A new exhibition at Las Vegas City Hall delves into the storied history of a once-vital icon of Las Vegas—the showgirl. “The Spectacle of the Showgirl” is open through October 10 and can be viewed on the first floor of Las Vegas’ City Hall.
The free exhibition, on loan from Grant Philipo’s Las Vegas Showgirl Museum, showcases a collection of iconic showgirl dresses and headdresses from shows spanning various eras and locations. Highlights include costumes from Grant Philipo’s 1992 Dunes production “90 Degrees & Rising” and the 1989 show “Allez Lido” at the Stardust.
The exhibition coincides with the end of an era for the city’s leadership. It marks the curtain call for the mayoral administrations of Oscar and Carolyn Goodman, a married couple who both completed their terms. Oscar, who served from 1999 to 2011, played a significant role in reviving the showgirl as a symbol of Las Vegas. For the past 25 years, every major celebration has featured Oscar, the former mob attorney, escorted by models dressed as showgirls.
During Carolyn Goodman’s tenure, the city cemented its connection to the showgirl legacy. In 2018, Las Vegas erected two 26-foot showgirl signs to welcome northbound visitors on Las Vegas Boulevard. However, reflecting the city’s ever-changing landscape, these signs were replaced four years later with new ones standing twice as tall.
Despite the Goodmans’ efforts, the showgirl, much like the cowboy, the Rat Pack, and the obsolete neon signs, remains a relic of Vegas’ past. The showgirls seen today along the bustling sidewalks of the Las Vegas Strip are either paid models or street performers seeking tips in exchange for photos. Full-time employment for women donning glamorous outfits and heavy headdresses vanished in 2016, when “Jubilee!” at Bally’s—the last of the grand showgirl shows—closed after a 35-year run.
“The Spectacle of the Showgirl” is housed in the first-floor Grand Gallery at Las Vegas City Hall, located at 495 S. Main St. It is open to the public Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and will run through October 10.
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