A presentation of the Nevada Historical Society, High Noon with Neal Cobb is a monthly history series that delves into Nevada topics with local experts. Neal Cobb is a passionate historian and honorary curator for the Nevada Historical Society. Each month, he is joined by a different guest presenter.

This month’s presenter is Lou Anne Chessik, founder and president of the Showgirl Legacy Foundation.

Learn about the history of the Showgirl Legacy Foundation and how this organization works to preserve and protect the historic significance of the iconic showgirl as a performing artist. The foundation achieves this through lectures, educational programs, and art and costume exhibits in schools, museums, galleries, conventions, and other public venues.Learn about these programs: the Showgirl Legacy Art Competition, a juried art show and costume exhibit; and The Showgirl Connection talk show, which features fellow entertainers sharing their stories and experiences from their performing days, produced by WWDBTV in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The glitz and glamour of the showgirl performances ended in 2016 when the final curtain came down on the 34-year run of Bally's Jubilee!  While the extravaganzas are gone, the Showgirl Legacy Foundation will keep the sparkle of the iconic showgirl bright for future generations to admire and appreciate.

Chessik began ballet at the age of 6 and joined the Tacoma City Ballet company as a teenager. She studied in New York City with Martha Graham and Alvin Ailey. She was recruited and awarded a full dance scholarship to Stephens College, where she earned a liberal arts degree before arriving in Las Vegas to pursue her professional career.

Chessik’s dancing career spanned from 1979 to 1991. She performed in Hallelujah Hollywood at the MGM Grand, Jubilee! at Bally’s Las Vegas, Lido De Paris and Enter the Night at the Stardust Hotel, Hello Hollywood, Hello! at the MGM Grand Hotel in Reno, Nevada, and Las Vegas by Night at the Mikado Theatre in Tokyo, Japan.

The Showgirl Legacy Foundation was created in 2006. The inspiration was a reunion Chessik arranged with help from other performers who performed in the shows at the Stardust Hotel and Casino two weeks before it was imploded.

The Showgirl Legacy Art Competition was created the following year. High School art students get a historical perspective and presentation of the showgirl era by former performers, along with a showgirl modeling original costumes from Las Vegas stage show spectaculars and from the Hello Hollywood, Hello! costumes owned by Karen Burns Productions. The annual exhibit has been on display at Barnes & Noble, the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada Historical Society Reno, Water Street Art Gallery Henderson, and the Orleans and Bally’s Hotel/Casino at the Cast and Crew Reunions.

Register to join High Noon with Neal Cobb on Zoom. Recordings of past episodes are available on the library’s YouTube channel.