Icon of Las Vegas, the Spectacular Showgirl: Showgirl Costume Designs from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives

On display October 5 – November 22, 2023
Exhibition Reception: November 16, 2023, 5 - 8 pm
Discussion and Readings at 6 pm

Nevada Humanities Program Gallery
1017 South 1st Street, #190
Las Vegas, NV 89101

A unique symbol of Las Vegas is the spectacularly clad Showgirl, adorned in feathers, gems, sequins, and silk, who brought glamor and extravagance to the Las Vegas showroom. In this installment of the Nevada Humanities Exhibition Series, an array of fashion and costume designers share their vision in drawings that brought the spectacle to life on the stage.

Nolan Miller

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Nolan Miller

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Series III. Professional work in the United States: show production materials Revues, concerts, and theater production materials.

Bill Campbell

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1964 Hello America! at the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

Bill Campbell

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1964 Hello America! at the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

Jerry Jackson

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Nightlife 1994 “Finale”

Jerry Jackson

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Series II. Folies-Bergere production papers, designs, and photographs
17th Edition: The Best of the Folies-Bergere -- 2001 costume revisions: costume design drawings, photographs of costume pieces, correspondence, and notes -- La Vedette

Jerry Jackson

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Series II. Folies-Bergere production papers, designs, and photographs
17th Edition: The Best of the Folies-Bergere -- 2002 costume revisions: costume design drawings, photographs of costume pieces, correspondence, and notes -- La Vedette Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

Bill Campbell

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Pzazz! 68 at the Desert Inn Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Bill Campbell

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Newspaper clipping Pzazz! 68 at the Desert Inn Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada-1968.

Donn Arden Papers

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1950-59 Costume Details: Black sheath-type dress with light blue ruffled train, long black gloves, black and light blue feathered headpiece.

Jerry Jackson

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Boogie Down Ultra Modern Opening 1983

Jerry Jackson

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Jerry Jackson

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Series II. Folies-Bergere production papers, designs, and photographs 
17th Edition: The Best of the Folies-Bergere -- 2001 costume revisions: costume design drawings, photographs of costume pieces, correspondence, and notes -- When I Think of You, Tropicana Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

Pete Menefee

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Costume design for Hallelujah Hollywood!, an MGM Grand Hotel production, 1974.
Costume Details: Two-piece fuchsia showgirl costume with halter-style top with long sleeves, forearms decorated with black jewels; sheath-style fuchsia skirt split in front, decorated with black and gold jewels and accompanied by long black stole; oversized half-circular headpiece of pink and fuchsia feather with black spots.

Pete Menefee

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Costume design for Hallelujah Hollywood! an MGM Grand Hotel production, 1974.
Costume Details: Two-piece showgirl costume with halter-style top and long raglan-cut sleeves, long sheath-style skirt split in front in gold paisley design; with matching headpiece decorated with long gold feathers with black spots; matching choker and matching beads and jewels hanging below halter.

Pete Menefee

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Costume design for Hallelujah Hollywood!, an MGM Grand Hotel production, 1974
Costume Details: Two-piece gold showgirl costume with long split skirt and halter-type top slung over the right shoulder; trimmed in black and decorated with jewels; accompanied by matching cap-style headpiece, long gold feather stole, and tall gold feathers decorated with black spots behind the head.

Bill Campbell

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Costume Details: A drawing of a female entertainer in a sparkly red and orange layered dress with a large red and black head piece. 
Performance Name: The Sinking of the Titanic
Hello America! at the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, Nevada, 1964.

Bill Campbell

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Costume design drawing of a female performer; clothed in a green, white, and gold feathered cape and headdress; a sketch of a male performer is carrying the train of  her cape is on the left-hand side. Desert Inn Hotel, Las Vegas, 1968-70.

Jerry Jackson

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Series II. Folies-Bergere production papers, designs, and photographs 17th Edition: The Best of the Folies-Bergere – Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Bill Campbell

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Bill Campbell

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Almost Paradise revue at the Desert Inn Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1963.

Jerry Jackson

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Series II. Folies-Bergere production papers, designs, and photographs 17th Edition: The Best of the Folies-Bergere -- 2003-2004 costume revisions: costume design drawings, photographs of costume pieces, invoices, and notes – Opening

Jerry Jackson

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Female Singer: Original preliminary sketch with notes, 1983.

Nolan Miller

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Series III. Professional work in the United States: show production materials Revues, concerts, and theater production materials.

Bill Campbell

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Bill Campbell

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Hello America! at the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, Nevada, 1964.

Pete Menefee

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Pete Menefee design. Transcribed from original drawing index: "tall nude girl (yellow & black feathers #2)."Costume Details: Topless showgirl in jeweled g-string and headdress with yellow, white, and black feathers.
Jubilee!, Minstrel opening: Hullabaloo, MGM Grand Hotel and Casino 

Bill Campbell

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Costume design drawing; female in red and gold, presumably Roman-themed outfit and headdress; an alternative to style of wearing the garment is sketched in the top right corner of the page. Costume Details: A female dancer in a gold and red one-legged trouser, which unfolds to reveal embellished tights. She is also sporting a matching embellished bandeau, wristbands, and headdress.
Pzazz! 67 at Desert Inn Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada - 1967.

Jerry Jackson

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Series II. Folies-Bergere production papers, designs, and photographs -- 17th Edition: The Best of the Folies-Bergere -- 2002 costume revisions: costume design drawings, photographs of costume pieces, correspondence, and notes Flappers/Vamps/Tan Tropicana Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jerry Jackson

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Cancan Costume Design

Jerry Jackson

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Cancan Costume Design

Jerry Jackson

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Jerry Jackson

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Jerry Jackson

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Opening Costume Designs

Robert Gordon Mackie

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Bob Mackie design. Transcribed from original drawing index: "Nude showgirl (Blue #1)."
Costume Details: Topless showgirl in jeweled blue and black sheath-style skirt topped in paisley design with long blue and black feathers, large matching headdress; fuchsia accents. Show: Jubilee!, Bandwagon finale: Stairway, MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV – 1981.

Robert Gordon Mackie

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Bob Mackie design. Transcribed from original drawing index: "nude showgirl (red #1)."
Costume Details: Topless showgirl in red and black jewelled sheath-style costume, with large headdress of red feathers tipped with black; matching bracelets and earrings.
Show: Jubilee!, Bandwagon finale: Stairway, MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas Nevada – 1982.

Robert Gordon Mackie

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Bob Mackie design. Transcribed from original drawing index: "Nude showgirl (Purple #1)."
Costume Details: Topless showgirl in jeweled purple and black collar and split skirt costume with large matching trailing headdress trimmed in purple and black feathers; teal and fuchsia accents. The costume was worn from the opening night of Jubilee, July 1981 until May 1984. Show Name: Jubilee!, Bandwagon finale: Stairway, MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada 1981.