Fremont, Nebraska, has a colorful history of burlesque entertainment, evolving from the refined stages of opera houses like Love’s Opera House to the more provocative go-go lounges of the mid to late-20th century. In its early days, Fremont’s opera house hosted traveling burlesque troupes, blending humor, music, and theatrical flair to captivate audiences. As societal norms shifted, the town saw the rise of go-go lounges, where semi-nude entertainers became a focal point of nightlife. This transition reflects the changing tastes and cultural dynamics of Fremont, showcasing its unique journey through the spectrum of entertainment.
Love’s Opera House | 1890s
The Love’s Opera House, a prominent cultural fixture in Fremont, Nebraska, was once a hub for diverse entertainment, including the spirited performances of traveling burlesque companies. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the opera house’s grand stage welcomed an array of acts, from sophisticated operas to the playful, risqué humor and elaborate performances of burlesque troupes. These traveling companies brought a mix of music, comedy, and theatrical flair, drawing crowds eager for lively and unconventional entertainment.
The burlesque shows, while often controversial for their cheeky nature, played a significant role in the vibrant entertainment culture of the era, reflecting changing societal tastes and the broad appeal of Love’s Opera House as a venue for both high art and popular amusement. This historic building truly showcased the dynamic range of entertainment that shaped its legacy.
A burlesque girly show by the name of “Paris Gaiety Girls” premiered at the Love Opera House in 1892. It billed a burlesque dancer named “Carita” as a “Renowned Character Danseuse” and her first time appearing in the United States.
American Legion Fair | 1923
When the American Legion Fair passed through Fremont for two nights, the town was in an uproar. Miss Dorothy De Were performed her “Visions of Salome”, an oriental dance, and Miss Agnes Britton and Company, a burlesque troupe, performed as well.
The Empress Theatre
Rosita Royce, a famous Nebraska burlesque performer, dazzled audiences at the Empress Theatre in November 1933. She presented her fan dance on the stage. Read more about the life of Rosita Royce below.
Billroy’s Comedians Tent Theatre
Billroy’s Comedians Tent Theatre was part of the rich tradition of traveling tent shows that brought entertainment to rural communities across the United States. These tent shows often featured a mix of comedy, drama, and vaudeville acts, providing a lively escape for audiences during the early 20th century. Billyroy’s Comedians were known for their engaging performances and ability to connect with local audiences, making them a cherished part of the national carnival scene. Their legacy reflects the golden age of tent theatre, a time when live entertainment under canvas was a staple of American culture.
In August 1938, Billroy’s Comedians came to Fremont to perform one night only. “Yolanda” was the featured exotic dancer in her sensational bubble and fan dances.
Fremont Burlesque in the 1970s
Go-go dancing in the 1970s was a vibrant and energetic part of the nightlife scene. Rooted in the 1960s, go-go dancing continued to thrive into the ’70s with its signature style of dancers performing in clubs, often on platforms or in cages, to lively music. The decade saw go-go dancing evolve alongside the rise of disco and funk music, incorporating more elaborate moves and costumes that reflected the bold and colorful fashion trends of the era. Go-go dancers became iconic figures in clubs, bringing energy and flair to the dance floor.
In the 1974, Fremont City Council attempted to ban topless dancing with an ordinance, but it was overruled by U.S. District Judge Warren Urbom.
The Alibi Lounge | 222 East 2nd St.
The Alibi Lounge hosted exotic dancers beginning in 1970. In 1971, the Alibi was raided and a burlesque dancer arrested for exposing herself to public view. The lounge operator, Clyde Morton, was charged with “procuring a person to expose herself to public view.” The Assistant Police Chief, Francis Hurt, stated two officers saw the performer “indecently exposing herself” on their routine check of downtown lounges. The charges were filed under a state statute, as Fremont did not have a city ordinance banning topless dancing at this time. Following the charge, Morton required pasties to be worn, as bare breasts with pasties didn’t qualify as indecent exposure. He also started keeping copies of legal opinions in his office should the police show up again.
Even though the Alibi showcased exotic dancers every day of the week, Fremont also had another club called the Leisure Lounge.
The Leisure Lounge | 87 W. 4th St.
The Leisure Lounge provided a mix of entertainment for Fremont’s citizens. It had go-go dancers for the first half of the week and then Country-Western bands the other nights. Pat Haines was the proprietor of the Leisure Lounge and of the Columbus Bunny Club.
The Lariat Club | 87 W 4th St.
