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ent000011-003
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    University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Libraries

    JERRY JACKSON The Last 50 Years After graduation from Bristow High School, I spent the summer of ?╟ú54?╟Ñ in Hollywood, California where I studied ballet, jazz, and modem dance, taking as many as 5 classes a day. Three months later I was hired to dance in my first MGM musical. In September I threw away my last pair of orthopedic shoes. Being bom with a foot deformity and having worn built-up shoes since the fourth grade, this was a big deal. In the fall of ?╟ú54?╟Ñ I enrolled at UCLA where I spent the next 6 years majoring in Art and minored <$n Music. During this time I spent the summer in Las Vegas at the Desert Inn <h ^any headliningstars; ie.. Jimmy Durante, The McGuire Sisters, Patti Page, etc. My junior year I attended classes by day and danced at the Moulin Rouge supper club at night where I had the opportunity to work with more extraordinary people ie.. .Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr., Betty Grable, et.s. After graduating from UCLA I worked as a dancer in many movie musicals and toured the country performing in various theatre productions. In 1962 and 19631 worked at CBS television as one of the two regular dancers on the weekly ?╟úDanny Kaye Variety Show?╟Ñ. In 1964 I traveled to Rome to perform on Studio Uno, Italy?╟╓s number one television variety show. The dance numbers were staged by Hermes Pan, Fred Astaire?╟╓s choreographer. Returning to the states, Hermes ask me to be his assistant choreographer. We worked on many projects including ?╟úFinnian?╟╓s Rainbow?╟Ñ starring Fred Astaire and Petula Clark. In 1966 I danced on the Academy Awards with Angels Lansbury. Also in 1966 I was asked to choreograph the 100 anniversary of the landmark French Revue, ?╟úFolies Bergere?╟Ñ, in Paris. This marked the beginning of a relationship that is ongoing today. In 1975 I wrote, directed, choreographed, and composed music and lyrics for the 15th edition of the ?╟úFolies?╟Ñ at it?╟╓s home,, the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegaff Since then I created every edition adding costume and scenery designer to my job description. This French spectacular came to Las Vegas in 1959 and, having won many awards, is now the longest continually running show in the United States. In addition to the ?╟úFolies Begere?╟Ñ from 1972 to present I produced, directed, designed, and/or choreographed many shows throughout the world. To list a few: The 80th Anniversary of the ?╟úCasino du Paris?╟Ñ in Paris?╟÷1976 The ?╟úPin-up?╟Ñ Series at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas?╟÷1970 to 1980 8 Revues for the Princess Casino in Freeport, Grand Bahamas?╟÷1983 to 2000 4 Revues for the ?╟úPrincess Hotel?╟Ñ in Acapulco?╟÷1976 to 1982 4 Spectaculars for the ?╟úSandcasde?╟Ñ in Guam?╟÷1990 to 2004 The ^Casino?╟Ñ du Liban in Lebanon?╟÷1972, (At this time it was the largest revue spectacular in the world) 2 Spectaculars, ?╟úStarz?╟Ñ and ?╟úGakxiesflfor Conrad International and Jupiter?╟╓s Casino in Australia?╟÷1983 to 1989