Abstract
The Valda and Esper Esau Collection on Lido de Paris (1954-2014) mainly consists of newspaper clippings, ephemera, and programs documenting the career of entertainer Valda Esau, who danced in the
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Scope and Contents Note
The Valda and Esper Esau Collection on Lido de Paris (1954-2014) mainly consists of newspaper clippings, ephemera, and programs documenting the career of entertainer Valda Esau, who danced in the
Access Note
Collection is open for research. Arrangements must be made in advance to access digital files; please contact UNLV Special Collections and Archives for additional information.
Publication Rights
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyrights and other rights. See Reproductions and Use on the UNLV Special Collections and Archives website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged loosely by topic.
Biographical / Historical Note
A native Australian, Valda Boyne Esau moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1950s to become a professional dancer as a member of the Bluebell Girls dance troupe. She starred in the Lido de Paris show, which debuted at the Stardust Hotel and Casino in 1958 and was one of the most popular nightlife attractions in Las Vegas in the late 1950s and 1960s. She danced in the first and third editions of the famed production as well as the first Cést Magnifique, a Las Vegas-inspired rendition of the Parisian show. The final Lido shows were held at the Stardust in 1991.
Esper Esau was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and he learned about commercial and fine art at the Carnegie Institute of Technology. He began working as a crewman building and painting scenery for the theater. He moved to Las Vegas in the 1950s and began working in the Clover Room at the Riviera Hotel and Casino. He eventually worked as a stage manager and as an assistant Director of Entertainment at the MGM Grand Hotel.
Valda Boyne and Esper Esau met while they were both working as part of Lido de Paris. The couple moved to Sedona, Arizona after retiring where they opened up a bed and breakfast inn, the Wishing Well Bed and Breakfast.
Source:
Esau, Esper.
Preferred Citation
Valda and Esper Esau Collection on Lido de Paris, 1954-2014. MS-00520. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Acquisition Note
Materials were donated in 2006 and 2021 by Valda and Esper Esau; accession numbers 2006-023, 2021-021.
Processing Note
In 2007, materials were processed by Su Kim Chung. In 2014, as part of a legacy finding aid conversion project, Ian M. Baldwin revised and enhanced the collection description to bring it into compliance with current professional standards. In 2015, Joyce Moore further revised the collection description and entered the data into ArchivesSpace. In 2017, Karla Irwin transferred files off of one optical disc, created access files, and updated the finding aid. In 2021, Tammi Kim minimally processed the 2021 addition and updated the finding aid.
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Separated Materials
Some of the photographs from the 2006 acquisition were removed from the collection and placed in Valda and Esper Esau Photograph Collection, approximately 1958-2006. PH-00348. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.