Squirrel Tooth Alice, the Dance Hall Girl

The annals of the Wild West are awash with colorful nicknames, but one that truly stands out is “Squirrel Tooth Alice.” Born as Mary Elizabeth Haley, she carved her unconventional path as a dance hall performer, captivating audiences across the Kansas frontier.

In her youth, she landed in Abilene, where she tied the knot with Texas Billy, embarking on a nomadic journey through the sun-scorched plains of Kansas. Their escapades took a dark turn when Billy inadvertently crossed paths with Ellsworth’s sheriff, resulting in a hasty retreat to the fabled Dodge City. Under the guise of a dance hall, Mary Elizabeth Haley opened a brothel that added a touch of audacity to the Wild West’s storied history.