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This story is published in collaboration with Made for Us and The Neon Musem.
When people picture Las Vegas, Nevada, one of the first images that comes to mind – along with the neon Strip and the high-rolling casinos – is a figure framed in sequins, feathers and rhinestones: the dazzling showgirl.
A “showgirl” can refer to a female performer in a theatrical or musical performance, often in flamboyant or revealing clothing. But in Las Vegas, the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” showgirls throughout the city’s history have built a global image of glitz, glamour and nightlife – shaping the city’s reputation and culture.
Last year, Pamela Anderson starred as “The Last Showgirl” in a critically acclaimed film. And now, the highly anticipated debut of Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album puts a spotlight on “The Life of a Showgirl.” Swift is fully diving into the theme – on her album cover, she can be seen wearing an original Bob Mackie costume from the legendary revue “Jubilee!” which ran in Las Vegas for an astounding 35 years from 1981-2016.
“Showgirls have always been synonymous with Las Vegas,” said Aaron Berger, Executive Director of The Neon Museum, a downtown Las Vegas museum that showcases and preserves the city’s infamous and historic neon signs – and the cultural movements that accompanied them, like showgirls. “Through the neon signs that advertised their shows, the museum tells a fascinating story of elegance, artistry and innovation that shaped not just the Strip, but American entertainment itself.”
As the lore of the showgirl makes her way into the hearts of millions of listeners this October, here are some of the tales from the Las Vegas strip that made these gorgeous performers the legends they are today.
From Paris to the Desert
The concept of the showgirl in Las Vegas was borrowed from Europe, most notably from Parisian cabarets that combined dancing, singing, gymnastics and costumes. The Lido de Paris revue opened as a cabaret in 1946, entertaining post-war crowds in Paris, while the Folies Bergère had been hosting performances as early as 1869.
Decades later, when French producers and choreographers brought their high-kicking revues to the Strip in the 1950s, they brought these same shows – with opulent costumes, tall feathered headdresses and precision choreography.
The Lido de Paris revue premiered in 1958 at the Stardust Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Known for its mix of glamour, artistry and state-of-the-art stage mechanics, the show enjoyed a decades-long run and was succeeded in the 1990s by Enter the Night, a contemporary take on the showgirl tradition. Visitors to the Neon Museum can still see the glowing letters that sat atop the Stardust Hotel. They shine bright in the neon boneyard across the way from the sparkling sign that once promoted the Lido de Paris show itself.
Folies Bergère opened in 1959 at Hotel Tropicana, and ran for almost 50 years as one of the most famous productions in Vegas history. It became a sought-after Las Vegas experience. Audiences were dazzled by the performers’ costumes, which blended feathers, jewels and sophistication with a boldness that was unmistakably American.
Neon Lights and High Kicks: Vegas Productions Take Center Stage
Following the French influence, homegrown productions soon emerged, infusing showgirl culture with uniquely American energy. The Riviera Hotel & Casino’s Splash, which ran from 1985 to 2006, brought spectacle to a new level, blending specialty acts and water effects with the elegance of the showgirls themselves.
At the Sands Hotel & Casino, a longstanding resident chorus line of showgirls emerged, known as the Copa Girls, who became legends. They frequently shared the stage with the Rat Pack, otherwise known as Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. – a famous group of 1950s-60s entertainers, celebrated for their music, humor and effortless cool that embodied the golden age of Las Vegas. The celebrity presence elevated the Sands, reinforcing the close link between showgirls and the biggest names in entertainment.
Meanwhile, the New Frontier Hotel & Casino kept the French tradition alive with a rotating slate of classic revue-style productions. Each era brought new costumes, music and staging, ensuring the showgirl never went out of style, even as trends shifted. Renowned Black showgirl, actress and civil rights activist, Josephine Baker, performed here when it was known as the Hotel Last Frontier in 1952 during her tour of the United States.
The Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino embraced its role as a top entertainment destination with the production City Lights, another high-energy revue that amplified the showgirl’s essential place in Vegas entertainment.
Reinventing Glamour: The Showgirl Evolves
By the 1960s, showgirl revues began experimenting with style and trends. At SAHARA Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, shows like Dolls a Go Go and Mad Mod World reflected contemporary dance crazes while still delivering the sequined spectacle audiences expected. The Royal Nevada Hotel & Casino’s Cotton Club Revue paid tribute to Harlem’s legendary nightclub, blending jazz and cutting-edge choreography into the performances.
Other productions leaned into the risqué side of burlesque, a form of performance art that uses revealing clothing and sexual allusions to entertain. Minsky’s Burlesque at the Aladdin Hotel & Casino and the Wonderful World of Burlesque at the Silver Slipper Hotel & Casino pushed boundaries for 1960s-era visitors.
Venues like the Desert Inn Hotel & Casino, home to the revue Pzazz, showcased polished style and high production value. At the Dunes Hotel & Casino, productions like Casino de Paris and Minsky Goes to Paris/Minsky Follies married European cabaret traditions with Vegas grandeur, ensuring showgirls remained the center point. There was a huge range of performances to suit any visitor’s desired level of glamour, risqué, trends or modernity – but the showgirl was central to every show.
Why Showgirls Still Matter
In many ways, the showgirl embodies what Las Vegas has always promised: escapism, fantasy and a celebration of the spectacular. Under the neon lights – preserved and interpreted at the museum for all to see – the showgirl is embedded as a key player in U.S. history. As Las Vegas continues to up the ante with new residencies, nightclubs and entertainment venues, the showgirl remains a cornerstone. Her feathers and sequins may look different, but her spirit, essence and influence will live on in Vegas forever.
