Moscow is in flames on stage the Stardust Hotel! In the 11th and to date the most lavish edition of Lido de Paris, a cast of more than 100 dancers, singers, musicians and specialty acts perform in "Merci Beaucomup." On the basketball court-sized stage the audience also see the bustling sexy hub of Paris, the colorful South American countryside, the land of the Aztecs and a massive waterfall that covers the entire stage.

An army of stagehands and technical experts make these transformations possible through computerized controls and six giant hydraulic elevators. The intricate system is housed in a room resembling a 747 cockpit, with Walter Shaner, company manager, and Ed White, technical director, as co-pilots. The elevators raise, lower and part the stage to provide almost any effect designed, including the exposure of a glittering swimming pool and ice rink.

To show off the beautiful girls, White has constructed his own lighting consoles. This allows him to paint brilliant lights across the entire area and change the entire mood by pushing a single button.

Art Director Harvey Warren designed some of the largest sets ever attempted for this Lido review.

In charge of it all - from day auditions until well after opening - is Donn Arden. Arden is famous for 40 years of show spectacles. He has staged the sinking of the Titanic, the explosion of the Hindenberg, the San Francisco earthquake, the explosion of a Texas oil field as well as the eruption of Mt. Fujiyama.

Arden was a featured dancer in Tex Guinan's French Casino and took over as show producer at 15. Since that time, he has been associated with every major nightclub in the world. In 1947, he was hired by Pierre Louis-Guerin and Rene Fraday to stage the original Lido in Paris. Madame Bluebell joined the Lido he same year. In 1958, when the Stardust was ready to open, Arden was commissioned to stage a Las Vegas version of the Lido. His productions have been top entertainment since the opening night 19 years ago.

He was the first producer to introduce nudity to the American nightclub scene in a manner that was not burlesque. His sharp eye for beauty transcends such experts as Florenz Ziegfeld and Earl Carroll. His topless showgirls are legendary for their beauty, grace and costuming. Also, he selects top behind-the-scenes talent. His ability to perfectly coordinate the talents of performers and technicians has made the Lido Las Vegas a top attraction.

Admitting that he is the highest priced producer-director in the world, Arden points with pride at his record - every show he has ever handled has been a giant hit. "Merci Beaucoup" is no exception.

The Lido now enters its 20th consecutive year of stage extravaganzas. The 12th edition of the Lido premieres in December of 1977. The longest running stage show in Las Vegas history, fabulous Lido delights capacity audiences seven nights a week.

For 40 years, the most beautiful and talented dancers and showgirls in the world have carried the name"Bluebell," a name affectionately given Madame Bluebell as a baby when the family doctor looked into her bright blue eyes.

Madame Bluebell assembled and trained the first Bluebell Girls at the Folies Bergere in Paris, and more than 11 million showgoers have come to see her girls perform in the spectacular Stardust Lido productions.

She began her dancing career early. At 16, she traveled throughout Europe with an English ballet troupe. And before her 20th birthday, she was featured dancer with the Folies Bergere, the line captain, and the creator of the famous Bluebell Girls.

When the Lido in Paris opened after the war, her covey of French beauties were an instant success. And in 1958, when they were brought to the Stardust in Las Vegas by Donn Arden, they awed the showgoers.

Although many have attempted to duplicate Madame Bluebell's success formula, no one has achieved her international fame and respect.

This remains established because of her demands that each girl have three qualities; She must have extensive ballet training; she must be beautiful and long-legged; and se must be 5'8 or taller.

"Finding girls wtih these requirements is extremely difficult. Knowing what I am looking for, ballet companies will call me. But since none of the famous ballet companies hire tall girls, statuesque dancers do not usually continue their ballet training past their early teens. I have travelled millions of miles, all over the world, in search of Bluebell Girls." - Madame Bluebell