Downtown Omaha Burlesque Walking Tour
Begin your journey into Omaha’s rich performance history on a self‑guided walking tour through Downtown’s storied burlesque heritage sites. From grand theaters to tucked‑away clubs that once showcased boundary‑pushing acts, this tour uncovers the stories, scandals, and legacies that defined Omaha’s place in American burlesque history. Lace up your walking shoes—it’s time to let the past take center stage.
Site Information
1. [3G] Dallow’s Hall (1865) @ 10th & Douglas St
Dallow’s Hall opened in 1855 & featured burlesque troupes in 1865. It was called “a dance hall and pleasure resort.” Ebenezer Dallow arrived in Omaha in 1855 and opened the Hall and the first race track in Nebraska.
2. [3G] The Dime Eden Musee (1890) @ 11th & Farnam St
The Dime Eden Musee was a performance hall that featured male and female impersonators (drag kings & queens) in 1890. The hall showed burlesque and minstrel shows.
3. [3F] Cirino’s Lounge (1966) @ 1224 Farnam St
Cirino’s Lounge featured topless go-go dancers and in 1966 came under fire for exotics. Maree Lynn Custard, who boasted she was the ONLY topless a-go-go girl in Omaha, was convicted of indecent exposure in April 1966.
4. [2F] Academy of Music (1879) @13th & Douglas St
The English Opera Company performed a burlesque of “H.M. S. Pinafore” at the Academy of Music in 1879. Barton Stanley performed in drag as “Little Buttercup.”
5. [2E] The Moon/Town Theater (1919-1958) @ 1410 Douglas St
The World Realty Company opened the Moon Theatre in September of 1919. A new burlesk policy was enacted at the Moon Theatre in the Winter of 1929, under the operation of Clamage and Rothstein Stock Company. The Goldberg Corporation took over the Moon and renamed it the Town Theatre in 1932. It reopened on April 16, 1933 as the Town. $25,000 was spent on the new neon sign display in the front of the theater. Throughout the 40s and 50s, the Town saw many burlesque stars grace it’s stage–either in person or on screen. Burlesque is eventually barred from the Town Theater when it comes under new management. The new policy was announced in March 1958.
6. [2E] Clover Leaf Club (1935-1938) @ 119 S 15th St
The Clover Leaf Club opened in 1933 in the basement of the Burlington Trailways bus building. The club was air conditioned and had nightly floor shows. It was raided by the police several times in 1937/38 for illegal gambling and for featuring drag queens. Its decor was advertised as a “realistic forest glen”, decorated with fake flora and fauna, where patrons could buy sandwiches and refreshments while being entertained. Mayor Butler’s private ‘police force’ raided the Clover Leaf in early September 1938 and arrested 6 entertainers. It’s reported that the police had let the show run its course before making the arrests. Two entertainers, Danny Brown and Dion Banner, were charged with “staging an immodest exhibition.” The four other performers were booked with bans on nude performers or appearing in clothing of the “other” sex. Four drag queens were arrested at the Club by the police in December 1938.
7. [2D] Cabette Night Club (1934*) @ 16th & Douglas St
The Cabette Night Club was opened by Casey Cabette and featured dances by the dance group The Casey Cabette Girls. They performed burlesque and vaudeville shows every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday night.
8. [3E] Boyd’s Theater (1890, 1918*) @ 1422 Farnam St
In December 1890, the Boyd Theater hosted Kimball Opera-Comique and Burlesque Co. which featured a soubrette named Corrine. The company performed two productions: ‘Carmen’ and ‘Monte Cristo Jr.’–though the daily newspaper noted the scores bared no resemblance to the originals. The company was managed solely by Mrs. Jennie Kimball and was composed of 60 artists. Three acts composed Carmen; “Fostella’s La Surprise,’ ‘Grand March of the Picadores,’ and ‘Grand Bull Fight a la Mexicana.’ In 1918, Boyd’s hosted the burlesque “Business Before Pleasure.”
