First came the miners to work in the mine,
Next came the ladies who lived on the line.

-- Old Western Mining Adage

Though all manner of brothels, cat-houses, and cribs thrived throughout the American West, those “parlor houses” that were elegantly furnished and having the most beautiful and desirable women, were obviously the most profitable. These better establishments were run by a female owner called a “madam.” This was usually an older woman who had “paid her dues” by practicing the same profession as those who worked for her. Many of these women became legends of the Old West for the popularity of their "houses," the people they came into contact with, or events that occurred in their lives.

The running of a parlor house or brothel was often a very profitable business and the most successful madams were extremely adept business women, who amassed not only wealth, but real estate, fine horses, and other material goods.

First-class places set a good table and prided themselves on their cellars, offering choice cigars, bonded bourbon, and the finest liquors and wines. Customers could often enjoy champagne suppers and sing with the girls around the piano. In very high class parlor houses, the women could only be seen by appointment.

The girls’ rooms were always on the second floor, if there was one. Parlor houses would usually average six to 12 girls, plus the madam, who entertained only those customers she personally selected. Some of the more famous madams charged as much as $1,000 for their services, such as Cripple Creek, Colorado's famous madam, Pearl de Vere.

Madams provided for the women who worked for them, a number of services, primarily protection, often employing "bouncers" who would rid the house of any "rif-raf." Sometimes, room and board was also provided, though at others, the soiled doves paid rent. The madam would then take a split of the money earned by the "girls," an amount that varied from house to house, and the "services" provided by the madam.