Artist depiction of Railroad Avenue circa 1880 by Larry Callahan, September 1997

15. Close & Patterson's Variety Hall

RR Ave N of E. Lincoln

1879-1881

George Close and Billy Patterson were track followers, Close had a saloon in El Moro, Patterson had a saloon in La Junta CO, before establishing their variety hall in Las Vegas. Their motto was "Everybody Entertained in the Best Possible Manner." Their Variety Hall was situated among a row of frontier false facade buildings, and was a saloon, dance hall, and theatre. Acts such as Grace Rollia, Mrs. Quinette and her children, Mammie and Frank, and Al Arthur the Fire King, performing on a stage designed and painted by scenic artist Mr. Munsch. In late January, T.J. House, James West, John Dorsey, and William Randall were parading about town sneering, laughing, and looking for trouble. On the 22nd they entered the Variety Hall, declining to check their guns with Marshall Joe Carson. A wild gunfight ensued and Carson was killed immediately, while Deputy "Mysterious" Dave Mather killed Randall and dropped West, while Dorsey and an injured House escaped. After a posse returned them to the Old Town Jail, vigilantes relieved the jailers of their prisoners and took them to the windmill on the Plaza, seen in the foreground of the Blanchard & Co. building, for a hanging. Before their fate was sealed, Mrs. Carson opened fire, and after a flurry of gunfire another early episode of violence in Las Vegas was closed. Like many early frame buildings in New Town, many of the buildings depicted were destroyed by an extensive conflagration.

"Mysterious" Dave Mather Courtesy of Kansas State Historical Society