The Lariat Club was an alcoholic lounge that showcased semi-nude entertainers. In 1973, the Club lost their liquor license and decided to serve soft drinks instead. They only allowed people 19+ to enter. They also hosted amateur go-go dancing contests. In September 1973, they advertised for a male go-go contest.
All of the advertisements for the Lariat Club had a warning: “This Establishment Offers Semi-Nude Entertainment. If You Would Be Offended, Please Do Not Come In.”
The Performers at the Lariat Club:
1971
- Kitty Lynne, “the Cat Girl”, America’s No. 2 Exotic Dancer, performed in November 1971
- Miss Vegas Jones, performed in November 1971
1972
- Miss Marilyn Marlow performed in January 1972
- Dawn Diano, “Miss Nude Galaxy,” performed in March 1972 and February 1973
- Patricia Sands performed her Exotic Football Show in February 1972
- Rita Atlanta performed her “Champagne Bath” act in February 1972
- Kitti Fontain performed in March 1972
- Monique Cordeaux performed in March 1972
- Suzanne Pritchard performed in April 1972
- Jeanne Thomas, “Goddess of Fire,” performed in December 1972
- Miss Nitro performed in December 1972
- Burgess and Martin, “Niteclub’s Favorite Couple,” performed in March & December 1972
1973
- Daisy Mae performed in January 1973
- Nicki Berns, “Miss Redhead U.S.A.”, performed in February 1973
- Lee Spencer performed in February 1973
- Miss Holly Wood performed in February 1973
- Kupie Doll performed in March 1973
- Luna, “Age of the Beast”, performed in March 1973
- Zephyr performed in March 1973
- Wendy Warren performed in March 1973
- Anna Lisa, “the Body Painter,” performed in May 1973
- Christina, “the Bronze Goddess,” performed in May 1973
- Mako Ohta, “Pearl of the Orient,” performed in May 1973
- Jacque Dunn, “Whatcha See is What Cha Get,” performed her “Bourbon St. Revue” in June 1973
- Valerie Craft, “Miss Nude America”, performed in June 1973
- Barbar-hella performed in June 1973
- Michele La Amour performed in June 1973
- Kim Kelly, “Baby Doll of Bourbon St.”, performed in June 1973
- Daquiri Jones performed in July 1973
- Leigh Sharon performed in July 1973
- Carmen Holiday performed in July & October 1973
- Lori Martin performed her “6-Inch Tassel Act” in August 1973
- Lovie performed in August 1973
- Sally Shane performed in September 1973
- Rebel Carr, “Real Southern Comfort,” performed in September 1973
1974
- Miss Christy Mitchell performed in January 1974
- Miyye Lee performed in January 1974
- Rita Atlanta, “the Fabulous Champagne Girl,” performed in March 1974
1977
- Raggedy Ann, “6 Feet of Living Doll”, performed in July 1977
The Lariat Club was still open and showcasing exotic dancers as late as 2005. By 2006, the owner, Calburt Sheet, was arrested for trafficking cannabis from inside his business. The Club’s liquor license was revoked and closed later that year.
Fremont’s Topless Dancing Ban | 1974
In the Fall of 1974, Fremont enacted a ban on topless dancing, reflecting the city’s efforts to regulate public morality and decency. The ordinance targeted establishments that featured topless performances, aiming to curb what local authorities deemed inappropriate entertainment. However, the ban sparked legal challenges, with opponents arguing that it infringed on freedom of expression and the rights of business owners.
The Trial
Patsy A. Clark, the owner of the Lariat Club, filed a suit in U.S. District Court in the Winter of 1973, seeking a ruling on the constitutionality of a city ordinance banning topless entertainment. By February 1974, the hearing had concluded. During the trial, Robert Kautz, who was in charge of booking the entertainment since 1971, stated the Lariat Club ‘specializes in exotic variety acts, including pantomime, comedy, and acrobatics’ and the acts ‘never included sexual acts with male members of the audience.’
A 15 minute film of an act presented at the Lariat Club was submitted as evidence and shown in the court room. Reported by newspapers, the film showed a young woman, naked from the waist up, making portraits of members of the audience by applying paint to her abdomen and chest, then pressing the paper to herself to transfer the paint.
A Fremont Police Detective, John Desnedt, testified that he witnesses female performers wearing only a g-string and one had ‘simulated intercourse with a large teddy bear.’ He did not make any arrests however. At the end of the trial, it was concluded that Fremont’s Topless Dancing Ban was unconstitutionally vague.
