Category Archives: Alaskan Gold Rush

Posts about the history of the Alaskan Gold Rush, and the 19th Century con men that dominated it.

School for Scoundrels at Magic Castle Sunday!


Bob Sheets at School for Scoundrels

Despite the recent Halloween fire, the Magic Castle is planning to be open by this weekend, and our School for Scoundrels class will begin on Sunday night, November 6th, as planned.

There is still room for you to join this exciting class, but you must register by Friday.

It is open to both members and non-members of the Magic Castle, and no prior experience, skills or knowledge is required.

This course teaches the basic sleight of hand, psychology, history and importance to magic of the three basic street swindles: Three-Card Monte, the Shell Game, and the various games of Fast and Loose.

We believe that the street hustler makes a better role-model for the modern close-up magician than the card cheat which has been the model since the turn of the century.

We believe that street hustlers have much to teach that is of huge benefit to magicians, especially those who work corporate walk around, trade-shows, or private parties where they need to gather a crowd, hold their attention, control their thinking, and get them to do what they want them to do.

School for Scoundrels at the Magic Castle in Hollywood will begin on Sunday, November 6, and continue on Nov 13, 20, 27, and also on Mondays, November 7, 14, 21, 28. School for Scoundrels is a course taught at the Magic Castle every November since 1996.

Pop Haydn and Chef Anton (two-time national trick-shot champion at pool), teach the class together, with guests such as Bob Sheets and Doc Eason.

The course attracts lawyers and law-enforcement personnel, as well as magicians, students of gambling and history, and many who just find the subject fascinating–you don’t need to be a member of the Magic Castle to sign up for this course, and no previous knowledge or skills are required.

The course is $160 for the eight hours–two hours a night, once a week, for four weeks.

You can switch nights from Monday to Sunday or vice-versa–each week the same lesson is taught on both Sun and Mon at 7:00 pm.

Contact Magic University, and talk to Mark or Nani Wilson at (800) 367-8749 to sign up for the course.

$160 for all four nights.

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School for Scoundrels at the Magic Castle:


Pop Haydn

Pop Haydn

School for Scoundrels at the Magic Castle in Hollywood will begin on Sunday, November 6, and continue on Nov 13, 20, 27, and also on Mondays, November 7, 14, 21, 28. School for Scoundrels is a course taught at the Magic Castle every November since 1996.

Pop Haydn and Chef Anton (two-time national trick-shot champion at pool), teach the class together.

The course attracts lawyers and law-enforcement personnel, as well as magicians, students of gambling and history, and many who just find the subject fascinating–you don’t need to be a member of the Magic Castle to sign up for this course, and no previous knowledge or skills are required.

The course is $160 for the eight hours–two hours a night, once a week, for four weeks.

You can switch nights from Monday to Sunday or vice-versa–each week the same lesson is taught on both Sun and Mon at 7:00 pm.

This course teaches the basic sleight of hand, psychology, history and importance to magic of the three basic street swindles: Three-Card Monte, the Shell Game, and the various games of Fast and Loose.

We believe that the street hustler makes a better role-model for the modern close-up magician than the card cheat which has been the model since the turn of the century.

We believe that street hustlers have much to teach that is of huge benefit to magicians, especially those who work corporate walk around, trade-shows, or private parties where they need to gather a crowd, hold their attention, control their thinking, and get them to do what they want them to do.

Contact Magic University, and talk to Mark or Nani Wilson at (800) 367-8749 to sign up for the course. $160 for all four nights.

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The Lovely Isabella Star:


Isabella Star

Isabella Star

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to the very lovely Isabella Star. She’s two fifths Clara Bow, two fifths Keith Moon, and one fifth Popov Vodka. She is gorgeous and sexy and she is going to take her clothes off for you at the Monday Night Tease’s show Scoundrels and Trollops at the 3Clubs on Vine Street (just north of Santa Monica) in Hollywood, California. Mark Monday, October 24th on your calendar. 9:30 pm.

