In a different view of Las Vegas, we see the Stardust Hotel and Casino with it’s premiere show “Lido of Paris.” Interesting to note, Wikipedia says that this circular sign was replaced in 1967. Since the sign also says “Grand Prix 1968,” perhaps it was replaced late in the year in the off season?
Vintage photo of the Lido of Paris at the Stardust Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas in 1968.
The Lido of Paris show was one of, if not the biggest of the cabaret shows in Vegas. This is where the elaborate Las Vegas show girl costumes originated from. The show itself really was in Paris for many years. The Stardust’s Entertainment director, Frank Sennes, had been trying to get the popular show to Las Vegas in a variety of hotels for years. He finally succeeded in bringing it to the Stardust in 1958. It’s popularity was such that several competitors brought other shows from Paris in an attempt to compete. The show ran for many decades, finally closing in 1991 due to it’s ever increasing budget. Since the first year alone cost the hotel roughly $5 million dollars, one has to wonder exactly what that budget was!
Lido was replaced with “Enter the Night,” which lasted until 1999. Other acts that played here were Wayne Newton, Siegfried and Roy, George Carlin and Andrew Dice Clay. The hotel was imploded in 2007, but construction on it’s replacement has been halted since then.
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