The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, unveiled an iconic artifact from “Folies Bergere,” the historic production show at the Tropicana, on Thursday, January 21, during a special reception.
“Folies Bergere” had a 50-year run at the Tropicana, starting on December 24, 1959, and ending on March 28, 2009. During the 1970s, the production’s executive producer was Joe Agosto, who oversaw the skim at the Tropicana for Midwestern Mob families.
“Folies” came to Las Vegas from Paris, where it started as a cabaret music hall in 1869. Lou Walters, father of broadcast journalist Barbara Walters, is credited with bringing “Folies Bergere” to the Tropicana. He was the resort’s entertainment director at the time.
The costume is on loan to The Mob Museum from the Nevada State Museum, which recently acquired a large collection of “Folies Bergere” costumes from the Tropicana.
For more information or to purchase tickets to The Mob Museum, go to www.themobmuseum.org or call (702) 229-2734. The artifact is on view in the Museum’s second-floor Open City exhibit.
