The Rise and Fall of the Las Vegas Showgirl and the Productions That Shaped Her Diane Marie Palm University of Nevada, Las Vegas, [email protected]
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UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones 5-1-2016 Rhinestones in the Desert: The Rise and Fall of the Las Vegas Showgirl and the Productions That Shaped Her Diane Marie Palm University of Nevada, Las Vegas, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Theatre and Performance Studies Commons Repository Citation Palm, Diane Marie, "Rhinestones in the Desert: The Rise and Fall of the Las Vegas Showgirl and the Productions That Shaped Her" (2016). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 2720. https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations/2720 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Scholarship@UNLV. It has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RHINESTONES IN THE DESERT: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE LAS VEGAS SHOWGIRL AND THE PRODUCTIONS THAT SHAPED HER By Diane M. Palm Bachelor of Science – Business Administration International Business University of Nevada, Las Vegas 2007 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts-Theatre Department of Theatre College of Fine Arts The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 2016 Thesis Approval The Graduate College The University of Nevada, Las Vegas April 14, 2016 This thesis prepared by Diane M. Palm entitled Rhinestones in the Desert: The Rise And Fall of the Las Vegas Showgirl and the Productions that Shaped Her is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts-Theatre Department of Theatre Lezlie Cross, Ph.D. Kathryn Hausbeck Korgan, Ph.D. Examination Committee Chair Graduate College Interim Dean Nate Bynum, M.F.A. Examination Committee Member Judith Ryerson, M.F.A. Examination Committee Member Linda Lister, D.M,A. Graduate College Faculty Representative ii ABSTRACT Showgirls are a cultural icon that is linked intrinsically with Las Vegas, where the image of a showgirl is prevalent and often ubiquitous. This thesis will look at the showgirl in Las Vegas and a brief history of the how she came to be, as represented by Donn Arden’s Jubilee!. This will include a discussion of the specific people and elements that contributed to the presentation of the showgirl: Donn Arden, who created the Las Vegas showgirl spectaculars, Company Manager Ffolliott “Fluff” LeCoque, scenic designer Ray Klausen and costume designers Bob Mackie and Pete Menefee. This is a necessary thesis as there is very little concrete documentation available regarding showgirls and their milieu, other than the information provided for publicity purposes in order to promote Las Vegas entertainment and tourism. This study is important as it will provide an authentic, factual record of the Las Vegas showgirl and the productions that she appeared in, particularly Donn Arden’s Jubilee!. In writing this thesis, I used an ethnographic approach using oral interviews with Ffolliott LeCoque, Ray Klausen, Pierre Rambert, Michael Pratt and Pete Menefee, print and online sources and access to the private scrapbooks of Ffolliott LeCoque. Additionally, my own entertainment background in Las Vegas has given me the necessary knowledge to discuss this topic expertly. The showgirl spectaculars were one of the major theatrical types of entertainment in Las Vegas. I argue that the showgirl and the productions that shaped her are a dying form of entertainment in Las Vegas because of the high costs needed to produce the shows, changes within the casino structure that affected how the showgirl shows were produced and societal changes that has affected how we view the showgirl and the Las Vegas production shows. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I could not have written this thesis without the support and encouragement of the wonderful and talented people I have been fortunate to work with over my years as a performer and manager in Las Vegas entertainment. I am greatly obliged to everyone who contributed their experiences and insights to the history and culture of the showgirl and the Las Vegas stage spectaculars. I would like to acknowledge the assistance I received from Joe “Nate” Bynum and Lezlie Cross of the UNLV Theatre department in completing this thesis, as well as Su Kim Chung of the Special Collections at UNLV. Thank you to Joy Morais and Michael Pratt for your many years of encouragement and friendship. Special thanks to Ffolliott “Fluff” LeCoque and my husband Henryk Janasik for their unwavering support, guidance and above all friendship and love. iv DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to the memory of Ffolliott “Fluff” Chorlton LeCoque. To Fluff, With love always, Diane v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iv DEDICATION .................................................................................................................... v LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... vii INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 Review of Literature and Methodology .............................................................................. 2 Chapter Outlines ................................................................................................................. 4 CHAPTER 1 CONCEIVED, CREATED AND DIRECTED BY ................................ 10 European and American Influences: Nineteenth Century ................................................ 12 Ziegfeld Follies ................................................................................................................. 17 The Role of the Artistic Director ...................................................................................... 21 Donn Arden: The Modern Ziegfeld .................................................................................. 27 CHAPTER 2 COMPANY MANAGER: PERSONIFICATION OF ELEGANCE ..... 35 Role of the company manager .......................................................................................... 35 Functions of the company manager .................................................................................. 39 Ffolliott “Fluff” LeCoque Biographical Background ....................................................... 42 CHAPTER 3 HOW LARGE IS THAT SHIP? IT’S ENORMOUS! ............................ 52 Production elements .......................................................................................................... 58 Scenic manufacturing........................................................................................................ 65 CHAPTER 4 BAUBLES, BANGLES AND BEADS .................................................. 70 Role of the costume designer ........................................................................................... .70 Methodology and the designer process ............................................................................. 77 Analysis of costs ............................................................................................................... 83 CHAPTER 5 END OF AN ERA .................................................................................. 88 Role of the casino.............................................................................................................. 88 Other Las Vegas Entertainment ........................................................................................ 94 Societal changes ................................................................................................................ 98 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................... 107 APPENDIX ..................................................................................................................... 109 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................... 122 CURRICULUM VITAE ................................................................................................. 128 LIST OF FIGURES Fig. 1 Folies Bergère 1890…………………………………………………………………. 14 Fig. 2 Quadrille au Moulin Rouge c.1890…………………………………………………... 15 Fig. 3 Ziegfeld Follies. Ben Ali Haggin tableau c. 1920s…………………………………... 19 Fig. 4 Folies Bergère program 1962……………………………………………………….. 22 Fig. 5 Lido de Paris program 1963…………………………………………………………. 22 Fig. 6 Donn Arden with chorus dancers c. 1940s…………………………………………... 28 Fig. 7. Moulin Rouge program 1955………………………………………………………… 29 Fig. 8 Donn Arden Las Vegan Magazine 1981……………………………………………... 34 Fig. 9 Ffolliott Fluff Chorlton (LeCoque) c. 1950 black hat……………………………….. 38 Fig. 10 Ffolliott Fluff Chorlton (LeCoque) c. 1952 bikini…………………………………… 46 Fig. 11 Ffolliott Fluff LeCoque 2005………………………………………………………… 49 Fig. 12 Jubilee stage ground level plan………………………………………………………. 58 Fig. 13 Donn Arden’s Jubilee! passarella……………………………………………………. 62 Fig. 14 Donn Arden’s Jubilee! Titanic………………………………………………………. 64 Fig. 15 Donn Arden’s Jubilee! Samson and Delilah Destruction……………………………. 65 Fig. 16 Cher 1986 Oscar dress designed by Bob Mackie…………………………………….