Nestled in the Nebraska Panhandle, Chadron’s performance history is anything but provincial. Beginning in the late 1800s, the town’s opera houses—like the Nelson Opera Block built in 1888—welcomed traveling troupes, musicians, and vaudeville acts, offering frontier audiences a taste of cosmopolitan flair. By the 1920s, stage shows evolved to include “Oriental” dances and exotic revues, reflecting both the era’s fascination with the East and the growing appetite for spectacle.

As the decades rolled on, Chadron’s entertainment venues shifted with the times. The 1950s and ’60s saw the rise of local clubs where burlesque mingled with lounge acts and pin-up aesthetics, while the 1970s and ’80s ushered in a new era of striptease and go-go dancing—bold, unapologetic, and deeply rooted in the region’s working-class nightlife. These performances weren’t just titillation; they were expressions of style, survival, and subversion, shaped by the town’s unique blend of railroad grit, college-town energy, and prairie resilience.

The 1880s

City Ordinance No. 5 | 1886

On January 20, 1886, the Village of Chadron issued City Ordinance No. 5, where it stated:

“Be it ordained by the chairmen and board of trustees of the Village of Chadron, Daws Co. Nebraska:

Section 1. – That it shall be unlawful for any person or persons…for any person to make an indecent exposure of his or her person, or to commit any indecent or lewd act, or to sell or offer to sell or dispose of in any manner, any obscene or indecent paper, book, card, picture or other thing; or to exhibit or perform any indecent, immoral or lewd play…”

The ordinance prohibited not only lewd/indecent/obscene performances, but gambling, public intoxication, animal/dog fighting, and discharging firearms or fireworks within city limits.

The Mable Snow Spectacular Burlesque Co.

The Mabel Snow Burlesque Co. performed at the Rink Opera House in March 1892.

The “Hindoo Head-Hunters” Comedic Opera

In October 1896, a comedic opera in four acts called “The Hindoo Head-Hunters” was performed at the Rink Opera House. The opera was produced, and performed by Chadronites. C. E. Wilson and Ray Wilson composed it. The ‘comic opera’ characters were listed in the Chadron Record:

• King, Queen and Princess
• Billy Hawkins – lost English tourist
• High Priest
• Hypnotizer
• Iztahoo and Danzeoo
• Captain of the Guard
• Messenger
• Magi
• “Hindoo Tramps”
• A full chorus of “Hindoo Maids”, guards, and attendants to the King

The plot was simple and quite terrible from a contemporary perspective. It explored typical racist themes of a white man ‘discovering’ an indigenous tribe, he’s then “mistaken” as a god and worshiped by the people. The King dies and so Hawkins becomes King and marries the Princess. There was an oriental dance given by the “Hindoo Tramps.” The opera was given twice to benefit the Red Cross Society, who worked hard to sell tickets to a larger audience, in which the Red Cross received $50.

The 1920s-1930s

Normal College Summer School Festival

During the 1926 summer, Normal College produced a festival, where a pageant was produced by the Departments of Speech, Music and Physical Education. The festival opened with the College Orchestra and a chorus of 20 women. A pantomime was produced a entitled ‘Snowdrop and the Seven Dwarfs’ by the Speech department students. There was also a ‘burlesque imitation’ by Lila Mae York which was “especially amusing.” (Chadron Record. August 13, 1926)

Speech Department of Normal College Continues

In February 1928, members of Miss Tohill’s Speech Department presented a program on American humorists. The last number given was called “Home Made Opera” by George Ade. “It is a farce which burlesques grand opera.” (The Eagle. February 14, 1928)

Elks Lodge of Chadron

In March 26th and 27th 1928, the Elks Lodge of Chadron produced “The Elks Scandals of 1928” at the Pace Theatre. It featured scene from Broadway shows, variety and comedy acts, and 30 beautiful dancing chorus girls. The advertisement above even lists two men in a ‘bubble dance.’

