Vintage Photos from the Golden Age of Las Vegas

This touching photograph captures a quiet moment backstage at the Riviera Hotel in 1963, where 6-year-old Carrie Fisher watched her mother, Debbie Reynolds, dazzle the Las Vegas crowd. Reynolds was one of the Strip’s brightest stars during this era, bringing her Hollywood glamour and musical talent to the desert stage.

For Carrie, who would later become an icon herself as Princess Leia in Star Wars, this glimpse from the wings offered an early lesson in show business. The Riviera, one of Las Vegas’ classic resorts, was known for hosting top-tier entertainers, making this moment both a piece of family history and Vegas history.