Published on: January 30, 2026, 07:21h.
Updated on: January 29, 2026, 05:22h.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A new edition of “Vegas Myths Busted” is released every Monday, with a bonus edition every Friday. The current issue was initially published on December 2, 2024.
The showgirls at the Sands not only brought excitement as the opening act for legendary performers like the Rat Pack, but they also took on the unique role of operating the resort’s parking lot tram while dressed in full costume.
“This image captures a whimsical tram ride led by showgirls, transporting visitors at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas during the 1950s,” stated an October 21 update from the Facebook group D&G Vegas Adventures.
“Practically naked showgirls and older women in wool coats in Vegas!!!” exclaimed Facebook user Larry Bittner in response to the post. “What a reflection of the ’50s!”
“Those days are G.O.N.E.,” concurred Greg Elvis Miller. “You’d be charged over $1,000 per person for something like that today.”
While you likely know the purpose of this column, we can’t fault D&G Vegas Adventures for inadvertently spreading misinformation.
This photograph, which was contributed to the UNLV Library’s Special Collections by the Sands when it shut down in 1996, was labeled inaccurately.
Its official title reads, “Image of a Sands Hotel tram driven by a showgirl transporting guests near the pool, circa the 1950s.”
We take pleasure in dispelling myths right off the bat.
The showgirl wasn’t behind the wheel; she was simply pretending to be. This was actually a staged publicity shot arranged by the Las Vegas News Bureau with the approval of Jack Entratter, the Sands’ General Manager.
Entratter formed the Copa Girls chorus line for the famed Copacabana Club in Manhattan back in 1945 and heavily promoted their addition to the Sands’ entertainment roster in 1955, coinciding with this photo.
Tram Illusion
The second noteworthy observation in this image, once viewers stop focusing on the showgirls—whose identities have faded into obscurity—reveals the reality behind the scene.
It can be found in the irritated expressions of each passenger. (And no, that isn’t Groucho Marx in the back seat.)
While we can’t claim complete certainty, we are 99.95% sure that these are genuine passengers on a tram that Entratter authorized the Las Vegas News Bureau to commandeer for this photography session. We’re also at least 72% confident that the photo was captured by a photographer who took their time to get the perfect shot.
It’s unfortunate that the bureau didn’t hire 10 extras for the shoot. Had they done so, all the passengers might have been smiling in the image instead of appearing as if they’d just received bad news.
These unfortunate individuals seemed worn out after a long day of travel in the 1950s, yearning only to reach their hotel rooms quickly.
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