[Basse Bud]

The Pussycat a Go Go was indeed the original Las Vegas hot spot. From the mid 1960's through the early
1970's, the Pussycat was THE place to be! The number of musical groups that appeared at the Pussycat
reads like a review of popular music in the 1960's!

The Pussycat was Las Vegas favorite rock and roll dance club. While the youngsters had the Teen Beat Club (no alcohol) on Paradise Road, the Pussycat attracted the twenty/thirty somethings looking to have a good time. There were other clubs which attempted to copy the Pussycat's success, none captured the
vibe the Pussycat created.

The Pussycat really began to click after 1:00am, when the shift changers, show room performers, dancers,
musicians and hard core party goers arrived. It was not unusual to find Strip showroom headliners sitting at the next table, or bumping into one another on the dance floor. (Johnny Carson's elbows seemed to spend more time poking me in the rib cage than staying near his!)

The list of performers and musicians who performed at the Pussycat is as long as the line at the bar! The Original Checkmates, Sly and The Family Stone are among the many groups who began their careers at the Pussycat. (Not to mention Jim Morrison getting kicked out and arrested! Check elsewhere for the details on that!)

So now when you are preparing to visit your favorite nightspot at any one of the many in the hotels on
the strip, you can thank the late Garwood Van for his foresightedness in creating the Pussycat a GoGo.

Las Vegas Original hot spot!

Any Pussycat patrons still around?

[foundapeanut]

Sounds cool! Enjoyed reading your memory of the place.

Was in grade school and living in fly over country while you were enjoying this 'happening' place.

Please feel free to post more stories like this!

[yellowsnow]

Missed this one completely! Where was it?

Had to google it! Lots to read on this place! http://vintagelasvegas.com/post/4035...gogo-las-vegas

[yellowsnow]

Missed this one completely! Where was it?

Had to google it! Lots to read on this place! http://vintagelasvegas.com/post/4035...gogo-las-vegas

[johninvegas]

Never went there. but I have been to the Teen Beat Club.

[Basse Bud]

The Pussycat a GoGo shared a building with a racebook (which faced LV Blvd. The property is now occupied by the Wynn,
along with many more early LV strip businesses: Colonial House, J. Magnin/Jackman Mens Wear among them)

[Basse Bud]

[quote=johninvegas;50409630]Never went there. but I have been to the Teen Beat Club.[/quote

The Teen Beat Club outlasted a surprising number of rock and roll dance locations. As it was the only
true teen club in that era, it had no competition.

[Basse Bud]

Originally Posted by foundapeanut

Sounds cool! Enjoyed reading your memory of the place.

Was in grade school and living in fly over country while you were enjoying this 'happening' place.

Please feel free to post more stories like this!

Happy you enjoyed the short (incomplete) history of the Pussycat.

Remarkably, the current generation of multi-million dollar casino/resort "clubs" are nowhere near as enjoyable as the Pussycat. Not to mention an entirely different class of patrons. The so-called
"Beautiful people" patronized the Pussycat. My favorite, occasional dance partner, the late Juliet Prowse
is one example. It amazed me that she would do two shows a night at Caesars Palace, and still have
the energy to dance her....well, really boogie at the Pussycat till dawn! She was a beautiful and charming
lady. Many of the dancers/showgirls from the production shows were regulars the Pussycat, as it was the
only place they were comfortable going after work at @ 2:00am!

[Basse Bud]

Originally Posted by yellowsnow

Missed this one completely! Where was it?

Had to google it! Lots to read on this place! http://vintagelasvegas.com/post/4035...gogo-las-vegas

The interior photo of the Pussycat reflects the early evening tourist that patronized the Pussycat in the mid 1960's. About 1:00 - 1:30am the entire clientele changed! Strip performers, casino shift change folks,
and an completely different group of fun-seekers!

The photo features the bar, the back-bar stage obscured by the curtain. That there are only three people in the photo indicates it was taken early in the early evening, had it been the late night/early morning crowd, the photo would show how packed the bar area was at that time.

[foundapeanut]

Are there any other websites that show the early days of Vegas?