Were Vegas Casino Cocktail Waitresses Ever Topless?

I just read an article on the DailyBeast. In it, a New Orleans photographer was quoted. When he came to Vegas in the late 1970s as a teenager, he said, “Hotel rooms were about nine dollars and the cocktail waitresses in many casinos were topless." My question is: Was there a time when casino cocktail waitresses were topless? I thought I knew almost everything about Vegas. But I've never heard of this.

Anthony Curtis arrived in Las Vegas in 1979. A casino habitué as he looked for advantage plays and checked out the blackjack games for Stanford Wong's monthly newsletter, Current Blackjack News, he would have certainly known about topless cocktail waitresses. But he says not only didn't he ever see any, but he never heard of any -- then or since.

Deke Castleman came here in 1985. Admittedly, it was a few years later than the late '70s, but he was researching a Nevada travel book and had his eyes and ears wide open for anything that might spice up the dry style of guidebookese. He never saw or heard anything about topless cocktail waitresses in any casinos present or past.

We suspected that the memories of "topless cocktail waitresses in many casinos" of the photographer quoted on the DailyBeast are somewhat distorted, having been there as a highly, shall we say, impressionable teenager. Either that, or he took a liberty to spice up his sound bite in the interview.

Then we queried our contact Jeff, the sys admin at VintageLasVegas.com. As the most prolific collector of archival images from Las Vegas' past, if anyone had photographic evidence, or even knew, of topless cocktail waitresses, it would be Jeff.

He told us, "Topless cocktail waitresses in Las Vegas, no.

"Henderson, yes. I've seen some stories of topless waitresses at the Rainbow Club. This was in the midst of the topless-everything craze, circa 1967. Unfortunately, no photo.

"There's some controversy in the papers in 1966 about topless female 21 dealers at the Silver Nugget. But photos and additional details show that 'topless' was more of a marketing term that didn't really mean topless."

You can see the image of "topless 21 dealers" on VintageLasVegas.

No part of this answer may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher.

Have a question that hasn't been answered? Email us with your suggestion.

Missed a Question of the Day?

Have a Question?

Tomorrow's Question

Has Clark County ever considered legalizing prostitution?

Comments

jay Nov-16-2021

Titalating

I would be surprised if they ever did. I read someplace that there is a moral code that the casinos need to uphold. Even the strippers in the party (pitty) pits at the casinos don't peel off. For that matter I have never seen a slot machine with naked men/women as symbols, nor casino cards featuring topless folk. The closest was a casino chip at the planet Hollywood casino advertising their burlesque show.

David Nov-16-2021

I've been coming to Las Vegas since 1966

There have not been topless waitresses in Las Vegas.

rokgpsman Nov-16-2021

Public access space, no nudity

Casinos allow the public to enter, any age can walk in. People bring their children thru a casino all the time, headed to their room, the pool, shows, restaurants, etc. To have topless dealers, cocktail servers or dancers the casino would have to restrict access to the casino to adults only and they don't want to do that. Generally speaking, to see nudity you'll have to pay a door charge, buy a show ticket or hand over money in some way.

steve crouse Nov-16-2021

YES

I saw a topless waitress in Vegas, but it was after a couple of drinks, and a taxi ride to her place, and just like Seinfeld's ex girlfriend said "They were spectacular".
But other than that, no.

Roy Furukawa Nov-16-2021

Show Rooms

I think the person misremembering the topless cocktail waitresses went to one too many topless show room revues of the 70’s and got mixed up.

Question of the Day - 16 November 2021

Comments