Legendary Dancers of Las Vegas’ Historic Moulin Rouge

How a groundbreaking hotel and its dazzling performers changed the face of entertainment in 1950s Las Vegas. 

In 1955, the doors of the Historic Moulin Rouge Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas opened not just to the public, but to a new era of integration. Known as the first fully integrated hotel and casino in the United States, the Moulin Rouge welcomed Black and white guests to share in food, gaming, and entertainment — an unprecedented gesture in mid-century America. 

Opening on May 24, 1955, the Moulin Rouge sought the nation’s top entertainers and dancers for its headlining show. While the hotel was primarily owned by a group of white investors — Will Max Schwartz (38% share), Louis Rubin (29%), and Alexander Bisno (31%) — boxing champion Joe Louis also served as part-owner, ambassador, and the face of the hotel, attracting crowds with his star power. 

The stage sparkled with legends: jazz sensation Dinah Washington headlined, and comedic and tap duos like Stump & Stumpy and Buck & Bubbles drew laughter and applause. Yet it was the Moulin Rouge’s elegant dancers who brought glitz, glamour, and unforgettable performances to the audience. Their routines, such as the famed Watusi — later featured on the cover of Time magazine — captivated guests night after night. 

Feathers, sequins, and color — red, beige, blue, and orange — draped the dancers, dazzling spectators who often waited outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the show before it reached full capacity. Iconic choreographers Larry Steele and Clarence Robinson handpicked the dancers from Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, ensuring every performer embodied grace, talent, and star quality. 

Among them was Brooklyn, New York native Anna Bailey, who will celebrate her 100th birthday in August. “I first heard about Las Vegas from entertainer Pearl Bailey,” she recalls. “Shortly after, choreographer Clarence Robinson asked my husband, Bob, and me to join the new Moulin Rouge show. We didn’t have to audition — he already knew our work in New York.” 

Rehearsals in New York spanned four months, but the unknown of Las Vegas loomed large. Anna and 11 fellow dancers — split evenly between the East and West coasts — flew to Las Vegas, nerves and excitement swirling. “Looking out the plane, I saw total darkness, then a burst of colorful lights over the mountains. We were told, ‘That’s Las Vegas,’” Anna remembers. 

Cameras flashed as the dancers descended from the plane, greeted by a crowd of media and local notables. 

Willard Booth, a longtime Las Vegas businessman, recalls the moment vividly: “Those Moulin Rouge dancers were the prettiest women I had ever seen.” 

The performers were housed in homes in Regal Estates, designed by architect Paul Williams, a special community built for the hotel’s stars. On arrival at the Moulin Rouge, Bailey was struck by the hotel’s elegance: sparkling pools, first-class backstage areas, showers in dressing rooms, fabulous costumes with matching shoes, a fine soul food restaurant, and even a boutique. “It felt like a first-class operation,” she says. 

Opening night on May 24 was a glittering spectacle. Celebrities like Bob Hope, Sammy Davis Jr., and Frank Sinatra attended, and the showroom was packed every night. Yet, despite the star-studded performances and groundbreaking integration, the Moulin Rouge shuttered its doors after just six months. Bailey recalls the final day vividly: “We were waiting in the wings for another sold-out performance when marshals came in with chains and padlocks. Everyone was asked to leave, including the performers. We never went back. It was a very sad day.” 

Today, the Moulin Rouge Hotel and Casino is remembered not only for its brief but brilliant run, but for the performers who made it legendary — the dancers whose elegance and talent helped break barriers and redefine entertainment in Las Vegas.