The Bill Campbell Costume Designs (1954-1978) are comprised of original costume design sketches created by designer Bill Campbell for a number of Donn Arden's stage productions, including Pzazz!, Hello America, and Hello Hollywood Hello that were staged in the Crystal Room at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1960s and 1970s. The collection also contains some sketches for other revues held in Los Angeles, California and Reno, Nevada. The majority of items in the collection are original drawings with attached fabric swatches; a number of items are xeroxed reproductions.
Archival Collection
The Lido de Paris Costume Designs contain 29 full color costume designs likely created for the Lido de Paris show in Paris, France which ran during the 1950s and 1960s. The designs are unsigned, but likely created by costume designer Louis Folco. Some designs match costumes worn in the 1956 "C'est Magnifique" show.
Archival Collection
The Liz Elliott Lieberman Papers are comprised of materials from approximately 1970 to 1989 documenting Lieberman's career as a dancer in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada performing in shows such as
Archival Collection
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
The Larry Billman Papers (1961-1975) primarily reflect his work in the entertainment industry of Las Vegas, Nevada as a dancer, choreographer, and director. Materials include scripts, photographs, music scores, contracts, ephemera, and magazine and newspaper clippings. The collection also includes two scrapbooks and photographs of Tomoko (Katsuko) Billman performing in shows like "Holiday in Japan" at the New Frontier Hotel and Casino and "Rome Swings" at Caesars Palace in the late 1950s into the mid-1960s as well as photographs of Tomoko and other "Holiday in Japan" performers at various reunions.
Archival Collection
The Dave Melton Graphic Design Papers is comprised of Las Vegas, Nevada graphic designer David Melton's papers relating to his graphic design work from 1972 to 1990. The papers include mock-ups and finalized projects from Las Vegas hotels and casinos as well as local businesses. The casino material is primarily from the Dunes Hotel and Country Club and the MGM Grand Hotel.
Archival Collection
The Frederic Apcar Collection on the Casino de Paris Show (approximately 1963-1992) contains Casino de Paris programs, tent cards, and promotional information. There are also three
Archival Collection
The Dottie Dee Dancers Photograph Collection (approximately 1940-2008) consists of black-and-white photographic reprints of the La Bard Dancers and the Dottie Dee Dancers at the El Rancho in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Harold Minsky conducted by an unidentified interviewer on August 15, 1973 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Minsky discusses his upbringing, education, and early work history in the entertainment business. He talks about his desire to join the family business despite his father's encouragement to study law. He speaks at length about how his father, Abe, and his three uncles started their burlesque business in a building owned by his grandfather. He explains what caused the split between his father and uncles and explains that the only bad advice his father gave him was to stay in New York City, New York. He also discusses his take-over of the business and many of the dancers that worked in burlesque.
Archival Collection