LAS VEGAS — When drag legend Frank Marino headlined his first show in Las Vegas at the Riviera hotel and casino in 1985, drag was "underground."
"People would come to Las Vegas and that's when you'd go see your strip show, like a Chippendales or a Crazy Girls, and then you would see your drag show," Marino told USA TODAY.
As the longtime Sin City fixture prepares to take his final bow with "Frank Marino’s Divas, Drag & Drinks" at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas before retiring May 31, he reflected on about four decades of change — both in his act and in the city itself.
"Until you look at the history of it, you don't notice the change, because you're gradually doing it, but there's been great change since the beginning on how we do everything in the show," Marino said.
During Marino's 41 years on stage in Las Vegas, drag had gone from the underground to household popularity. He said he feels that he is "part of the history of drag, making it mainstream."
"People would come to Las Vegas and that's when you'd go see your strip show, like a Chippendales or a Crazy Girls, and then you would see your drag show," Marino told USA TODAY.
As the longtime Sin City fixture prepares to take his final bow with "Frank Marino’s Divas, Drag & Drinks" at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas before retiring May 31, he reflected on about four decades of change — both in his act and in the city itself.
"Until you look at the history of it, you don't notice the change, because you're gradually doing it, but there's been great change since the beginning on how we do everything in the show," Marino said.
During Marino's 41 years on stage in Las Vegas, drag had gone from the underground to household popularity. He said he feels that he is "part of the history of drag, making it mainstream."
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