Neon Museum Shines Light on Las Vegas Showgirl History
Refurbished Lido de Paris sign reflects city’s colorful past
Showgirls have long been synonymous with Las Vegas, and now The Neon Museum in downtown Las Vegas is celebrating a show that started it all.
The museum has refurbished the 56-foot-long Lido de Paris sign that once called the former Stardust Hotel & Casino home — and you can check it out in person.
The sign from the legendary topless revue has been illuminated 24/7 (in true Vegas fashion) as of Feb. 2, along with 22 other iconic signs previously restored by The Neon Museum, including the Stardust sign. The museum also contains more than 250 unrestored signs, illuminated with ground lighting at sunset.
Showgirls, Siegfried & Roy
During its tenure at the Stardust, the topless Lido de Paris entertained over 19 million guests with over 22,000 shows, helping pave the way for the glitz and glamor of the Las Vegas showgirl.
Showgirls originated at Paris cabarets like Moulin Rouge, Le Lido and Folies Bergère in the late 1800s.
In Las Vegas, they were classically trained dancers who wore extravagant, heavy costumes and headdresses, dripping in feathers and gems. They started out as side acts and background…