9. [E3] Paxton Paradise/Hotel (1933-1934*) @ 1403 Farnam St
600 Physicians at the Omaha Midwest Clinic Society attended a burlesque show at the Paxton Hotel in November 1933. The show featured Marjorie Corrington (AKA Rosita Royce), Martha Randall’s Troupe, the Jungle Rhythm Boys, and the adagio dancer Alene Hoover. In January 1934, Rosita Royce returned to Omaha to perform her popular fan dance and dove dance at the Paxton. She also performed at the Paxton Paradise Supper-Dance.
10. [4E] Trocadero/Krug Theatre (1900-1929) @ 419 S 15th St
The Trocadero Theater opened its first season with the Miaco’s Burlesque Circuit in 1899. It featured a new bill every week, each company bringing its own set, lighting, and cast. The orchestra was the only permanent installment. Prices for seats ranged from 10 cents to 75 cents. It reopened as the Krug Theater in 1903 with a production of “Sweet Clover”, a comedic opera about the trifles of New England life. In September 1911 the Krug Theater became ‘Home of the Folly’ operated under the Empire Circuit. Smoking was allowed on the lower floor of the theater with huge exhaust fans to combat the smoke. Two performances daily for a whole week was the new norm. “A Trip to the South Pole” by the Rector Girls Company was the first burlesque attraction to take place at the Krug Theater in January of 1911. Shows like “The Gay Girls of Gotham” and “Gay Widows Company” graced the Krug’s stage, in addition to wresting and boxing matches held upstairs.
11. [3D] Gayety Theatre (1908-1931) @ 1514 Harney St
Originally called the Burwood Theatre, the Gayety quickly rose to infamy when it was renamed in 1908 and became a member of the Columbia Burlesk Circuit. The extravagance of the ‘Gayety Way’ was popular amongst patrons who enjoyed ‘cleaner’ burlesque and vaudeville acts. “Yes, indeed! Your wife or sister or sweetheart will be welcomed, entertained and NOT offended,” claimed advertisements. Troupes that graced the Gayety Theatre included “Bon-Ton Girls”, “The Midnight Maidens”, and A.J. Reeves’ “Beauty Show.”
12. [4D] Orpheum Theatre (1927-today) @ 409 S 16th St
In 1898, the Creighton Theater was added to the Orpheum vaudeville circuit, changing its name to the Creighton Orpheum Theater, and eventually dropping ‘Creighton’ all together. A larger theater was built in 1927, changing the entrance to 16th Street. It boasted 2,600 seats and is still standing today in downtown Omaha. The exotic dancer, Natacha Nattova, performed dances with a violin soloist in 1927. Lestra La Monte, a famous female impersonator (AKA drag queen), performed an impressive fashion show made entirely out of crepe paper and 6 supporting ladies. In 1929, Gilda Grey, an exotic dancer, appeared on the Orpheum stage in her own stage production along with 10 dancers. She acted in “Aloma of the South Seas,” “Cabaret,” and the “Devil Dancer.” Four other acts of vaudeville followed her. The Orpheum hosted the “World’s Fair Follies” in 1933, where a fan dancer by the name Elinor Ames performed a nude fan dance. Ella Logan appeared in person in her all-girl revue “Broadway Merry-Go-Round” in June 1939. Acts included Elaine Boyd and the Sisters of Swing, the eight Abdallah dancers; the comedic Blossom Sisters, Sylvia Ames’ ‘Musical Malletts,’ Hedy—The Ecstasy Girl, the Jay Sisters, and Catherine Westfield’s marionettes. The stage show “Hollywood Cover Girls” graced the Orpheum stage on New Years Day 1944. It featured 50 people, 10 acts, and 30 women. Earl Carroll’s Vanities on stage and “Between Us Girls” was on Screen in 1942. An on-screen film about ‘Little Egypt’ the exotic dancer who brought the “Hoochy Coochy” dance to the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition. It was also called the “muscle dance.” The Orpheum hosted the movie of “Little Egypt” in the Fall of 1951, which was a dramatized look at the dancer ‘Izora.’
