Donn Arden
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Donn Arden (born 1916 — died November 2, 1994) was a choreographer credited with developing the Las Vegas showgirl image — a statuesque dancer in sequins, feathers and wearing a tall headpiece.
Arden's dance troupe headlined the Desert Inn's opening in 1950. He later developed the Lido de Paris show, which ran at the Stardust from 1958 to 1991, and the Jubilee show at Bally's.
Arden was born Arlyle Arden Peterson. He grew up in St. Louis and studied dancing with Robert Alton, who later became a Broadway director. Arden decided he was better suited to organize and direct dance shows rather than perform in them. Arden got his first break in Cleveland, where he staged floor shows in clubs operated by racketeer Moe Dalitz. "My success was due to…I hate to use the word 'mafia'," Arden once said. "Moe was a great guy to work for. He believed in spending money."
The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce presented Arden with its first Personality of the Year award.