Please join me and Phil Van Tee and Isabella and the rest of Pop’s Tarts for a fun, sexy, and entertaining show.

The Monday Night Tease is the longest running traditional burlesque show in Hollywood.

It is run by the fabulous and talented Lili VonSchtupp. The crowd is mixed and friendly, and welcoming. It is a good show for couples as well as single ladies and men. The atmosphere is fun and upbeat, and a maybe just a little raunchy. Magic, music, comedy and near-nekkid ladies–what could be better?

Scoundrels and Trollops

Monday Night Tease hosted by Pop Haydn

Burlesque by:

Anastasia Vonteaserhausen
Isabella Star
Miss Angie Cakes
Glama Sutra
Kate Fox
Venus Demille

with a special guest appearance by Phil Van Tee

$15 advance tickets:
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/205781

Bar Opens: 6pm
Seating Starts: 9:30pm
Show Starts: 10pm

3 Clubs
1123 Vine St.
(Vine at Santa Monica)
Los Angeles, CA 90038

No photography. Performers subject to change without notice. Plenty of free street parking.

21+, full bar, no food.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=158290334264749

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25,760 views of Medicine Show Band:


I had not checked in a long time, but just noticed that my video of Professor Dave Bourne and the Medicine Show Band had hit over 25, 760 views.

This is great!

Dave Bourne is one of the finest Old Time musicians around, and his band has incredible players. They appear on our Post-Modern Medicine Show, of course, as well as in our Radio-Medicine Show, our Old Time Internet Hour, and at every Soapy Smith Night at the Magic Castle in Hollywood.

Dave was the piano player at the Gem Saloon in HBO’s Deadwood, and created a lot of the music for that show. Dave started out playing piano in 1958 at the Calico Saloon at Knott’s Berry Farm.

He played bass for the Wagonmasters, a cowboy band that played ar0und the campfire at the Wagon Camp at Knott’s from 1955-1968.

You can find out more about Professor Dave Bourne and the Medicine Show Band, and purchase CDs at www.Saloonpiano.com.

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Monday Night Tease with Pop’s Tarts:


Pop's Tarts, Monday Night Tease

Pop's Tarts

Lili VonSchtupp’s Monday Night Tease at 3Clubs is the longest running Burlesque show in Hollywood. Pop Haydn will be hosting the Monday Night Tease on October 24, 2011 at 10:00 pm.

Seating begins at 9:30 pm.

Scoundrels and Trollops, a Gold Rush Follies hosted by Pop Haydn

Burlesque by:
Anastasia Vonteaserhausen
Isabella Star
Miss Angie Cakes
Glama Sutra
Kate Fox
Venus Demille

with a special guest appearance by the unique banjo comedian and satirist Phil Van Tee

Phil Van Tee

Phil Van Tee

$15 advance tickets:
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/205781

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Fundraiser at Historic Lummis House


El Alisal is the home built by Charles Fletcher Lummis between 1896 and 1910 on the west bank of the Arroyo Seco in northeast Los Angeles. It takes its name from local sycamore trees, one of which is featured in the home’s interior courtyard. The house is built using stones from the arroyo bed, concrete, and wood. The design of the home is influenced by mission architecture and the dwellings of the Pueblo Indians. Though not directly influenced by the English Arts and Crafts movement, the house shares many of its design principles; it is furnished with hand-crafted wooden furniture, and features exposed wooden cross-beams and concrete floors.

Fundraiser for the Historical Society of Southern California

Join us Saturday, October 1st, from 6:00–9:00 pm for a special fundraiser celebrating money and magic in the West. This will be at the historic Lummis house in Los Angeles.

Buy in and participate in demonstrations of classic games like the shell game and three-card monte.

The dealers will be Magic Castle magicians Pop Haydn and Phil Van Tee. All proceeds go to HSSC. There will be a silent auction as well as music, food and beverages. Western outfits and period costumes welcomed. Hats, yes. Guns, no.

Members $60, Nonmembers $70.