13. [4D] The Cave Under the Hill Hotel/Peppermint Cave/Cave Club (1938-1980) @ 501 S 16th St
The Cave Under the Hill Hotel was a club that featured nightly dancing and opened in 1938. In 1962, it was renamed the Peppermint Cave and was renovated with go-go cages with red & white candy cane stripes as the Twist dance craze ensued. Topless go-go dancers graced the cages from 1962-1965. It then became the Cave Club and was a queer hotspot until 1980.
14. [3D] Brandeis Theatre (1910-1959) @ S 17th & Douglas St
Although the Brandeis Theatre typically hosted plays, musicals, and vaudeville shows, it dabbled in burlesque and a noteworthy ‘sex education’ photoplay. In 1924, “Some Wild Oats” showed at the Brandeis. The newspaper advertisements stated, “Men and women will not be admitted together. It shows everything. Calls ‘A spade a spade.’ Shows the naked truth. Special reels for Women Only. Special added attraction: Dr. L.A. Edwards of Chicago will lecture on Sex at All Performances. No children admitted. Actual scenes. Special Reels for Men Only.” The Brandeis brought the 9th Edition of Earl Carroll’s Vanities to Omaha in 1933. It had a company of 100, with 55 scenes, and 200 fan dancers! In 1934, the Theatre hosted “Fashion Follies of 1934.” The theatre showed “Belle of the Yukon” with Gypsy Rose Lee in December 1944. Brandeis Theatre showed the films “Shockproof” and “Slightly French.” The companion feature “Slightly French” was described as a ‘gay romantic comedy with music.’ Dance routines included the French can-can and ‘carnival girlie show’ numbers in 1949.
15. [4C] Larry’s Blossom C. Club (1944) @ 1714 Howard St
Billy Watson’s “Beef Trust Revue” performed at Larry’s Blossom C. Club in 1944. This show featured “heavies.” The advertisement stated, “The Beef Trust Revue. Featuring Baby Tot, 200lbs—Mama Tot, 400lbs—Papa Tot—WOW! The Three Kewpie Dolls. From the Broadway hit “Hell’s A-Poppin’”, From Mae West’s “Klondike Annie”, Charlie McCarthy’s “Bring on the Girls”, and George Roft’s “Gay Nineties.”
16. [3C] Paul Spor’s Club Araby (1932-1933) @ 18th & Farnam St
The Paul Spor ‘Club Araby’ opened in 1932 as an ‘exotic and romantic’ hideaway, offering dancing, lunch and dinner, and the occasional burlesque show. The club was decorated in the theme of “Arabia” or a Middle Eastern motif. No doubt the owner, Paul Spor, appropriated and made generalizations to decorate the club in the style and decor of multiple groups of diverse peoples and cultures from Northern Africa and Western Asia. Club Araby hosted floor shows like “Broadway Revues” and the “Broadway Rockets–All Girl Floor Show.” Rosita Royce and Alene Hoover graced its stage.
17. [2C] Hotel Fontenelle (1937-1940*) @ 1806 Douglas St
The Variety Clubs of America convention hosted a three-hour stage show at the Fontenelle Hotel where 600 members attended a stag show featuring Ada Brown, a Black singer, Sandra, an exotic dancer, and a wide variety of vaudeville and specialty acts in 1937. In 1940, a Harem themed party was produced at the Fontenelle, complete with exotic dancers. Inside the Bombay-Black Mirror Room patrons witnessed “The Peanut Tease” nightly, at 9 and 11pm.
