TROPICANA
IS MOST BEAUTIFUL CLUB
[REF: Cabaret Yearbook, Winter Resort Number, Volume One, poss 1956, p62]
TROPICANA IS MOST BEAUTIFUL CLUB
[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE][caption] Tropicana is actually two niteries. Arched
outdoor area along modernistic lines is set in tropical palm
trees. Indoor Crystal Arc is air-conditioned for hot days.
Five years ago owner spent more than $500,000 to build new facilities.
TO THE MILLIONS of Americans who have visited the city–and to the many
millions more who would like to but have not as yet–the name of Havana
suggests rum, rumba, roulette and romance. These the 441-year-old
city certainly has, but no-where are they more concentrated than in
some of its cabarets.
There is no nitery anywhere in the world that matches the Tropicana for
beauty as well as size. Its tropical grounds with palm trees
amidst its outdoor tables cover more than 300,000 square feet.
Able to accommodate 1750 nightly customers, the Tropicana is a resort
spa unmatched anywhere in the States. For in addition to musical
extravaganzas featuring lovely Latin girls, the club also has legalized
gambling that includes everything from dollar slot machines to dice and
roulette.
The shows are done on a par with Hollywood musicals and the bill runs
to $10,000 weekly. Three orchestras keep busy all evening
providing music for dancers. For unlike so many Americans
bistros, the Tropicana does have dancing. The latest Latin
rhythms are featured and Cubans do not miss an opportunity to
dance. The club also has another innovation–its prices. For
$5 minimum on Saturday night, the customer gets a full meal.
Tropicana was formerly a private club, sold after the death of the
owner. In converting the estate to a club, businessman Martin Fox
did not spare any expense. He also was determined to salvage as
much of the natural beauty of the tropical site as possible.
Today the Tropicana is as much as tourist attraction for its natural
beauty as for its productions, which cost about $75,000 to stage.
Usually there is a headliner to top off the lavish shows. Carmen
Miranda made her last night club appearance before her death at the
club.
To pay the freight for the club, that runs to $5,000 daily takes a lot
of customers and Tropicana usually has them–some 500 every night during
the summer and a full house every evening during the winter resort
season beginning in December.
Page 63
[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE][caption] Attractive outdoor bar of Tropicana is located so
that show can be watched from here without paying $5 minimum.
Drinks cost $1, are mostly based on rum.
[caption] Brazilian theme is motif of new Tropicana show,
staged by club choreographer Rodney. Chorus performs not only in
front of customers but on stages set in palms.
Page 64
CHORINES ARE HIPPY BUT NATURAL LOOKING
[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
[caption] Typical Tropicana show girl is Alicia
Figueroa, a tall, long-limbed sultry beauty. Club gives two shows
nightly -- first at 11:30 and at 1:30 a.m.
LIKE NIGHT CLUBS all over the world, the gay spots in Havana present
girls–but they are unlike the females seen in America or Europe.
The Latin chorine is more buxom, more sexy-looking than her American
counterpart. In keeping with the Latin standard of what is a
desirable woman, most dancers have hips that would bar them from
American stages. Actually Latin pulchritude is closer to nature,
not nearly as make-believe as some U.S. chorines.
[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE][caption] Elia Roban is native Cuban beauty in
Tropicana show. Club spends up to $10,000 for costumes in each
review.
In costume the tendency runs to bold bright colors and flashy primitive
effects. Dancing is no nearly as precise as in U.S. choruses but
there is much more zest in the native Latin steps. To get a
dancing job at the Tropicana is a true mark of distinction and there is
much competition for the chorus, although the salary is only about $50
weekly. That is low by American standards but high in Cuba.
Page 65
[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
[caption] Jennie Leon is typical of broad-hipped girls in
chorus. Her costume has French touch, with exposed garters.
[caption] Nelsy Vega is slimmer, more streamlined than most
Cuban chorines. High headdress are worn in current review.
[caption] Afro-Cuban motif is used in many dances at
Tropicana. Mayra performs sacrificial dance in costume of
feathers and horns.
Page 67
NO G-STRING FOR BURLESQUE
THE ONE SPOT in Havana that provides a full, uncluttered view of
females in a natural state is a burlesque house called the
Shanghai. Formerly a Chinese theater converted to a burlesque
house 24 years ago, the Shanghai is Havana's only strip palace–and
perhaps the only theater in the world where girls strip completely nude
minus any G-strings or net coverings. Operating quasi-legally,
theater has never had to close "except for revolutions," says
impresario Jose Orozco Garcia.
[To see a full size photo, right click and VIEW IMAGE]
[caption] Sneaked camera shot at Shanghai burlesque shows hefty Cuban glamour girls about to strip nude in finale.
Actually the Shanghai combines nude strippers with pornographic movies,
which Garcia points out "come from New York, Paris and Mexico
City." There are rarely women in the audience of the shabby
theater that has two shows nightly with prices from 60 cents to
$1.25. The girls in the show are a motley collection of hefty
chorines, who appear totally nude at the finale. There are
usually eight and the impresario explains: "Ours is a small country and
there are not many girls who are willing to appear naked."
End of Page
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