"One of the Crazy Girls Depicted in the Statue Turns Out to Be a Man"
When Crazy Girls, a long-running topless revue, shifted to Planet Hollywood nine years back, the Riviera's iconic statue was salvaged out of retirement. This bronze statue embellished with thecite's performers had adorned the entrance to the casino resort since 1997, and served as a good luck charm for tourists.
The "Crazy Girls" statue was an icon in its own right and was the most photographed one in Las Vegas, as countless visitors would rub and admire the shiny, exposed bottoms of the women portrayed on it.
However, there is a popular myth regarding this statue that needs to be busted.
"The performers for Crazy Girls, including transgender showgirl Jahna Steele, are immortalized with a bronze sculpture," claims one stock photo website.
In actuality, that's not true. Scott Roeben, a blogger on the website Vital Vegas, debunked this myth in 2021. Overexposure didn't deter the persistence of the legend. As Mark Twain said, "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story."
Sadly, that's also not an actual quote from Twain. His real name was Samuel Clemens.
Revolving Doors and Crazy Girls
Opened in 1988, Crazy Girls held court at The Riviera for 27 years before it relocated to Planet Hollywood. Back in the 90s, the show's breakout star was singer/dancer Jahna Steele. Known as John Matheny before her gender reassignment surgery in San Antonio, Texas, this transgender performer was voted the "Sexiest Showgirl on the Strip" in 1991 by uninformed Las Vegas readers.
As a younger woman, Steele underwent gender reassignment surgery and in 1992, this major procedure was a touchier subject than it is today. Add in the fact that sensational tabloid TV show "A Current Affair" publicized her past, creating a national scandal. This resulted in Steele being sacked from the revue.
In 2004, she returned to the Riviera to host the World's Most Beautiful Transsexual Contest. This not only earned her a starring role in a Showtime documentary titled "Trantasia," but a hosting gig for Aleman's "An Evening at La Cage" drag show at the same venue. Tragically, Steele passed away in 2008 at 49 years old due to an "accidental overdose of drugs, including cocaine and morphine."
But let's go back. The story began in 1994 when the statue idea emerged as part of an ad campaign. Photographer Greg Rider was commissioned for this project. Dancers Shellee Renee and Angela Sampras-Stabile - who later featured in the statue - suggested to Rider that they display their backsides towards the camera for the image. Consequently, the ad campaign read, "No Ifs, Ands or..."
Now, couldn't the statue's model possibly be an old photo featuring Steele herself?
Spilling the Statue's Truth
No, because the statue wasn't sculpted using a photo at all. Instead, artist Michael Conine made the statue by using body molds.
"They covered us in baby oil, then cotton, then whatever the mold was made out of," revealed Sampras-Stabile in a conversation with us. A dancer, she remembered the arduous process of holding perfectly still until the material dried up. "One of the girls fainted and shattered the mold. We then had to start over."
Planet Hollywood rescued the show and statue, but fate wasn't kind for the statue again.
In 2014, the casino resort's owners decided to shut down the show, forcing the creators to store the "Crazy Girls" statue indefinitely. As of now, there are no plans from Caesars Entertainment to display it again.
Finally, if you're not ready for sad news, we implore you to stop here.
Frustrated by her ouster from Crazy Girls and lack of opportunities after her quitting, Steele chose education and pursued computer classes, obtaining her qualification in nonprofit management. She worked briefly for United Blood Services, but missed the performing industry.
In 2004, Steele returned to the Riviera to host the World's Most Beautiful Transsexual Contest. This resulted in a starring role in a Showtime documentary about the pageant, "Trantasia." Subsequently, Steele became the host of Aleman's drag show, "An Evening at La Cage," at the same casino from 2008 until her death in 2008. She was 49 at the time, and per the Clark County Coroner's office, Steele's demise was a result of an "accidental overdose of drugs, including cocaine and morphine."
We cautioned you to stop reading earlier.
The Crazy Girls revue and its commemorative statue symbolized a significant era in the history of Vegas entertainment. However, its enduremeant beyond its location as an iconic tourist attraction. These stories open up a window to the circumstances that nurtured this tradition, illuminating the road less traveled by those performers that, like Steele, constructed new identities amidst the glamour and challenges of entertaiment.
The lasting myths, despite being debunked, still hold a sense of allure and mystery, adding to the enchantment of Las Vegas' storied past. It's these captivating stories that lure tourists to the city, searching for their own fictions to unravel.
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Source: www.casino.org
