Dora DuFran
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Madam Dora DuFran or Dora Bolshaw, (November 16, 1873 - August 5, 1934) was one of the leading and most successful brothel operators in the Old West days of Deadwood, South Dakota.
[edit] Biography
Born in England, she emigrated to the United States with her parents, settling in Nebraska. An extremely good looking woman in her youth, she became involved in prostitution in her early teens, around the age of 13 or 14. She then became a dance hall girl, calling herself Amy Helen Dorothy Bolshow. By the time that the gold rush hit Deadwood, she had promoted herself to Madam, and began operating a brothel.
[edit] Career
Although she preferred having pretty girls work in her brothel, the selection in that part of the west was extremely limited. She usually did, however, demand that her girls practice good hygiene, and dress well. She picked up several girls who arrived in Deadwood via the wagon train led by Charlie Utter. From time to time, Old West personality Calamity Jane was in her employ. Her main competition during her time in Deadwood was Madam Mollie Johnson.
She had several brothels over the years. The most popular was called "Diddlin Dora's", located at Belle Fourche and Fifth Avenue. She eventually married a man named Joseph DuFran, but continued her brothel operations throughout the marriage. He died in 1907. She eventually moved her operations to Rapid City, South Dakota, where she continued having success as a brothel owner. She died of heart failure in 1934.
