Vintage Photos from the Golden Age of Las Vegas

Las Vegas has always had a flair for mixing glitz with the unexpected, and this photo from 1968 captures that perfectly. Taken by the Las Vegas News Bureau, it shows showgirls from the Desert Inn — including Shirley Allen, Rusty Taylor, Jackie Hewitt, and two others — trading in their sequins for sneakers (well, heels, in this case) on the basketball court.

The playful scene highlights the city’s unique brand of entertainment, where performers were as much a part of the lifestyle as they were the stage. The Desert Inn, one of the Strip’s most glamorous resorts at the time, regularly blended spectacle with everyday fun, ensuring guests were entertained around the clock.