The controversy highlighted the tension between community standards and individual liberties, making the Fremont topless dancing ban a notable case in the broader debate over public morality and legal boundaries. This moment in Fremont’s history underscores the complexities of balancing cultural norms with constitutional rights.
Learn More about Carmen Holiday, the dancer who stirred controversy in Fremont
El Coco Lounge
El Coco Lounge opened in 1973 in Fremont under the same owners as the Lariat Club. It’s closure date is unknown, as this was the only advertisement for it I could locate.
Valley View | South Fremont
The Valley View in South Fremont also booked exotic dancers. Babette Bardot performed there for one week with her band “Bianco.”
The Tiki Lounge | 222 E. 2nd
The Tiki Lounge was another nightclub which featured exotic dancers and semi-nude go-go dancers. This club was also short lived as the only advertisements found were from 1974.
Boomers Lounge | 1841 E 23rd St.
Boomers Lounge was a night club which featured semi-nude entertainers. The club had their own dancers called “Sheer Delight Dancers.” Starting in 1985, semi-nude dancers graced their stage. In 1987, they hosted “Wrestle Mania 1” featuring exotic dancers from California. Don Crum was the owner of the club.
In August 1991, a 16 year old girl was arrested by Fremont Police after she was seen working as a topless dancer at Boomers Lounge. She appeared in juvenile court while the owner, Crum, was cited under the state’s Child Pornography Prevention Act. The girl had only worked 3 or 4 days before she was arrested. Crum stated he had assumed she was the legal age to dance, and tries to hire dancers that are 21 years or older.
This incident sparked wider debate which led to the city of Fremont to ban topless dancing within the city limits. Boomers remained open until the early 2000s.
Fremont’s Topless Dance Issue | 1991
The Fremont City Council decided to conduct a study to review the City’s power to outlaw the combination of topless dancing and alcohol sales. In March 1991, the City Council received 3 letters from concerned citizens about the Boomers‘ topless dancers. The five board members and president of the “Fremont Area Citizens for Decency” had encouraged their friends to write City Council if they were concerned about Boomers.
By April 1991, the City Council found it would be in contempt of an early order (1974) of a U.S. District Court if it enacted an ordinance banning “barroom topless dancing.” The Court said topless dancing would have to be ruled obscene before it could be banned.
Jamie’s Gentlemen ‘s Club | Never Opened
In 2007, Jamie Nielsen had applied to the Fremont City Council to open Jamie’s Gentlemen’s Club in an empty building along US Highway 30. Nielsen was 41 at the time and had been an exotic dancer in Nebraska for almost 15 years. She wanted to own and manage her own club in Fremont because of its location between Columbus and Omaha. She also thought she could more easily obtain a liquor license.
In order to be successful, Nielsen asked the City Council to revise its zoning ordinance so she could open the adult entertainment club. The ordinance at the time forbid entertainment businesses from opening within 1,000ft of a housing development, school, church or public park. Nielsen petitioned for “public park” to be changed to “city park”, but officials refused. There was a definite demand at the time, but Jamie ultimately rescinded her application, as she felt it was a losing battle.
