Beyond the O.K. Corral
When you think of Tombstone , Arizona visions of the Gunfight at OK Corral, Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday come to mind. However, Tombstone is also famous for an epic poker game held at the Bird Cage Theatre. Legend has it that the game spanned eight years, five months and three days from 1881 to 1889.

You needed deep pockets to sit at this game. Each player had to pony up at least $1000 which works out to around $30,000 in today’s money. While it’s not known exactly what game was played or what the stakes were, it’s likely to be a version of 5-card draw.

Bird Cage Theater
Tombstone’s most celebrated theater was the Bird Cage. In its heyday between 1881 and 1889, the theater offered gambling, liquor, vaudeville entertainment and ladies of the night. It was the scene of at least 16 gun and knife fights over the years. By the time the doors were closed in 1889 there were 140 bullet holes in the walls and ceiling.

High Rollers
Playing in the game was businessmen Adolph Busch founder of Budweiser, and George Randolph Hearst and famous gamblers Wyatt Earp, Diamond Jim Brady, Bat Masterson and Doc Holliday. As the game played out, a reputed $10 million exchanged hands, of which the house took 10 percent.

Who Won?
The Bird Cage Theater poker game did not end naturally. So, nobody won. The tournament was forced to end as the Bird Cage Theater was closed down abruptly as the Grand Central Mine which was just a few miles away, had dislodged an underground water pipe. The surge of water caused significant flooding at the Bird Cage Theater forcing its owners to shut off activities.