Theodore Allen
Born	1833[1]
Nationality	American
Other names	The Allen
Occupation	Saloon keeper
Known for	Saloon keeper, political "fixer" and underworld figure in New York City during the mid-to late 19th century.

Theodore Allen, or known simply as The Allen, (fl. 1880-1890) was an American gambler, political organizer, saloon keeper and head of a criminal family in New York City during the mid-to late 19th century. ^[2] Born to a devout and prominent Methodist family, he and four of his brothers were notorious underworld figures; Wesley, Martin and William Allen were professional burglars while the fourth brother, John Allen, ran an illegal gambling den. ^[3]

He was the owner of The American Mabille, named after the Jardin de Mabille in Paris, originally located at a Bleeker Street home. The popular resort included a dance hall and concert saloon, in the basement and first floor respectfully, which housed "all classes of the demi-monde from the sun-bleared Cyprian of the Bowery ... to the diamond-bedecked mistress of some sporting man" ^[4] and where it was said "dissolute women in gaudy tights danced and sang ribald songs". It was also notorious for luring its female working class patrons into prostitution, ^[2] one journalist claiming that the concert saloon caused "the ruin of more young girls then all the dive keepers in New York". ^[4] Allen owned half a dozen similar establishments, among them the St. Bernard Hotel at Prince and Mercer Streets, as well as financed gambling dens, brothels and other "places of ill-fame". Closely associated with many criminals and gang chieftains of the period, as well as the principal competitor of Billy McGlory's Armory Hall, ^[4] he planned and participated in numerous bank and store robberies. He eventually fled the city after killing a gambler and disappeared. ^[3]

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

• Asbury, Herbert. Sucker's Progress: An Informal History of Gambling in America from the Colonies to Canfield. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1938.
• French, Joseph Lewis. A Gallery of Old Rogues. New York: A.H. King, 1931.
• Leach, Duane M. and Monroe Billington. American Democracy on Trial. Berkeley, California: McCutchan Publishing Corp., 1968.
• Wrong, Dennis Hume and Harry L. Gracey. Readings in Introductory Sociology. New York: Macmillan, 1977.