Remembering The Tropicana: This Show Brought Showgirls To Las Vegas

The Tropicana implodes on Wednesday, marking an explosive end to the glorious property. As the property prepares to crumble from The Strip, there's a piece of history that we'll never forget: The Folies Bergere Show.

This show brought feather showgirls to Las Vegas, according to the Associated Press. It opened on Christmas Eve in 1959 and was a "topless" revue freshly imported from Paris.

The Folies Bergere Show dazzled audiences at The Tropicana for nearly 50 years. The final show happened on March 28, 2009, after the Trop couldn't afford to produce it anymore amid the recession, according to NPR.

When the show was unveiled, Hank Greenspun, publisher of the Las Vegas Sun, wrote an article in 1958 saying, "From beginning to end this is the most dazzling entertainment which any city has been privileged to see. It’s saucy, piquant and racy in the splendidly provocative French way."

Greenspun further said this show also sent the message of the old French theory of "girls, girls, girls."

It was truly a show that appreciated the feminine divine, and it wasn't "just a display of feminine nudity but beautiful, talented dancers whose facial expressions and body movements are continental theatre," Greenspun wrote.

The dazzling costumes, the live orchestra, the choreography, and the grandeur experience changed Vegas forever. It set a standard of entertainment and transported audience members to a new world of sequins,  French love songs, and beautiful dancers.

Many performers started their budding professional dance career as a Folies girl. After the last performance of the night during the heyday of the show, many girls would keep dancing at disco clubs on The Strip -- even bumping into celebrities like Sonny and Cher, according to USA Today.

Many of the dancers lived "double lives." Dancing, performing and endlessly practicing while also attending to young children and keeping their families together.

Maryann Picchi was 25-years-old when she started working on the Folie Bergere show. In an interview with USA Today, Picchi said she had an infant when she started dancing with the show.

"She (Picchi) would sometimes have her son play under her dressing room table with toys during their first performance, then drop him off at home between shows once the babysitter was available," USA Today reported.

Another dancer on the show Lauri Thompson was a principal dancer from 1985 to 1997. She would even fly from Vegas to California five times a week in the '90s to attend law school at the University of San Diego, USA Today further reported.

It wasn't unusual to see celebrities in the audience during these shows. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that sometimes dancers would be distracted by celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, who would be in the audience.

In March 2024, the alum of Folies Bergere met together for a reunion, remembering the 30-lb headdresses, late nights and memories.

This show was truly Las Vegas: glittering lights, out-of-the-box acts and mob ties.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Joseph Agosto owned and produced the show. In 1983, he testified that he used his job at The Tropicana to "skim profits for the Kansas City mob."

Along with the mob ties -- which most properties had during the time -- this show was also the launch pad for other iconic Strip performances like Siegfried & Roy. The dynamic duo first performed in Las Vegas as an act in this show.

Lance Burton also made his debut with Folies Bergere in 1982 and performed with the show until July 1991.

This show defined a new standard of entertainment. It was sexy, provocative and was the launch pad for entertainers across the city. As we remember the Tropicana and the glamorous history of the former "Tiffany of The Strip," we also honor the transformative shows and talented people who walked through its doors.

Thank you, Tropicana for changing Las Vegas forever. Soon, it will be gone but never forgotten!

The once-stunning Tropicana Las Vegas will crumble into dust on Oct. 9 -- the official date for the hotel's demolition.

According to Fox 5, Bally's Corporation has planned the Trop's demolition for Oct. 9. But in true Vegas style, the "implosion celebration" will feature a firework and drone show that will honor the Tropicana and sparkle up the skyline. After the show, the hotel will implode at a scheduled time of 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 9.

8 News Now reports the Tropicana officially closed on April 2. The county issued a commercial demolition permit in April as well, and there were efforts to remove asbestos from the hotel. Now, the hotel will be imploded, which will most likely turn into a huge watch party among locals and tourists.

History has poured into The Tropicana's doors. From attempted assassination attempts that altered its history, big wins, major shows and so much more, the demolition of the property marks an end to one of the "OG" resorts on The Strip.

According to the Neon Museum, The Tropicana was the most expensive hotel ever built during that time in 1957. The most expensive hotel built before The Tropicana was the Riviera Hotel & Casino, which cost $10 million and was built in 1955. The Tropicana cost $15 million to complete. Celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin often went to the hotel, helping the property elevate its status and be dubbed the "Tiffany of The Strip."

The mob connections also crept throughout the hotel during its golden era. The Neon Museum further states that Frank Costello, also known as the mob boss of the Luciano crime family, was known to have "interests in the casino."

The Mob Museum further reported that Vincent “Chin” Gigante allegedly tried to assassinate Frank Costello in New York. However, this assassination attempt was a botched one, and the wound to Costello's head was superficial. Although this situation happened in New York, the connections and the incident changed the perception of the property forever.

There have been so many famous shows that had a run at The Trop. One of the most iconic shows was the Folies Bergere burlesque show, which ran its course for nearly 50 years. In an interview with Fox 5, one of the former dancers said the mob often protected the performers and ensured their safety. The show was produced, imported and featured cast members from Paris.

It was a show that truly innovated entertainment and the connection of glitz and glamour with gaming. The days of gambling shifted from those quiet, smoky and dusty illegal clubs. The addition of performances, like the Folies Bergere show, marked a change in Vegas culture. Without showgirls, Vegas wouldn't be as fabulous. Eventually, the famous French burlesque show closed its curtains in 2009, Fox 5 reports.

Other venues sprouted throughout the property. The Laugh Factory Las Vegas featured a plethora of famous comedians. Illusionists Siegfried and Roy debuted their show at The Trop, and the hotel even had a cameo in the James Bond movie "Diamonds Are Forever."

The rich and sparkling history of this beloved property will soon join the neon graveyard and the textbooks of Las Vegas archives. Scroll down to enjoy some stunning photos of The Trop's former glory.