[Collection of Slides and Some Photographs Depicting the Ryba Twins.]
- Mostly Las Vegas, Nevada , 1960
Mostly Las Vegas, Nevada, 1960. Near fine. 251 color photo transparencies measuring 1" x 1 5/8" in 2" x 2" card mounts; an additional 13 larger transparencies not in mounts + 21 loose photographs and some ephemera is also included. Approximately one fifth of the mounts are captioned. Generally near fine.
This is a collection which documents the lives and careers of twin entertainers from Houston, Texas, Joan and Jane Ryba. Jane and Joan each graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Rice University in the mid-1950s. They initially appeared in Las Vegas beginning in 1957 as part of the Texas Copa Girls at the Sands Hotel and also worked as concierges at the Thunderbird Hotel. In 1960, the fledgling American Football league sprang up to compete with the NFL, and Houston Oilers owner Bud Adams hired them as "The Oiler Twins." They would appear at games and promotional events dressed in special uniforms to promote the team and would also visit with large corporations to promote the Oilers and the new AFL. At least four images here show them in uniform. Joan and Jane returned to Vegas around 1962 and appeared in numerous shows with countless celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. Dean Martin allegedly was able to tell the twins apart by their noses, but Sammy Davis Jr. simply called each of them "Ryba." Their later career involved a lot of modeling, though they returned to Houston for a time to perform in musicals. An oral history of their career, delivered by Joan in 2008, can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/c4adrewt
Approximately 58 images depict Jane and Joan enjoying their everyday lives. There are some travel photos, shots of them in nature, and a bunch that show them at a pool. We also see them with celebrities such as Major League Baseball pitcher Dean Chance and actress Betty Grable.
The rest of the images show the twins in many different costumes and outfits for either performances or modeling shoots. We see ball gowns, Rockette-like clothing, huge plumes adorning tiaras and lots of sequins. They are also seen with Nat King Cole, Red Skelton, Joey Bishop, Danny Thomas, and Johnny Mathis. There's also one shot taken from the side of a stage where we see Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dean Martin. Some of the shots were taken back stage including at least three showing the twins in their dressing room. There's also a few of them participating in the 1966 Helldorado Parade in Las Vegas. Printed photos and ephemera include an 8x10 from 1954 showing the twins wearing a "Miss Auto Show" sash and crown, along with one of the original sashes.
A wonderful collection, highly researchable, featuring twin performers in countless costumes during the heyday of Las Vegas.
This is a collection which documents the lives and careers of twin entertainers from Houston, Texas, Joan and Jane Ryba. Jane and Joan each graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Rice University in the mid-1950s. They initially appeared in Las Vegas beginning in 1957 as part of the Texas Copa Girls at the Sands Hotel and also worked as concierges at the Thunderbird Hotel. In 1960, the fledgling American Football league sprang up to compete with the NFL, and Houston Oilers owner Bud Adams hired them as "The Oiler Twins." They would appear at games and promotional events dressed in special uniforms to promote the team and would also visit with large corporations to promote the Oilers and the new AFL. At least four images here show them in uniform. Joan and Jane returned to Vegas around 1962 and appeared in numerous shows with countless celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. Dean Martin allegedly was able to tell the twins apart by their noses, but Sammy Davis Jr. simply called each of them "Ryba." Their later career involved a lot of modeling, though they returned to Houston for a time to perform in musicals. An oral history of their career, delivered by Joan in 2008, can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/c4adrewt
Approximately 58 images depict Jane and Joan enjoying their everyday lives. There are some travel photos, shots of them in nature, and a bunch that show them at a pool. We also see them with celebrities such as Major League Baseball pitcher Dean Chance and actress Betty Grable.
The rest of the images show the twins in many different costumes and outfits for either performances or modeling shoots. We see ball gowns, Rockette-like clothing, huge plumes adorning tiaras and lots of sequins. They are also seen with Nat King Cole, Red Skelton, Joey Bishop, Danny Thomas, and Johnny Mathis. There's also one shot taken from the side of a stage where we see Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dean Martin. Some of the shots were taken back stage including at least three showing the twins in their dressing room. There's also a few of them participating in the 1966 Helldorado Parade in Las Vegas. Printed photos and ephemera include an 8x10 from 1954 showing the twins wearing a "Miss Auto Show" sash and crown, along with one of the original sashes.
A wonderful collection, highly researchable, featuring twin performers in countless costumes during the heyday of Las Vegas.
Details
Title
[Collection of Slides and Some Photographs Depicting the Ryba Twins.]
Author
Ryba, Jane and Joan
Condition
Near Fine
Publisher
Mostly Las Vegas, Nevada
Date
1960