Texas Guinan (1884-1933)

Mary Louise Cecilia “Texas” Guinan was a saloon keeper, actress, and entrepreneur. Born in Texas to Irish immigrant parents, she started singing and acrting at an early age. She broke into vaeudeville around 1906 and made her film debut in 1917, with the silent movie The Wildcat. She became the United States‘ first movie cowgirl, nicknamed “The Queen of the West.” Upon the introduction of Prohibition, she opened a speakeasy called the 300 Club at 151 W. 54th Street in New York City. The club became famous for its troupe of forty scantily-clad fan dancers and for Guinan’s unique aplomb, which made her a celebrity. Ms. Guinan is credited with coining a number of phrases. “Butter and egg men” referred to her well-off patrons, and she often demanded that the audience “give the little ladies a great big hand”. She traditionally greeted her patrons with “Hello, suckers!”. Guinan is interred in the Calvary Cemetery in Queens County, New York.
(From Wikipedia)