Alpha Phi Pi Sorority Cabaret | 1928

The girls of Alpha Phi Pi hosted a cabaret for the women of Kappa Theta Sigma and Zeta Alpha sororities in March 1928. This was at the third annual all-sorority party and the inside of the gymnasium was decorated as a festive cabaret called “Rainbow Garden.” Patrons were seated and hostesses attended the tables. The entertainment was “dining, dancing and diversion.” A balloon dance was performed by Dorothy Ballengee of Zeta Alpha. An ‘apache’ dance called “Sarcasm” was also performed by students. A pantomime was performed called “Lovely Little Silhouette.” Lunch was served and then a Serpentine dance was performed. (The Eagle. March 27, 1928)

“The King of Burlesque” at The Pace Theatre | 1936

While Chadron’s stages saw the real labor and improvisation of small-town performers, “King of Burlesque” (1936) offered Depression-era moviegoers a polished, romanticized version of that world. The film follows a burlesque impresario who ditches feathers and fan dances for mainstream theater, only to realize his heart—and his creativity—belong to the razzle-dazzle. Featuring Alice Faye’s luminous voice and a tap-dancing ensemble, “King of Burlesque” painted backstage life as stylish and sentimental.

The 1950s-1960s

Harry Evans’ Stage Show | 1952

In October 1952, the Chadron Fire Department presented a Halloween night show of Harry Evans’ Stage show, featuring Johnny Spalding (leading man, M.C., and pantomimist) and Connie Cannon (acrobatic, tap dancer, and oriental dancer).

The Starlite Drive In Movie Theater

The Starlite Drive-In showed the “Queen of Burlesque” at midnight in the summer of 1953. It also showed “World by Night” in the summer of 1962.

Harold’s Club

Harold’s Club was located 2.5 miles east of Chadron and featured go-go dancers in 1965.

The 1970s

With the rise of the discotheque and semi-nude go-go dancers, Chadron’s nightlife scene expanded during the 1970s and 1980s. Many bars and taverns had go-go girls imported from all over the country to draw large crowds.

77 Cave

The “77” Cave, later known as “The Cave”, was a cozy lounge with a fireplace and a great lineup of go-go dancers each week. Go-go dancing came to Chadron as nightclubs’ first form of live entertainment in the area. Evva Gore, the manager of the “Cave,” firmly believed in go-go dancing as a form of entertainment and when other nightclubs stopped, she kept them going! The go-go girls danced on a specially built stage to the music of the juke box under black lights. Evva brought on entertainers from all over the country. Patrons were typically Chadron State College students.

Evva’s Go Go Girls at the Cave

• “Marlita” in February 1971
• “Andreia” in February 1971
• “Valley” from Minneapolis in March 1971
• “Molly – Chadron’s First Go-Go Girl” in February, March and May 1971
• “Renee” in March 1971

Carolyn Carrabotta, 19, performed at the “77 Cave” for two weeks in June of 1975. Carolyn was originally from Cleveland, OH and began dancing just three months before appearing at the Cave. She was previously dancing in Las Animas, Colorado. She usually worked four weeks on and two weeks off.

120 Bar

The “120 Bar” had go-go dancers starting in 1971 with “Julie”. The owner, Harold Sauser, packed the house with college-age crowds for six nights to see Julie perform. The 120 Bar was one of two other night spots on Chadron’s Main Street that featured live entertainment as go-go dancers.

Dancers at the 120 Bar

• “Candy” in March 1971
• “Julie” in March 1971

City Ordinances

In 1971, the City Council received ‘inquiries’ about the legality of local taverns offering ‘go-go dancer’ entertainment for its customers. The city attorney, after researching, found that “not only was the dancer outside the provisions of city ordinances, but so was just about every bar and tavern in town.”

The current ordinance limited places that served liquor to limit entertainment to live bands or radio only. This put every bar that had a juke box or television set in violation of an ordinance that was adopted in the 1920s. The Council eventually modernized the ordinance to keep with present day trends, but kept nude and semi-nude dancing up for debate.

Public Opinion | 1975

Margaret Schlickbernd wrote a scathing opinion piece to the editor of the Chadron Record. She was outraged at the go-go dancer at the “77 Cave” or 77 Club. She was “disgusted” and “insulted.” Margaret ended her letter, “It’s too bad this town cannot come up with any entertainment more aesthetically pleasing than this.” (July 31, 1975)

The 1980s

Chadron State College Cheerleader Striptease | 1980

Dancer for Hire | 1988

I stumbled upon this advertisement in the Chadron Record for a performer named “Boom Boom” Bernard for hire.

