Lola Falana

Known in the 70s for: Being honored with the title of “Queen of Las Vegas” due to her equally lucrative self-titled Vegas-based variety show
Lola Falana was a versatile performer who began her showbiz career taking credit as a breakdancer in Sammy Davis Jr.’s mid-’60s Broadway musical Golden Boy. When the ‘70s rolled around, she made a name for herself in Italian cinema, appearing in crime films and variety shows where she carried tunes, routines, and comedy sketches as well as a disco record.

Despite her many acts, she didn’t seem to put her all in just one show, so her old mentor Sammy Davis Jr. invited her to Las Vegas, where she managed to perform fully-booked rooms at the Sands, the Riviera, and the MGM Grand. In 1997, Falana started being less active in the industry, and it is due to misfortune in her health. Many have now considered her retired.