A widely-circulated photo showing showgirls driving a guest tram at the Sands Hotel in 1950s Las Vegas isn't what it appears to be. Here's the real story behind this iconic image.

The woman behind the wheel was actually Mara Lane, an Anglo-Austrian model and actress who had a minor role in the 1954 film "Susan Slept Here." This wasn't a regular service but rather a staged publicity photo shoot orchestrated by renowned Hollywood photographer Slim Aarons, who frequently worked with Sands GM Jack Entratter to create attention-grabbing promotional materials.

A close examination of the photo reveals telling details about its staged nature. The passengers' visibly annoyed expressions suggest they were real hotel guests whose tram ride was temporarily commandeered for the photo shoot. These were likely weary travelers who simply wanted to reach their rooms rather than participate in an extended publicity session.

The photo gained renewed attention after being shared on social media with captions claiming it showed actual showgirls performing transportation duties at the Sands. While the image came from the UNLV Library's Special Collections Department (donated when the Sands closed in 1996), its misleading label contributed to the myth's persistence.

The timing of the photo coincided with Entratter's introduction of the Copa Girls chorus line to the Sands in 1955, following their successful run at New York's Copacabana Club. While the Sands did feature actual showgirls in its entertainment programming, they never served as tram drivers for the hotel.

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