Skip to main content

Search the Special Collections and Archives Portal

Search Results

Display    Results Per Page
Displaying results 11 - 20 of 100

Betty Bunch oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00137

Abstract

Oral history interview with Betty Bunch conducted by Joyce (Marshall) Moore on January 09, 1996 and February 07, 1996 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. In this interview, Bunch discusses the origins of her dance career and the places her pursuit of this career took her. Bunch discusses the various shows she performed in both in the United States and Europe, and describes the differences between a dancer and a showgirl. Bunch describes the responsibilities and rights of dancers, their contracts, and their leisure activities. Finally, Bunch also discusses her personal life including two of her marriages.

Archival Collection

Heather Victorson oral history interview

Identifier

OH-01877

Abstract

Oral history interview with Heather Victorson conducted by Nancy Hardy on June 26, 2003 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Victorson discusses her early life in Nairobi, Kenya and London, England. She remembers being enrolled into the Royal Ballet School, and her experience dancing in show productions for the Royal Ballet Company. Victorson talks about winning a dancing audition that required her to move to Las Vegas, Nevada, dancing in the Lido de Paris show at the Stardust, and wearing showgirl costumes. Victorson describes lounge shows, working topless for the first time, and dancing in Vive les Girls. Lastly, Victorson discusses the future of Las Vegas dance shows.

Archival Collection

Carol Baker oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00062

Abstract

Oral history interview with Carol Baker conducted by Nancy Hardy on May 29, 2003 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Baker talks about her life as an entertainer on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip, including backstage life, parties, and relationships amongst other dancers.

Archival Collection

Shirley Allen oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03305

Abstract

Oral history interview with Shirley Allen conducted by Nancy Hardy on June 21, 2003 for the Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Allen discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with her family and starting dancing professionally while attending university. Her first job was at the Riviera in 1964, working as a showgirl. She explains that the work was not difficult and they were not asked to do anything inappropriate, but they did have to pay for their own cocktail dresses and accessories. She also explains that she was a "covered dancer" in the beginning but by the late 1960s she had to "uncover" (work topless) to be employed. She then talks about working in Pzazz! '68 at the Stardust Resort Hotel and Casino, after auditioning for Fluff LeCoque, Donn Arden's company captain. She also talks about her impression of Miss Bluebell and Donn Arden. She spends some time talking about what life was like backstage, relations between the girls, and meeting celebrities, her first experience with topless dancing in Lido de Paris, and how the backstage dressing areas were assigned and the difficulty of fast changes between sets. Later, she talks about things that can go wrong, from forgeting choreography to the more serious issue of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that swept through the shows in the 1980s.

Archival Collection

Diana Saunders oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03167

Abstract

Oral history interview with professional dancer Diana Saunders conducted by Barabra Tabach on April 17, 2017 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Oral History Project. Diana shares stories of long career as a dancer, from substituting in the black dancer line to continued study of dancing with Anglo Moio. She also talks about the AIDS fundraising event, Golden Rainbow, having dinner at Rabbi Shea Harlig’s home, observations of local theater, being a part of the former Star Trek Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton, Hallelujah Hollywood, and a dancer for Siegfried and Roy.

Archival Collection

Joan Ryba oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02573

Archival Collection

Gillian Kabat oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00980

Abstract

Oral history interview with Gillian Kabat conducted by Joyce Marshall on June 29, 1996 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Kabat discusses her career as a dancer and being a member of the Bluebell Girls dance troupe. She talks about obtaining working visas to perform in the United States, being a dancer during the 1960s, and transitioning into a teaching career.

Archival Collection

Diana Saunders oral history interviews

Identifier

OH-01632

Abstract

Oral history interviews with Diana Saunders conducted by Joyce (Marshall) Moore on May 23, 1996, conducted by Brigid Kelly on July 22, 2002, and conducted by Joanna Goodwin on August 12, 2002 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. In her interviews Saunders discusses her dance career in New York City, New York. Saunders discusses working on Broadway and touring internationally in Europe and Australia as a dancer. Saunders discusses working at the Dunes in Las Vegas, Nevada and her experiences as a dancer in Las Vegas. Saunders also talks about the lengths dancers had to go through to be successful.

Archival Collection

Nancy Houssels oral history interviews

Identifier

OH-02688

Abstract

Oral history interviews with Nancy Houssels conducted by Caryll Batt Dziedziak on November 18, 1998, December 07, 1998, and December 14, 1998 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Houssels begins her interviews discussing her childhood in California and the influence World War II had on her upbringing. Houssels then talks about her dance training and career including topics on her auditions, her dance partners, and touring Europe in the 1960s. Houssels describes coming to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1968 where she was booked as a dancer in Folies Bergere at the Tropicana Hotel. Houssels then discusses the influences Mormonism and adiago ballet had on her life. Houssels then describes how she co-founded the Nevada Ballet Theatre with Vassili Sulich, performances of the company, their dancers, and community outreach.

Archival Collection

Gloria Freeman Dell oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00414

Abstract

Oral history interview with Gloria Freeman Dell conducted by Claytee D. White on April 05, 2011 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Dell discusses her life as a Las Vegas, Nevada showgirl and her experiences in the entertainment industry. She describes working at the Flamingo Hotel and tells several anecdotes about prominent entertainers she met or performed with, including Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald. Dell also discusses living in a barracks specifically for showgirls, being pursued romantically by Howard Hughes, and concludes the interview by singing a song from one of her former acts.

Archival Collection