other_names nationality birth_date known_for image article_title name occupation
the allen american 1833 saloon figure in new york city during the mid-to late 19th keeper century . , political `` fixer '' and underworld theodore allen.jpg theodore allen
 theodore allen saloon keeper
theodore allen

theodore allen , or known simply as the allen , -lrb- fl .
1880 -- 1890 -rrb- 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 .
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 .
he was the owner of `` the american mabille '' , named after the jardin de mabille in paris , originally located at a bleecker street home .
the popular resort included a dance hall and concert saloon , in the basement and first floor respectively , 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 '' '' 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 , one journalist claiming that the concert saloon caused '' `` the ruin of more young girls then all the dive keepers in new york '' '' .
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 '' , he planned and participated in numerous bank and store robberies .
he eventually fled the city after killing a gambler and disappeared .
