A topless show in Las Vegas turns 30? That’s ‘Crazy’

“Crazy Girls,” the shimmering adult revue that sparked the famous “No If Ands Or …” promotional campaign, has celebrated its 30th anniversary on the Strip. The show opened at the Riviera in September 1987, and the city marked “Crazy Girls Day” on Oct. 3.

The production continues to run daily at 9 p.m. (dark Wednesdays) at Sin City Theater at Planet Hollywood.

Given that producer Norbert Aleman’s show is both topless and timeless, we’re rolling out 30 fun facts about “Crazy Girls,” a pioneer among adult shows in town:

30. “Crazy Girls has performed more than 17,000 shows.

29: More than 3 million fans have attended the show since opening.

28: The cast is spray-tanned multiple times each week.

27: An original “Crazy Girl,” Shellee Renee, once nearly hit a cab with a “No If Ands Or …” sign over its back bumper. As she said, “I nearly rear-ended my rear end.”

26: “Crazy Girls” opened with three performances every night, the last at midnight.

25: The production was the first all-female, topless revue ever on the Strip.

24: In 1994, elected officials attempted to cover the cast’s rear ends on billboards around town. Cloth skirts were then added, which caused accidents as cars slowed to look under those skirts, which were finally removed for good.

23: The show’s original ticket price was $12.50, which included two cocktails.

22: All cast members wears up to eight wigs in a single performance.

21: Aleman and then-Riviera owner Meshulam Riklis signed the show’s original contract on a cocktail napkin.

20: Touring versions of the show have played on six continents (Antarctica being the exception).

19: Jennifer Aleman, wife of Norbert is the show’s director and choreographer. She is also a former cast member.

18: The production was the subject of the 2008 B-movie, “Crazy Girls Undercover.” The cast was assigned to help the CIA thwart a terrorist attack.

17: Aleman estimates that more than 50 million fans have rubbed the bronze statue for “good luck.”

16: The statue was originally displayed at the Strip-side entrance of the Riviera. Today it is located on the casino floor at Planet Hollywood.

15: The “No If Ands Or …” photo was re-created in 2012, on the event of the show’s 25th anniversary.

14: Since opening, the show has appeared on more than 500 magazine covers and been featured on more than 50 national TV shows.

13: The cast lineup has appeared on such merchandise as mouse pads, casino chips and nail files.

12: In 2012, marking the show’s 25th anniversary, Aleman commissioned tattoo artist Mario Barth to tattoo of the “butt shot” across his back.

11: Celebs who have attended the show over the years include Frank Sinatra, Magic Johnson, Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, Tom Jones and Nicolas Cage.

10: The cast is weighed weekly and must hit a target weight within two pounds of their “show weight,” which varies for the dancers for their respective heights.

9: Karen Raider, an original “Crazy Girl,” is married to Michael Boychuck, owner of Color — A Salon at Caesars Palace.

8: Raider once reported this “sighting” to my good friend and column predecessor Norm Clarke: Jim Carrey, dressed as fictional lounge performer Tony Clifton, in the audience when Carrey was filming the Andy Kaufman biopic, “Man on the Moon.” Clifton was Kaufman’s alter-ego, later assumed by comedy writer Bob Zmuda.

7: Angela Stabile, an original “Crazy Girl,” went on to develop Stabile Productions, which produces the rival revues “X Burlesque” at Flamingo Las Vegas, “X Country” at Harrah’s and “X Rocks,” which reopens at Bally’s on Nov. 2 after two years at Rio.

6: Original “Crazy Girl” cast member LeAnne Wagstaff went on to become a police officer in Arizona.

5: The current “Crazy Girls” lineup features five former “Jubilee” dancers: Emcee Dani Elizabeth, Sarah Storey, Lizzy Kuilema, Sarah “Ginger” Sutter and Stephanie Bell. Also in the cast: Jojo Hamner and Kathryn West. Jenne Cremer is the show’s dance captain.

4: Two years ago, when the show was hauling out of Riviera to move to Planet Hollywood, a moving truck full of equipment, costumes, stage sets and props was stolen from the Riv parking garage. The truck was later recovered, but the stolen items — valued at more than $200,000 — were never recovered.

3: More than 80 percent of the production’s technical system and all of its stage effects were lost, but the show made its move to Planet Hollywood as planned. As a show spokesman said at the time, “This is show business. The show must go on.”

2: The haul included the show’s seven-foot-long, phallus-shaped couch. Its whereabouts remain a mystery.

1: Aleman says he has replaced the couch, saying, “We remade it! Bigger and better!”

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.