The Showgirls
Everybody loved showgirls. They were practically the face of the raunchy Vegas nightlife of the 1950s. These women or just “girls” as they called them would work constantly. Potentially, they would do up to three performances a night. Pictured here are some super-talented Vegas girls performing Jackpot at a casino in 1955. Over time, showgirls unofficially became the cultural icon of Vegas.
The now-famous Las Vegas Strip was just getting started, and as it grew, the competition became fierce. Every hotel on the Strip wanted to outdo each other with its own line of showgirls – each group more outrageously dressed (or sometimes not dressed) than the next. The girls opened and closed for headlining celebrities. Some even featured in elaborate chorus-girl productions.
Sammy Davis Jr And Loray White’s Infamous Wedding
In 1957, musician Sammy Davis Jr was riding high on success. He was also quite the ladies’ man, and one lady in particular had caught his eye during this time – upcoming actor, Kim Novak. The two began dating each other in secret. But word soon got out and all hell broke loose. Goons - presumably hired by Novak’s studio executives - threatened Davis Jr., telling him to go find himself a Black woman.
Fearing for his life, the musician went and did just that. He and Loray White knew each other a little, which was seemingly enough for Davis Jr. The pair got married in 1958 and expectedly divorced soon after. The picture above also shows Joe E. Lewis, Harry Belafonte, and Donald O'Connor in attendance.
Joe Louis Signs
Joe Louis became a boxing sensation when he knocked out James J. Braddock on June 22, 1937. When other fighters managed an average reign of 3 years, Louis was world heavyweight champion for a whopping 12 years. His celebrity status skyrocketed in this time. Louis signed a contract with the Las Vegas Moulin Rouge Hotel 1954 where he would often appear for fans and do "tourist greetings."
Not many people know that he was among the original investors of the Moulin Rouge Hotel - the first non-segregated hotel and casino in Las Vegas. Louis wasn’t just a legendary boxer but also the first African American to become a national hero. He united people across color divides and backgrounds. His image was highly publicized and eventually became quite strictly managed.
Harry Belafonte
Any retrospective of the 1950s would be incomplete without the incomparable Harry Belafonte. There was no denying his magnitude as a performer. His artistry was so compelling that it enabled him to do things no other Black performer could. Belafonte defiantly broke segregation laws that ruled Las Vegas during the era.
He could achieve this simply by virtue of his stature as a musician, smashing every racial barrier. Some rightfully credit Belafonte with helping pave the way for desegregation in the city. Here, he is pictured walking nonchalantly on the grounds of the Riviera Hotel & Casino where he played a four-week residency.
Jayne Mansfield With Her Dogs
Actor and singer Jayne Mansfield was always at home in Las Vegas. She was as vibrant and outrageous as the city, taking to it like a ship to the sea. While there are pictures galore of Manfield as a glamorous starlet, few capture just how effortlessly she belonged in Vegas like this 1959 picture.
She’s out and about in Sin City - not making media appearances but buying ice cream with her two dogs. Mansfield was an up-and-coming star. But a dearth of good roles kept her away from making Hollywood’s A-list. She also tragically died young, never having realized her full potential.