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vgirls from New York and Europe donned their |fr??tt)rMls Vegas productions such as ?╟úLido de Paris?╟Ñ and ?╟úLes Foies firgere?╟Ñ in the 1950s, they were considered attractive' mannequins. Those early showgirls were not expected to dance or sing. They were required simply to glide across the stage in spectacular costumes. To be showgirls, the women had to meet three requirements?╟÷they had to be tall, beautiful, and willing to perform topless. In the past four decades the Las Vegas showgirl has become a symbol of the city?╟╓s glamorous and risque heritage. Onstage, sh^continues to play an important role in the Strip?╟╓s enter- tainment history. Offstage, the showgirl travels the world, rep- resenting the city, serving as a casino mascot, and posing with visitors for souvenir photographs. Showgirls are still statuesque and perform topless., but now they also must be able to dance, a trend that has somewhat blurred the longstanding distinction between a ?╟údancer?╟Ñ and a ?╟úshowgirl.?╟╓?║?║ ?╟úThe public often considers any woman in a show to be a ?╟ showgirl,?╟╓ but there are differences^ says Ginny Murphy; Tropicana entertainment director and show producer of ?╟úLes Folies Bergere.?╟Ñ Murphy notes that thef|Folies?╟Ñ cast has many dancers?╟÷ female and male, who range from adagio to acfo dancers?╟÷as well as showgirls. A dancer might frown if you called her a showgirl. Generally, dancers perform dressed and boast years of formal training. For example, the ?╟úFolies?╟Ñ aero dancers have the gymnastics background needed for the tumbling runs in the show?╟╓s Can-Can segment. Showgirls, who perform topless, or sometime^jcovered?╟Ñ fbfj?║ early shows, may or may not have extensive dancing duties. In her costume, a showgirl can measure eight feet from her three- inch high heels to the top of her elaborate headdress. The head- dress alone may stand as high as four feet but weigh only 16 ounces thanks to its styrofoam cqnstruction. The showgirl in all her costumed glory survives in two Strip extravaganzas. ?╟úLes Folies Bergere?╟Ñ appears in the Tropicana?╟╓s Tiffany Theatre, where the show celebrates its 45th anniversary Janu Tornell has To be showgirls, the women beautiful, and willing to perform tople on December 2m ?╟úJubileql?╟Ñ has played at Bally?║; since 1981. Backstage tours of ?╟úJubilee!?╟Ñ costumes and sets are conducted three days a week?╟÷by a showgirl, of course. lido de Paris?╟Ñ (1958) and the ?╟úFolies?╟╓4?╟╓ (1959)'are credited with iimuencing the elaborate Strip productions and smaller lounge revues that appeared in the early ?╟╓60s, such as ?╟úVive Les Girls?╟Ñ and ?╟úCasino de Paris?╟Ñ at the Dunes. The ?╟úLido/?╟╓ a Parisian im- port that ran at the Stardust until 1992, excited showgoers with chariot races, train wrecks, and an erupting volcano. But it was a burlesque show, ?╟úMinsky?╟╓s Follies,?╟Ñ that intro- duced topless showgirls to Nevada in 1957, when it opened at the Dunes amid great controversy. A Las Vegas Review-Journal Kily/DEC 2004 NEVADA MAGAZINE 45 A Salute to The showgirl, once a center of controversy, has become a Las Vegas icon. By Ann Henderson