The Jayne Mansfield Page: Tropicana Holiday Starring Jayne Mansfield 55 Years On

This month marks the 55th Anniversary of Jayne Mansfield's show Tropicana Holiday at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas. The show started on the 12th of February 1958 and was a huge success. Tropicana Holiday was scheduled to run for four weeks but due to its popularity it was extended. Jayne received $25,000 each week, an astronomical sum for performers in those days. Jayne played Trixie Divoon and was tossed and spun around the stage by her hubby Mickey Hargitay. The pair showcased their acrobatic flare with their adagio dancing while Jayne also sung. Jayne and Mickey had only been married a month and were on top of the world. The couple were the happiest they had ever been and Jayne was finally being paid the top dollar she deserved. The money from the show went into payment for their new home, that home was yet to become known as the Pink Palace.

Included in the cast besides Jayne and Mickey was Elaine Dunn, Cathy Crosby, Dante D'Paulo, George Chakaris, Lizanne Truex, Sean Garrison, Jack Ackerman, Miss USA 1959 Leona Gage, 8 Show girls, 4 Male Dancers and a chorus line of 7.

Starring in the show was Cathy Crosby (Bing Crosby's daughter). In an article for the Sunday Herald Newspaper in 1960 she mentioned that she got the job all on her own. In the article Cathy states "One of the reasons I moved out was to keep the world from thinking I needed Dad and the Crosby name to be successful. I found a job at the Tropicana Hotel on my own, and I've appeared on the Eddie Fisher TV show without help from anyone. When I was appearing with Jayne Mansfield at the Tropicana, Dad was staring at another Hotel in Vegas. One day we passed each other in the hotel lobby, but he didn't even say Hello."

Others responsible for the success of the show was of course the crew who were as follows.

Producer- Monte Proser
Stage Manager- Earl Barton
Original Music- Gordon Jenkins
Music- Nat Brandwynne and Orchestra
Set Director- Glenn Holse

Jayne's costumes for the show were extremely lavish. One particular evening gown cost a sum of $25,000. The same as one weeks salary for Jayne. A $1 Million dollar insurance policy was taken out for Jayne by the Tropicana amid fears Jayne and Mickey's acrobatic act would cause injury.

Jayne received good reviews for the show.

Printed in The Las Vegas Sun on the 13th of February 1958 (the day after opening night)
"Jayne wiggles and waggles and warbles and does some acrobatic maneuvers with Mickey Hargitay. Mickey tosses her around his waist and spins her in wide circles. She never touches the ground in this dangerous feat. There's her famous squeaking and squealing too".

I would love to have seen Jayne perform in Tropicana Holiday live at the Tropicana. I honestly think it would have been as spectacular as the photos and small footage make it look. Jayne looks dazzling in the hundreds of photographs that remain from her time at the Tropicana. Click on the photos below to check out more pics from this infamous show that we will forever remember (even if we weren't there to see it).