Sources
Newspapers
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for Babette Bardot at Alibi Lounge. May 14, 1973
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for Tracy the Exotic Dancer at Alibi Lounge. January 29, 1970
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for Tiger Lil at the Alibi Lounge. January 4, 1972
- Fremont Tribune. “Fremont Police Put Clamps on Go-Go Girl in City Bar.” September 14, 1971
- Omaha World Herald. “‘The Day of the Hick Farmer is Gone’ So Outstate Nebraska Goes Go-Go.” Page 57. October 20, 1971
- Fremont Herald. Ad for American Legion Fair. Page 5. March 23, 1923
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for Billroy’s Comedians in Fremont. Page 3. August 22, 1938
- Fremont Tribune. “16-year-old girl cited for working as topless dancer.” August 27, 1991
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Boomers. Page 26. June 21, 1985
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Boomers. October 9, 1987
- The Lincoln Star. “Fremont choosing up sides again no exotic dancing question.” May 14, 1991
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for Rosita Royce at the Empress Theatre. Page 3. November 16, 1933
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for ‘The Adventures of Hajji Baba’ at the Empress Theatre. February 28, 1955
- Omaha World Herald. “Dancer Steps away from strip club bid.” John Ferak. Page 13. October 9, 2007
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for Kitty Lynne at Lariat Club. November 1, 1971
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Miss Vegas Jones at Lariat Club. November 19, 1971
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for Ron Hughes at Lariat Club. January 28, 1972
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for Suzanne Pritchard at Lariat Club. April 18, 1972
- Fremont Tribune. “New look at Lariat Club: soft drinks, go-go girls.” July 25, 1972
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Dawn Diano and Kitt Fontain at Lariat Club. March 17, 1972
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Rita Atlanta at Lariat Club. February 28, 1972
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Jeanne Thomas at Lariat Club. December 2, 1972
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for “Miss Nitro” at Lariat Club. December 28, 1972
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Patricia Sands at Lariat Club. February 10, 1972
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Burgess and Martin and Jim & Monique at Lariat Club. March 30, 1972
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Burgess & Martin at Lariat Club. December 12, 1972
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Kitti Fontain at Lariat Club. March 21, 1972
- Fremont Tribune. “Topless club wins stay, hearing set for Tuesday.” Page 1. September 28, 1972
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for Rebel Carr and Sally Shane at Lariat Club. September 7, 1973
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for Anna Lisa and Christina at Lariat Club. May 14, 1973
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for Kupie Doll and Wendy Warren at Lariat Club. March 15, 1973
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for Luna and Zephyr at Lariat Club. March 22, 1973
- Lincoln Journal Star. “Urbom Decision Set on Topless Dancing.” Page 6. September 28, 1973
- Lincoln Journal Star. “Exotic Dancer Stirs Controversy in Fremont; For Carmen Holiday, Job is Mainly Lots of Fun.” Page 10. October 8, 1973
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Lee Spencer at Lariat Club. February 1, 1973
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Lariat Club and El Coco Lounge. July 5, 1973
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Carmen Holiday and Anna Lisa at Lariat Club. July 12, 1973
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for “The Bourbon St. Revue on Tour” at the Lariat Club. June 14, 1973
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Lorie Martin at the Lariat Club. August 28, 1973
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Miss Holly Wood at Lariat Club. February 13, 1973
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Nicki Berns at the Lariat Club. February 20, 1973
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Dawn Diano at Lariat Club. February 27, 1973
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Daisy Mae at Lariat Club. January 23, 1973
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Daquiri Jones at Lariat Club. July 24, 1973
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Michele La Amour at the Lariat and Valerie Craft at the El Coco Lounge. June 26, 1973
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Mako Ohta at Lariat Club. May 29, 1973
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Rebel Carr at Lariat Club. September 25, 1973
- The Grand Island Independent. “Club Owner Fights Ordinance in Fremont.” Page 3. September 28, 1973
- Lincoln Star. “Topless Ban Challenged.” Page 1. September 28, 1973
- Lincoln Star. “Carmen’s Danes Stir Controversy.” Page 12. October 9, 1973
- Fremont Tribune. “Council vote unanimous to block liquor license.” Page 1-2. February 27, 1974
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for Miyye Lee and Miss Christy Mitchell at Lariat Club. January 28, 1974
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for Rita Atlanta. March 12, 1974
- Star Herald. “Topless Suit Evidence Viewed.” February 27, 1974
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for Raggedy Ann at Lariat Club. July 30, 1977
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for Miss Wendy Warren at Leisure lounge. October 25, 1971
- Fremont Daily Herald. Ad for Paris Gaiety Girls at Love’s Opera House. Page 4. February 17, 1892
- Fremont Tribune. “Looking Back.” Page 4. February 16, 1967
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for Fancey Pants at Tiki Lounge. May 13, 1974
- Fremont Tribune. Ad for Tiki Lounge. May 16, 1974
- Fremont Tribune. “Topless club wins stay, hearing set for Tuesday.” Page 1. September 28, 1973
- Lincoln Journal Star. “Suit Challenges Fremont Topless Ban; Lariat Club Hearing Finished.” Page 6. February 26, 1974
- Lincoln Journal Star. “Lariat Club Issue to Liquor Agency.” Page 11. April 15, 1974
- Kearney Hub. “Fremont ban on topless dance mulled.” Page 5. April 11, 1991
- Omaha World Herald. “Topless Dance issue Spurs Fremont Study.” Page 15. March 15, 1991
- Grand Island Independent. “Fremont studies topless dance ban.” Page 3. March 18, 1991
- Omaha World Herald. Ad for Babette Bardot at Valley View. September 23, 1973
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