Diamond Jack’s Saloon | 115 Main St.

Diamond Jack’s Saloon had go-go dancers listed in the Chadron Record in 1984. Unfortunately, I was unable to find any advertisements for their performers.

The Cave Continues

The Cave continued to feature dancers and live entertainment in the 1980s, as seen in the above 1984 wanted ad.

Public Opinion | 1987

A short opinion article published in the Chadron Record in December 1987, sheds a little light on a citizen’s reaction to the City being unable to legislate morality.

“If the community doesn’t want this kind of activity [gambling and topless dancing], all it has to do is stop patronizing those businesses. If the community feels somehow improved by those activities it can insure their permanence by patronizing them. The choice rests solely with us, not with our lawmakers.”

Sources

• https://history.nebraska.gov/publications_section/why-opera-houses-were-more-popular-than-opera/
• https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/six-historic-opera-house/
• https://discovernwnebraska.com/historic-downtown-chadron/

Newspapers

• The Chadron Democrat. “Ordinance No. 5” Page 1. January 21, 1886
• Chadron Record. “The Mable Snow Spectacular Burlesque Co.” Page 1. March 25, 1892
• Chadron Record. “Hindoos Hold the House.” Page 1. October 2, 1896
• The Chadron Citizen. “Adam the happiest man youe ver saw, because he had no mother-in-law.” (Mabel Snow Burlesque Co.) Page 1. March 24, 1892
• The Eagle. “Sororities Have Party in the Gym.” Page 1. March 27, 1928
• Chadron Record. Ad for “The Elks Scandals of 1928.” Page 5. March 23, 1928
• Chadron Record. “Mammoth Festival is Crowning Event of the Normal Summer Session.” Page 1. August 13, 1926
• The Eagle. Ad for “The King of Burlesque” at the Pace Theatre. Page 4. January 29, 1936
• The Eagle. “Speech Department Presents a Very Delightful Program.” Page 1. February 14, 1928
• Chadron Record. Ad for Harold’s Club. Page 8. August 16, 1965
• Chadron Record. Johnny Spalding. Page 6. October 30, 1952
• Chadron Record. Ad for Starlite Drive-In Theater. Page 11. July 30, 1953
• Chadron Record. Ad for Starlite Drive-In Theater. Page 4. July 23, 1962
• Chadron Record. Ad for “Marlita” at Evva’s 77 Cave. Page 2. February 1, 1971
• Chadron Record. Ad for “Andreia” at Evva’s 77 Cave. Page 3. February 22, 1971
• Chadron Record. Ad for “Valley” at Evva’s 77 Cave. Page 3. March 1, 1971
• Chadron Record. Ad for “Molly” at Evva’s 77 Cave. Page 11. March 11, 1971
• Chadron Record. Ad for “Renee” at Evva’s 77 Cave. Page 2. March 18, 1971
• Chadron Record. Ad for “Molly” at Evva’s 77 Cave. Page 5. May 6, 1971
• The Alliance Times Herald. Help Wanted Ad for The Cave. Page 10. January 20, 1984
• Chadron Record. “The Dude in Chadron.” Dee Huls. Page 4. February 1, 1971
• Chadron Record. “Go-Go Dancer Ending Stay.” Page 8. June 2, 1975
• Chadron Record. “Letters to the Editor.” Margaret M. Schlickbernd. Page 12. July 31, 1975
• Chadron Record. “Ten Years Ago 1971.” Page 16. March 18, 1981
• Chadron Record. “Chadron Is A Swinging Town.” March 11, 1971
• Chadron Record. “Do You Remember.” Page 12. March 11, 1976
• Chadron Record. Ad for “Boom Boom” Bernard. Page 4. June 3, 1988
• Chadron Record. Page 10. February 13, 1980
• Chadron Record. “All Bars in Town ‘Guilty’.” Page 1. February 4, 1971
• Chadron Record. “Chadron Night Spots Listed.” Page 31. June 30, 1984
• Chadron Record. “Editorial: It’s Our Choice.” Page 6. December 21, 1987