Under the Glittering Lights

The world’s stage

Las Vegas always commands the world’s attention, and the golden age of black entertainment helped put the entertainment capital on the map for good. In the 1940s, ‘50s, and ‘60s, top African-American performers — legends like Sammy Davis Jr., Pearl Bailey, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Redd Foxx, Eartha Kitt, Josephine Baker, and Dorothy Dandridge — were instrumental in making our city a destination for people everywhere. These photos offer a glimpse into the black excellence that lives forever in the spirit of Las Vegas.