Mitzi Gaynor first fell under designer Bob Mackie’s spell when she guest starred on a Danny Thomas television special, in 1966; at which time she immediately enlisted him as the costume designer for her new Las Vegas stage spectacular at the Riviera.  Then – for her performance at the 1967 Academy Awards, of Best Song nominee, “Georgy Girl” – 62 million television viewers watched her shimmy and spin in custom Mackie confections.

Their friendship and work relationship have continued over every project Gaynor has undertaken for the more than four decades that have followed.  Some of the better known of these collaborations include the decade of Mitzi… variety shows, including Mitzi… Roarin’ in the ‘20s (1976) and Mitzi… Zings into Spring (1978) – each of which won Mackie an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design; as well as the more recent Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! My Life Behind the Sequins - the star’s currently touring stage show.

It was in 1967, upon seeing the costumes that Mackie had made for Mizti Gaynor’s Las Vegas show, that producer Joe Hamilton hired the designer to do all of the costumes for the new television variety show, The Carol Burnett Show – a role that Mackie relished for the show’s entire 11 season run.  Mackie’s famous dress from the show’s “Went with the Wind” sketch is now displayed at the Smithsonian Institution.

And then came Cher…  The statuesque beauty guest starred on The Carol Burnett Show – and shortly thereafter asked Mackie to costume the new Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.  A spark was struck, and their collaborations each week became nationwide news, culminating in a 1975 cover of Time with Cher wearing a Mackie creation.  As recently as her successful three-year run as a headliner at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Cher’s costumes are done by Mackie.

He’s been nominated for three Oscars (Lady Sings the Blues, Funny Lady, and Pennies from Heaven), and has won nine of the thirty-one Emmys for which he’s been nominated.

When the Bob Mackie Retrospective at The Museum at The Fashion Institute of Technology opened in 1999, it was the must-attend event of the season; and the three month exhibit was said to have been one of New York’s most highly attended retrospectives.  It was at this exhibit, as a matter of fact, that nightlife legend Billy Beyond saw the vignette that would inspire him to name his New New Wave band Beadz on Nude Illusion.

Now, Bob Mackie is coming to Las Vegas, where he will be the Honorary Chairperson of this year’s Cartier-sponsored Black and White Ball where his longtime friend, Mitzi Gaynor is being named Woman of the Year.  Tickets are still available for Saturday night’s festivities at Bellagio, and this event promises to be one not to miss.

Bob Mackie – Honorary Chair
2013 Woman of the Year – Mitzi Gaynor
Nevada Ballet Theatre’s Black & White Ball
Bellagio – Saturday, January 26th
Click HERE for tickets and info

Get into it!