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ReviewJoumal.com - News - Tolies' to end a 49-year LV run#postComment Page 1 of 4 MobileRJ | em ?√ßSubscribe to the R-J W JS8?·??jjw Seedre^atKtSp Already an R-J subscriber? Manage your account online. Weddings j | Best of Las Vegas / I 1 Photo/Page Store i Rev^t-Journal NEWS SPORTS BUSINESS LIVING ENTERTAINMENT FASHION OPINION WEATHER HOTELS CLASSIFIEDS MULTIMEDIA SAVE NEVADA EDUCATION BUDGETfJUT savenevadastudents.org lli***^ Thursday, January 22nd 6pm - 7:30pm University of Nevada Las Vegas - Academic Mall (In front of the BEH building) RECENT EDITIONS Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri News (jpQ SAVE. TH1S (3 ^7} EMAIL THIS f5rSi PRINT THIS g^MOST POPULAR (5 g> R$S FEEDS $ Q> POST A COMMENT Jan. 16, 2009 Copyright ?? Las Vegas Review-ilSlrnal 'Folies' to end a 49-year LV run Strip revue helped craft city's image By MIKE WEATHERFORD LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Slideshow "Folies Bergere," the longest-running show on the Strip and one that helped make feathered showgirls the image of Las Vegas, will close March 28 after 49 years. The Tropicana revue Is giving way to another production, but hotel officials said they don't have a signed contract and so aren't ready to announce the title. The "Folies" closing was announced to give 60 days notice to about 80 performers and stagehands, said Tropicana spokeswoman Brittany Markarian. Hotel president Ron Thacker did not comment beyond an official statement noting the revue's "amazing and unprecedented run." But it's likely the Tropicana, whose parent company is trying to reorganize and restructure $3 billion in debt, sought to move from employer to landlord. A showgirl performs in Tolies Bergere" at the Tropicana on mjirsday. The Tropicana announced Thursday that the iconiS|p show will end its 49-year kwh on March 28. Photo by K.M. Cannon "Folies," along with Bally's "Jubilee!,?╟Ñ is one of the last "in-house" productions, in which cast and crew are direct employees of the casino. Most casinos now contract with outside producers who foot production expenses and pay cast members. Markarian said this will be the arrangement for the new show. The Tropicana long ago assumed rights to the "Folies Bergere" name, which belongs to a historic Paris theater that still is in operation but no longer has a showgirl revue. Farming out both the name and financial risk to an outside producer was a third option, but "as far as I know there wasn't any talk of that," Markarian said. "It's just sad that they have to do away with history and kind of a Las Vegas icon," sard a longtime cast member, who asked that her name be withheld for fear of early termination. The cast was informed after Wednesday's show. But some already had suspicions because their current contracts expire Jan. 24, and they usually get new contracts a month before. Hit's kind of like hearing your childhood home has been sold," said Lance Burton, the Monte Carlo magician who was one of the "Folies" specialty acts from 1982 until 1991, when he left to open his own show. The show has a long reach in Las Vegas. Alumni range from Siegfried & Roy to Vassili Sulich and Nancy Hqussels, who started what became Nevada Ballet Theatre using show dancers with classical training. "Folies" wasn't the first French showgirl revue. It opened on Christmas Day of 1959, a year and a half after the Stardust debuted with "Lido de Paris" in July 1958. Neither was the first to bare a female breast on the Strip; that honor went to a Minsky's burlesque in 1957. But the showgirl concept was still so new to the United States that United Press International writer Vernon Scott had to explain: "The so-called 'nude show girls' do not disrobe on stage ?╟÷ they walk out on stage In spectacular skirts and headgear, and that?╟╓s about it.^l Producer Lou Walters (father of Barbara Walters) imported the revue in the wake of the Lido's runaway success, after the interim move of surrounding Jayne Mansfield with Parisian-style production numbers at the Tropicana. The costume budget for the original "Folies" was an Share & Save ?║1 ? tag ?╜ D S3 *>. 4 ?½ J" /. taia What is this? click here to print coupon Sponsored Links Breaking News: 2009 Diet Start the new year with the hottest diet trend. What is it ? 1 Flat Stomach Rule: Obey I cut out 2 lbs of body fat per week by following this 1 old rule! Miracle Sports Diet Rule I cut out 2 lbs of fat per week by obeying this 1 old rule. Most Popular Stories ?╟≤ LAS VEGAS PHYSICIAN; Friends, patients stunned by slaying I ?╟≤ NORM: Obama not thrilled over mob museum ! ?╟≤ THE FACES OF HARD TIMES: Former exotic dancer finds it hard to move forward in bad economy I ?╟≤ NORM: Cheap Trick close to headliner deal ! ?╟≤ NORM: Cheap Trick close to headliner deal ?╟≤ Patients, friends say slain doctor was devoted to l practice GET UP-TO-DATE HEALTH AND FITNESS INFO Fitness Centers Spas & Salons Hospitals & Medical Centers Diet & Weightless Cancer Awareness Women's Health ... and more! mSSSSm Get up-to-date Health and Fitness information 'V ' ' http://www.lvij .com/news/37701379.html 1/16/2009