Every nightclub or casino that I worked for was owned and operated by the “boys.” Their presence was never so obvious as the bosses at the Tropicana Hotel.
When I was hired to be the Lead Dancer in the 1964 Folies Bergère, my contract read $350 weekly, less 10%. I asked, “Would you accept 5%?”The loud, firm voice responded, “No!
Everyone in the show pays 10%.”
The cast knew the rules and never spoke about it. To the best of my knowledge, it was the only casino in Las Vegas that demanded a kickback.
I left the “Folies Bergere” two years later and was thrilled to perform in the show that opened Caesars Palace. They did not expect a kickback and set a new policy on the strip, with no nudity in their shows in 1966. The impressive show had a full orchestra, gorgeous costumes, and majestic sets.
One evening, we were all on stage in anticipation of the curtain rising when we noticed that Josh was missing. We were 5 minutes into our performance when Josh ran on stage and blended into the routine. We saw the panicked look on his face and tried not to laugh..
With a cast of 100, you expect a lot of drama. We eventually asked Josh why he was late.
His explanation, “I met someone irresistible between shows and the time escaped me.”
Josh was handsome, single, and an incredibly talented dancer, having worked in several Broadway shows. This was, however, his first experience working in Las Vegas.
What he failed to tell us was that, in his hurry to make the show on time, he parked
his vehicle in the clearly marked “reserved” space – near a special private entry for a prominent executive member of “the family.”
Nothing could have prepared him for what he found when he went to his car. It was sitting on cement blocks, with all four wheels missing and bullet holes in the driver’s door.
He was devastated and burst into tears. The good news, however, was, he wasn’t fired!
