Question of the Day - 25 March 2025

Minsky's burlesque shows made their Las Vegas debut in 1957 at the Dunes, marking the introduction of burlesque to the city. 

Harold Minsky had burlesque in his blood; he was the son of Abe Minsky, one of the famous Minsky Brothers, who helped define burlesque in New York City during the early 20th century. Harold was born in 1915, so by the time he kicked off Minsky Goes to Paris at the Dunes at age 42, he was a prominent producer and showman. In Las Vegas, he carried on the family tradition of burlesque, bringing it to a more glamorous and mainstream audience. In addition, Minsky's Follies was the first topless revue on the Strip.

Before Minsky Goes to Paris, the Copa Girls at the Copa Room at the Sands were the city's premier attraction, but Minsky's show changed the landscape of Las Vegas entertainment. Indeed, he helped shape the city’s adult-oriented entertainment scene, paving the way for later topless revues like Lido de Paris (1958) at the Stardust and Folies Bergère (1959) at the Tropicana.

Over the subsequent years, Harold Minsky produced shows at the Thunderbird, Aladdin, Silver Slipper, Fremont, and Frontier. The essence of Minsky’s burlesque format remained intact for each iteration: a mix of comedy, striptease, and musical performances, with glitzy showgirl performances and elaborate costumes. 

However, each production was tailored to fit the venue, audience, and changing entertainment trends over the years. Each casino had a different stage setup, budget, and demographic, which influenced the scale and content of the show. And as time marched on, the shows adapted to changing tastes, incorporating new music, routines, and performers. In addition, some venues had stricter policies on nudity and suggestive content, leading to adjustments in the performances.

Harold Minsky's final burlesque show in Las Vegas concluded at the Fremont shortly before his death on Christmas Day 1977 at age 62. Following his passing, his wife Patricia continued the productions in other American cities until 1978, when the last Minsky's burlesque was performed for the public.