Special price for reservations received and paid before Sept. 10: Members $50, Non-Members $60

For Non-Members, you can get tickets HERE.

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The Intelligent Gambler:


“An intelligent man gambles because this is a means of surrendering himself and his fortunes to the fates before tasting his wits and nerve. He does this because it improves the flavor of living. Unless he can do this happily, and with grace, he is a loser whether he leaves the game a richer man or a poorer. Unless he can do this, he should not gamble at all.”

–Nick “The Greek” Dandalos

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Getting taken twice by Soapy Smith


From Jeff Smith:
“Some of my favorite stories involving Soapy and his Tivoli Club in Denver are the times he was able to swindle the same dupes twice. A good confidence man can take any victim once, but only a great one can take the same victim twice on the same day. Think of the smooth intellect needed to fool a man twice.

“You need to know that I don’t condone or admire crime. However, anyone who studies Soapy for the shortest amount of time ends up admiring his methods, much the same way a police detective might admire an intelligent crook. My website has a saying I changed around to meet my needs. “He left his mark on history, so we won’t become one.”

“My book has two such examples in which victims were lured back into the Tivoli Club after having gone to the police and complained about the first case. In the example below the victim did enter the den a second time but was able to escape before he was taken again…so he says.”

GRANGER HELD UP

“Twice inveigled into a Gambling Den on Seventeenth Street. The latest hold-up on Seventeenth street is reported from the gambling rooms over the Tivoli saloon, Seventeenth and Market streets. As the result of a brief experience in the notorious resort Rudolph Hann mourns the loss of $95 in hard cash which he earned by the sweat of his brow on a Kansas ranch.

“The lamb from the Sunflower state floated into Denver Friday night and put up for the night at one of the cheap down-town lodging houses. There he was evidently spotted and yesterday forenoon as he meandered out to view the scenes of the rising metropolis he was approached by a smooth stranger who inveigled him into the Tivoli gambling rooms. Three men were playing cards at one of the tables.
“The new comer was presented with a handful of checks and in five minutes he arose, loser by $130. Upon applying at the police station he was sent back to the place accompanied by an officer, and succeeded in recovering $35. Before night Hann was inveigled a second time into the building but made his escape and took the first train for his old home in Kansas. He related his story to a News reporter as the train left the union depot.”
Rocky Mountain News, 1893

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“Ya’ wanna’ see Fitzhugh Lee — Soapy Smith’s famous eagle?”


Fitzhugh Eagle

My dear friend Jeff Smith sent me this wonderful photograph of the Eagle that was given to Soapy Smith and displayed in back of Jeff Smith’s Parlor. It was the origin of the Alaskan phrases “I’m goin’ to see the eagle” and “I’m goin’ to show him the eagle” the former meaning I am going to relieve myself, and the latter meaning “I’m going to mug this stupid Cheechawko.” Both referred to the space out back where men went to pee behind the saloon, and also to where Soapy’s men would supposedly mug folk with a poke. Probably not true, since Soapy wouldn’t allow much of any disrepute, including gambling in his “headquarters.”

Here is what Jeff says:

“The photograph was taken by Rev. John Sinclair on July 4, 1898 just before the parade.

“The float, a freight wagon, holds a large wire cage containing the live American bald eagle given to Jefferson Randolph “Soapy” Smith.

Behind the wagon a man holding a large American flag will be followed by Soapy’s private army, the Skaguay Military Company, in which Soapy is Captain. The small boy dressed as “Uncle Sam” is the 9-y…ear-old son of Soapy’s business partner John Clancy. The wagon rests in front of Soapy’s saloon, Jeff Smith’s Parlor (far right). The white and grey horse between the Parlor and the wagon is Soapy’s. He will be riding the same as the fourth division marshal of the parade, but Soapy manages to force his way to the front of the parade, becoming the unofficial grand marshal.”

–Jeff Smith

You can find out much more about Soapy Smith, the “King of the Frontier Con Men” by the website of his great-grandson and biographer, Jeff Smith at http://www.soapysmith.net/

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