fights that took place throughout its time leaving 26 people dead. It was a favorite night spot of famous names such as the Earps, Bat Masterson, Doc Holliday, Curly Bill Brocius, Diamond Jim Brady, Randolph Hearst, the McLaurys, the Clantons, Johnny Ringo and many more. It was where Gold Dollar killed Margarita, where Wyatt Earp had his affair with Josephine Marcus, and the longest poker game in history was held here, going on 24 hours a day for eight years, five months and three days. There are fourteen 'cribs' that hang from the ceiling. Seven on each side where the ladies entertained. Included, are several brothel rooms where the gambling hall is. The original Grand piano stands in its historic place. Everything here is authentic and the business license of some of the prostitutes still hang on the walls. In 1934 it reopened as a landmark/museum to the public.

 

Come join me on this tour of the amazing Bird Cage Theatre. . . .

 

This sign in front of the Bird Cage Theatre on 6th Street and Allen reads:
"Curly Bill Brocius killed Marshal Fred White here on Oct. 27, 1880".

 

Curly Bill Brocius (William Graham) shot 32 year old Marshal Fred White (supposedly by accident), just after midnight on
October 27, 1880 right in front of the Bird Cage Saloon. It most likely happened on the street in front of the saloon.

Epitaph Read:

". . . .Marshal White was shot in the left groin, the ball passing nearly through, and being cut from his buttock by Dr. Matthews. . . .
At last accounts, 8 A.M., Marshal White was sleeping and strong hopes of his ultimate recovery were expected."
Tombstone Daily Epitaph, October 28, 1880.

(Marshal White died October 30, 1880)

 

 

Entering The Bird Cage Theatre

 

                                                  

The original oil lights still hang in the theatre,
now replaced with electricity.

The cribs still hang above on either side and the brothel rooms are
toward the back. Today, antiques are set out for the public to view.

 

 

              

This piano offered years of entertainment at the Bird Cage Theatre. On the right, is a close-up of the sign that is displayed on it. It reads:

"The original grand piano has sat on this spot since 1881. It furnished music for the shows and dances. It is built out of solid rose wood and is hand carved. This piano was the first to arrive in Tombstone. It was shipped around the horn of South Am. to San Francisco by boat and brought from there to Tombstone by mule train. It was part of a five piece band that played the Bird Cage from 1881 through 1889."

 

 

 

The Cribs

This statue of Wyatt Earp, (on the left) created by an American Native was placed in the crib
Wyatt frequently used. The original red velvet curtains and wallpaper still hang.

The photo hanging outside of the next crib are (I believe to be) the Earps and Doc Holliday. The sign to the left
of the photo explains the rare relics of the circus posters displayed on these walls that you see here.

 

 

                  
 

A close-up. The second man from the left I believe is to be Doc Holliday with his ever-famous cane. The first man must be Wyatt because in many photos I've seen of him, or at least photos that I suspect were him, he often had a habit of keeping his right hand on his hip. On the right, is a
close-up of the sign under the statues.

 

 

Here is a photo (in the middle) that I believe is Wyatt and Josie.
(Scroll down for a close-up)

 

 

 

                   

 

 

The original velvet curtains still hang in the cribs.

 

 

Two coffins (adult and baby) are on display in the theatre. The black coffin is likeness of the
coffins used for Frank McLaury, Tom McLaury and Billy Clanton who were killed at the OK Corral.

 

 

To the right of the coffins is the hearse "Black Mariah" (or Moriah) who took many of the theatre's
murder victims and Tombstone's victims to Boothill Cemetery. Trimmed in 24 k gold and sterling
silver, it was the Black Moriah that took the McLaury Brothers to Boothill. They laid side-by-side.

 

 

 

 

 The Gambling Room
 

 

                   

This is the gambling room where famous names of the west played their hand. It was here where
a poker game lasted more than eight years. What surprised me about this area was how small it is.

 

 

                             

 

 

Displayed on the wall are the house rules.
Minimum buy was $1000.00 per player.

 

 

There was a small bar in the center of this gambling room
assuring heated arguments and fights after hours of drinking.

 

 

How convenient. Gambling on the left. Bordello on the right.
 

 

 


The Bordellos

 

                                 

The Bordellos that are directly across from the gambling room still hold their furnishings.

 

 

 

The Bird Cage Theatre is one of the strangest and scariest places I have been to. All that has happened here in such a short time was more than these walls could hold. I felt the heaviness surround me as soon as I walked in. It was an atmosphere of anger and evil, hate and revenge. To me, it was frightening and so suffocating I could hardly stand it and it finally lifted as soon as I got outside.

If you visit Tombstone, be sure you stop by the Bird Cage Theatre. . . .just don't go in alone.

 

"You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting  your life.
The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.
Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by crime!"
(Habakkuk 2:10-12)

 

 

 

Next is the famous "Boothill Cemetery"

 

 

 

 

                                            

 

 

Midi "Sentimental Journey"