18. [3B] The Riviera/Paramount/Astro/Rose Theater (1927-today) @ 2001 Farnam St
The Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center (AKA the Rose Theater) was built in 1926 as the Riviera Theater. Two years after the Grand Opening of the Riviera Theatre, the name was changed to the Paramount, as it became a subsidiary of Paramount Pictures Inc. In 1929, the Paramount hosted the motion picture show “The Desert Song” starring Carlotta King and Myrna Loy. It boasted 132 singing voices, 116 exotic dancers, and 110-Piece orchestra on the silver screen! In 1934, Sally Rand appeared in person on the Paramount stage. After her performance, the screen was dropped and “Bolero” featuring Rand was shown. In February 1935, the Paramount Theatre hosted a stage production of the Chez Paree club seen in Chicago. “Folies de Paree” and “The Hot Mikado” and many other burlesque shows graced its stage through the 1930s.
19. [1C] Omaha Civic Auditorium (1955-1964) @1804 Capitol Avenue
On February 12, 1955, the Spence Twins performed in Omaha at the Civic Auditorium Music Hall as a part of Lou Krefetz’s ‘Top Ten Rhythm and Blues Review of 1955’. The Spence Twins brought the bump-n-grind of exotic dancing to every stage they could. Not only were they known for gorgeous costumes, they stripped with gyrations and uncanny muscular control as a team.
20. [3C] The Colony Club (1960) @ 1914 Farnam St
In 1960, The Colony Club hosted the “Pearls of the Pacific”, a group of “exotic drum dancers and singers from Tahiti.”
21. [3D] Guys and Dolls Lounge (1967-1971) @ 1519 Farnam St The Guys and Dolls Lounge featured go-go dancers who performed topless and fully nude, and drag queens.
22. [3E] Lynn Russel’s Bunny Club at the Diplomat Hotel (1967-1972) @ 1511 Farnam St
Lynn Russell, “Miss Discotheque,” was an exotic dancer employed by Sparano in the 1960s. She acted as “supervisor a-go-go” and made assignments for the other girls’ routines. In 1971, Lynn and Sparano opened The Bunny Club featuring exotic & go-go dancers, comedians, and musicians. Lynn created her own troupe called Lynn Russell’s Bunnies. Lynn managed the upstairs Bunny Club while Sparano managed the Diplomat on the ground floor. Performers like Maka Ohta, “Halloween,” and Bea Ware graced its stage. Topless dancing ended 1971 when police began enforcing a new city ordinance against nude entertainment.
23. [3A] The Muse Theatre (1917-1967) @ 2405 Farnam St
The Muse Theatre opened in 1917 as “Omaha’s Newest Photoplay House,” equipped with an orchestra. The Muse Theatre opened in May 1930 as a moving picture house with “talkies.” By 1959, the Muse was known for showing “immoral” pictures condemned by the Legion of Decency! Films like “Burlesk No. One,” “Big Double Burlesk”, and “Strip-O-Rama” were shown on the screen plus 90 minutes of burlesque on the stage. Burlesque shows on stage continued until 1967, when a city ordinance forbid nude performances. The Muse continued through the 1970s showing adult films.
24. [3E] Mickey’s No. 1 (1960-1965) @ 324 S 15th St
Sally Rand was arrested in July 1965 after performing her nude fan dance at Mickey’s No. 1. She was arrested and released on $300 bond. According to Patrolman Prescher, Rand appeared first in a white gown, carrying two large ostrich feather fans, and began to dance slowly to organ music. Eventually she shed her gown and exposed her nude body for about 6 minutes. She was 61 years old at the time and hadn’t been arrested since 1946 in San Francisco. Once she was released on bond the same night, she returned to Mickey’s for a second performance. For her second performance, the police captain told her she could not dance nude and she reportedly wore transparent tights. She was not arrested a 2nd time. A heated court case ensued which would conclude with Omaha’s indecent exposure law being ruled unconstitutional. The city then chose to write a new ordinance to try and curb nude entertainment where liquor was sold.
