Viva Las Vegas

Missing in action is an understatement. I can blame it on several reasons that are personal to me. However, I wanted to share my recent trip, as so much of it centered around my love for vintage, Old Hollywood, film history, burlesque, and showgirls. I've learned that when life gets tough, the best thing to do is go west, which is exactly what I did. I went with a dear friend, and we started our trip in Las Vegas, Nevada, and ended our trip in Los Angeles, California. I've decided to split this blog post into two, as each city deserves its own separate post. I really hope you enjoy and tune back into Gal Friday Vintage.

I haven't been to Vegas since I was younger, and admittedly I went into it not knowing what to expect aside from the strip. Vegas was an add-on to our Los Angeles trip. Our primary goal in Vegas was to see Dita Von Teese's Dita Las Vegas: A Jubilant Revue. We got terrific tickets for her last day in residency in Vegas. My friend and I stayed at the LINQ Hotel, which was close to the Jubilee Theatre at the Horseshoe Las Vegas. What a way to begin our west coast trip!

Dita's show reminded me of a Busby Berkeley musical with its old-school showmanship. The costumes were a spectacle on their own, as some pieces are Bob Mackie and Pete Menefee pieces from the original Jubilee! showgirl spectacular that premiered in 1981. Picture insane feathered headdresses and corsets, bras, and underpinnings stoned to perfection. Each performance showcased a different theme and different burlesque stars. Dita Von Teese's performances were standouts due to her ability to balance poise, sensuality, and playfulness.

There were many excellent numbers, but Dita's martini glass performance and her mechanical bull number are always a hit. It was also a pleasure to see burlesque dancer Dirty Martini and to watch performances of dancers I didn't know prior, such as Cierra Bliss. The show had no intermissions, so there was a lot to take in, and sometimes, I felt overstimulated in the best ways possible. Seeing Dita was the perfect way to begin the trip and really set the tone for the thirst to see more glamour and learn more about the history of burlesque and showgirls.

The following day, we felt inspired and energized. Of course, we had to go to the Burlesque Hall of Fame, a museum dedicated to burlesque. The museum is located in the Arts District in Las Vegas and is such a gem. It is on the smaller side but has a good deal of information on the history of burlesque and spotlights many dancers of color, both past and present. I was familiar with white burlesque dancers such as Lili St. Cyr and Tempest Storm but unfamiliar with black burlesque queens such as Lottie the Body and Miss Topsy.

This nonprofit museum began with the personal collection of Jennie Lee, a burlesque dancer best known for her tassel-twirling acts. According to their website, during the 1950s, Jennie Lee dreamt of having a Burlesque Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, she passed away before she could see her dream come to fruition. Thankfully, her friend Dixie Evans kept the dream alive by opening the first iteration of the museum in California in 1990. The museum was then relocated to Las Vegas in 2006.

My favorite part about the museum is that it celebrates not only the burlesque dancers who paved the way but also the neo-burlesque dancers who exist today. I appreciated the museum's inclusivity and felt that I learned a lot from my visit.

If you go to Las Vegas, you must visit the Arts District for this fabulous museum, its many vintage shops, and its quality restaurants and bars. Getting off the strip was a lot fun and a lot less expensive!

Continuing with the world of burlesque and showgirls, we needed to visit the iconic extraordinaire Grant Philipo's Las Vegas Showgirl Museum. I don't know where to begin with Grant Philipo's accomplishments and career. He has produced full-scale spectaculars in Vegas, costume-designed and restored iconic pieces by designers such as Bob Mackie, and worked with icons such as Eartha Kitt and Dolly Parton. The list could go on and on.

In Grant Philipo's fabulous home, he houses over 40,000 artifacts, including costumes, historical photographs and documents, sets and prop pieces, etc. You have to book the tour in advance via email, and my friend and I were lucky enough to get in due to a large group canceling their booking prior. For this tour, you need to set aside 3-4 hours and wear something fabulous but comfortable because Grant shares such a great deal of his knowledge and experience. I felt so inspired by him, his space, and his willingness to share so much. If you are in Vegas and have similar interests, I highly recommend booking a tour with him.

We can't talk about Las Vegas without mentioning Frankie's Tiki Room. If you know me, you know I love a good, hole-in-the-wall tiki bar and a strong, fruity cocktail. It was hard to get an exact date on when the original Frankie's Bar & Cocktail Lounge opened, but I saw most records indicated sometime in the 50s. P Moss purchased the space, gutted it, and renovated it, then opened it to the general public in 2008.

Frankie's is a nostalgic bar/lounge that is beautifully decorated. It is open 24/7, and smoking is allowed inside the space. You can also gamble. The drinks were some of my favorite tiki cocktails I've ever had—specifically, the bearded clam, a fabulous blend of light rum, mint, and passion fruit. If you are in Vegas, this is a MUST visit.

On one of our last days in Vegas, I had to stop at the Peppermill Restaurant and Fireside Lounge. The Peppermill has been around since 1972 and has a lovely yet campy interior with bright purple and blue color schemes. Iconic films such as Casino (1995) and Showgirls (1995) were filmed in this historic restaurant and lounge. They offer a happy hour on weekdays and weekends from 3-6 pm, so this is a great stop in between times on the strip to get good, cheap drinks and food.

Finally, I couldn't leave Las Vegas without seeing the offerings at The Neon Museum. If you love historical signage as much as I do, you will love seeing all the vintage neon signs from historic Las Vegas landmarks of yesteryear. The ones I posted above were some of my favorites. Unfortunately, I had to exclude the famous pink Moulin Rouge cursive font sign, as it was so long that I could not fit it in a single shot. If you go to The Neon Museum, I recommend attending at night so that you can see the signs light up against a dark backdrop.

I hope you enjoyed this post, and I will be back next week to share my Los Angeles portion of the trip!