Bob Mackie spent six decades draping the world’s biggest stars in sequins, feathers and fantasy.
Diana Eden was along for much of that ride in Las Vegas, as Mackie’s handpicked assistant in the development of “Jubilee” at the original MGM Grand.
Eden had worked with a post-”Viva Las Vegas” Ann-Margret on her show at Circus Maximus when Mackie contacted her about a new spectacle on the Strip.
“I was there for the creation of ‘Jubilee’ from the very beginning. I joined Bob in March of 1980, and worked until the show was about to open, and then the fire took care of that,” Eden said in a phone chat this week, referring to the fire claimed 85 lives at MGM Grand (later Bally’s, today the Horseshoe) in November 1980. “I went back and worked with him for another year to get it reopened, nine months later.”
Mackie died Monday at his home in Palm Springs at age 87. Eden was surprised to hear that age reported. Mackie had once said in an interview in the Archive of American Television series he was born in 1940. His publicist confirmed Wednesday it was 1939.
Regardless, Mackie made his mark in this city. He and his co-designing partner, Pete Menefee, created the 36 costumes made famous through “Jubilee’s” 34-year history.
For the uninitiated, “Jubilee” was the last of the great feather shows in Las Vegas in the class with “Lido de Paris” at Stardust and “Folies Bergere” at Tropicana. It closed in February 2016. Some of those pieces have been revived in Dita Von Teese’s showgirl/burlesque production at Voltaire at The Venetian.
Mackie designed all the crystal-heavy pieces in the show’s legendary finale. Menefee led the creation of the acts leading into the closing number, including the campy/iconic Titanic and Samson and Delilah acts.
Eden is especially proud of her time with the production, and with Mackie.
“Everything I’ve learned about costume design, I learned from him during those two years,” Eden said. “There is no better person to learn from.”
What people do not always know about Mackie, she said, was his generosity toward young designers just starting out. His kindness shaped an entire generation in the profession, including herself.
As for what set Mackie apart, Eden doesn’t chalk it up to technique alone.
“He had this incredible ability to make any woman look magnificent,” Eden said. “I know I never felt more elegant than when I got to wear one of his dresses to the Emmys. I felt totally sprinkled with his magic glamour dust. He he just knew women, and he knew how to make them look beautiful and feel beautiful.”
Mackie designed the iconic outfits of Cher, Diana Ross, Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Sharon Stone and Pink. Marilyn Monroe’s legendary sheer, beaded gown in which she sang “Happy Birthday” for President John F. Kennedy is etched in history.
And Mackie could deliver fashion in comedy. Among his most famous designs was the “Miss Scarlett” gown by Carol Burnett. The outrageous “curtain dress” in the “Went With the Wind” spoof, which Burnett said, “I saw it in a window and just couldn’t resist it” became a comedy classic.
“He said, somewhat droll, is that he’s afraid the Scarlett O’Hara dress will be on his tombstone,” Eden said, “because no matter what he designs, that seems to be the thing that everybody remembers.”
Mackie was a perfectionist to the extreme.
“Perfectionism was absolutely important to him in terms of his work. No detail was too small,” Eden said. “I remember working on the costumes for ‘Jubilee.’ If we had a fitting and a seam was like an eighth of an inch off, you know, the costume had to be taken apart and done right. I mean, the craftsmanship had to be impeccable, and I think that’s important to know in today’s world.”
Eden has forged her own impressive career in design. In 1984, she received a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Costume Design for her work on the stage play “Tamara.” She was the resident designer for the hit sitcom The Facts of Life.” In 1993, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Series for her work on the television series “A League of Their Own. “
Eden has designed such stars as Ross, George Clooney, Reba McEntire, Betty White, Cloris Leachman, Dixie Carter and Angelica Houston. Ann-Margret has remained a close friend. Eden introduced the film and stage superstar at the 2021 UNLV College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame gala. She closed her speech with “Viva Las Vegas! And Viva Ann-Margret.”
Eden has written extensively about her life and career, in her trio of tomes, “Retro Chic,” “Stars in their Underwear” and “Growing Old and Other Indignities.”
It was in October 2021 that Eden saw Mackie for a final time. He turned up at her book-signing for “Indignities” at a boutique in Palm Springs.
“With his fame, he could have easily just not shown up,” Eden said. “But he came to support me, and that meant a lot to me. It was just another sign of his generosity.”
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.