25. [6D] Mickey’s A-Go-Go (1960-1965*) @ 707 S 16th St
Mickey Sparano entered Omaha’s nightlife scene in 1959, launching a rapid-fire string of venues that helped define the city’s after-hours culture. He began with Mickey’s Supper Club at 15th and Harney, followed less than a year later by Mickey’s Twist Club at 16th and Jones. Sparano himself claimed he was the second person in the United States—after Los Angeles’ famed Whisky‑a‑Go‑Go, modeled on the original Paris club—to open a true go‑go venue. By 1965, he employed around fifteen go‑go dancers who worked six days a week in rotating shifts: 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m., 4–6:30 p.m., and 9 p.m.–1 a.m. Three dancers performed at a time, each completing six dances per set—two in each cage—before rotating out for the next trio. Some of his clubs also featured nude or semi‑nude entertainment, a practice curtailed by local crackdowns in 1965–66, though topless dancing returned in the 1970s.
26. [4E] 1512 Lounge/Fox Hunt Club/Bittersweet Go Go Club (1957-1987) @ 1512 Howard St
It originally opened as the Howard Street Theater in 1919. Vince Washington opened the 1512 Lounge in 1957 and hosted revues and dances until the 1970s. By 1986, the Lounge was renamed “The Bittersweet Go Go Club” and featured semi-nude performances by The Bittersweet Dancers “A Class Act in Beautiful Surroundings.”
27. [3G] Deano’s Greek Village (1976) @ 1007 Farnam St
In 1976, Deano’s hosted belly dancers and “exotics” during lunch and dinner services.
28. [4E] The Silver Tap Club (1962-1972*) @ 14th & Harney St
The Silver Tap Club or Tap Room featured floor shows and semi-nude dancers starting in 1962, hitting its height in 1965. In 1970, new owner Dave Milbourn, returned exotic dancers after the city cracked down on nude dancing in 1967.
29. [4G] Wirth’s Music Hall (1899*) @ S 10th & Harney St
Wirth’s Music Hall hosted a cornucopia of entertainment during the year 1899, including contortion dancers, burlesque soubrettes, and comedy and vocal artists.
30. [2F] The Twins (1971*) @ 111 S 13th St
The Twins Nightclub hosted Go-Go dancing contests on Thursdays and featured semi-nude dancers Friday and Saturday nights during 1971.
31. [3B] Circle-C Bar in the Conant Hotel (1974*) @ 1913 Farnam St
The Circle-C Bar featured exotic dancers Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights in 1974.
32. [2E] The Bell Hotel & Cigar Store (1934-1955*) @ 1419 Dodge St
The Bell Hotel & Cigar Store was first listed in 1934 in the city directory. For 21 years it was a wild place of immorality and obscenity. The Hotel featured floor shows and gambling. In 1955, the police morals squad raided the “inner sanctum” on the first floor to find craps tables, cards, and dice. Police stated, the Bell Hotel was “an informal spot where nude and semi-nude women quoted prices from $5 to $30.”
33. [3E] Club 15 (1987*) @ S 15th & Farnam St
Club 15 featured go-go dancers from Noon until 1AM in 1987.
34. [5E] Mr. Tease Go-Go Club (1986*) @ 1401 Jackson St
Mr. Tease’s Go Go Club featured go-go dancers in 1986.
35. [6D] Gino’s Go-Go (1970*) @ 717 S 16th St
Gino’s featured go-go dancers in 1970.
36. [3E] State Theater (1933, 1946*) @ 1412 Farnam St
The State Theater showed the adults-only film “Sins of Love” with separate showings for men and women along with a dynamic “sex lecture” post show in 1933. State Theater also showed MGM’s “Ziegfeld Follies of 1946” in 1946.
37. [5D] Hotel Rome (1926*) @ 16th & Jackson St
Louise Williams, of Omaha, performed an exotic dance in a grass skirt for the Aviation Reserve Officers’ Club at the Hotel Rome in 1926. Louise danced a hula while guests cut grass from her costume with their pocket knives. She also wore a “costume of beads” and not much else! The wives of those attending complained of ‘nude dancing’ at the stag show and made the local newspapers.