February 25, 2003, Boerne, TX - 2 (2/3-6/03 - Tombstone, AZ)

Continuing with the interior of the Bird Cage Theater, on the left is: “This box was occupied by Russian Bill every night for two years at $25 dollars per night.  Bill was not an outlaw – but just wanted to appear tough – so he stole a horse – for which he was hanged.  He was really a Russian nobleman and was pitied by most of the citizens.”  This booth, or box, was located right adjecent to the stairs to the stage.  I climbed the stairs and looked back at the theater upper level.

And then the other side of the theater from the stage.  At the back of the stage was this wonderful hearsh.  Inlaid with gold, and meticulously carved.  Must have been for the "somebodys" of the day.

Under that stage were several rooms. This one for the high-stakes poker game that ran for 24 hours a day for ??? days straight, and then 3 smaller rooms for the gent's "entertainment", each with bed, several chairs, small table, and a basin or two.  Further back under the stage was the liquor storage.  I can't attest to the contents of the whiskey barrels, but I'd guess they were empty and just on display for those of us poking around.  I shot the picture through some very sturdy wire mesh "fencing" material.

The exterior of the theatre is still in pretty good shape, and inside the front door is the bar.  Across from the bar is this staricase leading up to the booths, boxes, or bird cages, and this painting of Fatima the belly dancer.  It was a gift from the dancer to the theatre.

Next to the painting, right above the poster by the door is a bullet hole.  There are 41 bullet holes different places in the theater, and many of them right here in the bar.  Tough place.  And next to the spittoon is a juke box.  Well, at least an early version of what became the juke box.  Huge metal disk with punchings that would strum the appropriate strings at appropriate times.  Beautiful workworking. 

I stood in the middle of the barroom floor and took pictures 180 degrees from each other.  Barb at one end with Fatima in her bare-breasted beauty, and the real live bartender at the other.  In neither picture can you see bullet holes, but there are two on Barb's side, and four on the bartenders side.  Ornate carving around the mirror (which again amazingly enough is still intact) in intricate detail.  I found the incongruity of the beauty amongst the harsh and violent environment to be interesting.  Much I suppose like finding the pretty little flowers in the middle of the desert, which surrounds this place.

Gambels quail.  Fat little birds that would rather run than fly and are seldom without their mate.  These were behind our trailer in Huachuca City.  Pretty typical surroundings for this area.

Boot Hill, the cemetery for Tombstone. The grave in the background is marked, "Ramon Verra, Stabbed 1882" and in the foreground is "J. Gardiner, Shot 1882".  The picture on the right is just a layout of the cemetery.

On the left, "Mrs. Ah Lin, (China Mary) Born China, died Tombstone, Dec 16, 1906, Aged 67 yrs" and then "Six Shooter Jim, shot by Burt Alvord, '85"

On the left, "1871 Glenn Will 1953, his ashes arrived collect on delivery" and the one on the right you can read for yourself.

And then some "famous" ones. On the left, "Here lies George Johnson, hanged by mistake 1882, he was right we was wrong but we strung him up and now he's gone", and then "Here lies Lester Moore four slugs from a .44, No Les no more".

"John Heath taken from County Jail & LYNCHED by Bisbee Mob in Tombstone Feb 22, 1884", and then "ROOK, shot by a Chinaman".