360 Vegas Reviews: Crazy Horse Paris @MGM Grand Fall 2012

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Many consider the opening title sequences of James Bond movies to be some of the sexiest in the history of cinema.  The female form bathed in color, painted, reflected and projected upon. These sequences are provocative without being obscene and erotic without being vulgar.  However, more than 10 years before filming began on the first Bond film, in May of 1951, Crazy Horse Saloon opened in Paris France with a show that gave a theatrical take on sensuality with a mix of Avant garde.

From the beginning, the concept was to celebrate the female body by showcasing it like the work or art it is. This was done by using lighting and shade, then with color and eventually incorporated choreography.  The shows were not a collective narrative but more of a collection of intimate individual vignettes.  As times changes and evolved, so did the show.  It’s focus on theatricality allowed it to continue to stand apart from other shows featuring nudity and remain, if not become regarded more, as performance art.

La Femme opened up a residency at the MGM Grand in June 0f 2001 in a space designed to match nearly every inch of the original Crazy Horse Theatre.  Six years into a popular residency, MGM renamed the show Crazy Horse Paris.  In 2011, MGM began the “Grand Renovation” to their resort, retooling and updating virtually everything in the resort from the rooms to the dining options and entertainment.  In 2012, Crazy Horse Paris became a casualty of the renovation.  Rumors began almost immediately of relocation to another Vegas property, but to day, the show has not reopened.

Location

• Formerly at the MGM Grand, about a third of the way into the casino if you are entering from the Las Vegas Blvd entrance, in the middle of the casino floor

Run time

• 90 minutes, 1 intermission

Performance Times

• 8pm & 10:30pm Wed-Mon's

Ticket Cost

• $35-90

Restrictions

• Must be 21 or older

Theatre capacity & configuration

• 322 seats, burlesque club

Refreshments

• Drinks
• Drinks served during the show, inside the theatre
• Food
• None Available

Cast

• All of the cast are genuine Parisian females and are all natural.
• To focus on the show being about the female form, producers intentionally cast women with similar body type, shape, height and breast size.

Theme/Music

• Some modern music, some French language

Mark and Keren Rate - 5/5 chips

360 Vintage Vegas: Elvis Presley

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Elvis Presley virtually invented celebrity, as we know it.  Unfortunately, he also became its first victim.  Imagine being a shy mama’s boy who never matured past his late teens to early 20s because, at a time when most people are learning who they are from their mistakes, everyone around Elvis told him he was a genius.  He was encouraged to not let people change him, go with your instincts.  Elvis Presley not only became Las Vegas biggest draw but changed the face of music and pop culture forever.  Unfortunately his memory has become bastardized by the myriad of performers who impersonate his talent during the darkest times of his life. While most don’t do this with malicious intent, fat Elvis has become a common caricature in Vegas representing one of the most amazing, iconic performers of all time. 

There will never be another Elvis Presley the same way you can’t lose your virginity twice.  Elvis invented, inadvertently, modern day celebrity.  Artists of the time and over the years have expressed how important Elvis Presley was in their lives.  Bob Dylan said listing to Elvis for the 1^st time was like busting out for jail.  John Lennon said before Elvis Presley, there was nothing.  The fact is Elvis Presley changed everything.  A month before I began writing the piece, Elvis was nothing more than a curiosity to me.  One throwaway visit to Graceland during a weekend visit to Memphis that I thought would be nothing more than a “I’ve been to Graceland” sparked a curiosity that not only inspired me to write this piece but to explore far more about Elvis life and career than I would ever need for a 360 Vintage Vegas segment.  In short, despite all the kitch you have come to know, check out Graceland if you get the chance.  It might just change your perspective of the life and legacy of Elvis Aron Presley.

If you are interested in learning more about Elvis Presley, we would recommend Peter Guralnick's books Last Train to Memphis: the Rise of Elvis Presley & Careless Love: The unmaking of Elvis Presley.