| The Bird Cage was the most famous Honky-tonk in America between
1881 and 1889. The New York Times referred to it in 1882 as the wildest,
wickedet night spot between Basin Street and the Barbary Coast.
In its nine years of 24 hour a day operation this was the sight of
16 gunfights, with 140 bullet holes in the walls and ceilings to show for
them. Entertainment on stage ranged from nightly French CanCan dancers
to risque performances to national headliners such as Eddie Foy and Lotts
Crabtree. Ladies of the town never even walked on the same side of
the street of the Bird Cage. |
