The Babe Pier Papers (approximately 1962-2012) include promotional materials, photographs, and audiovisual materials documenting the career of Las Vegas, Nevada-based comedian and impressionist, Babe Pier. Materials include Pier's show reels, fliers, posters, and photographs of Pier as a solo entertainer and as part of comedy groups such as the Vagabonds and the Happy Jesters. The collection includes recordings of Pier's appearances on television shows like the Mike Douglas Show and Milton Berle's comedy special as well as his comedic boxing charity fights. Materials also contain personal photographs of Pier and his family, including his wife, Cindy Raft, who managed an entertainment agency and was also an entertainer in Las Vegas.
The Babe Pier Papers (approximately 1962-2012) include promotional materials, photographs, and audiovisual materials documenting the career of Las Vegas, Nevada-based comedian and impressionist, Babe Pier. Materials include Pier's show reels, fliers, posters, and photographs of Pier as a solo entertainer and as part of comedy groups such as the Vagabonds and the Happy Jesters. The collection includes recordings of Pier's appearances on television shows like the Mike Douglas Show and Milton Berle's comedy special as well as his comedic boxing charity fights. Materials also contain personal photographs of Pier and his family, including his wife, Cindy Raft, who managed an entertainment agency and was also an entertainer in Las Vegas.
Collection is open for research. Arrangements must be made in advance to access digital files; please contact UNLV Special Collections and Archives for additional information.
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyrights and other rights. See Reproductions and Use on the UNLV Special Collections and Archives website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish.
Materials remain as they were received.
Comedian and celebrity impressionist Babe Pier grew up in New London, Connecticut. Pier started his comedic career in the 1950s as a member of the comedy group the Vagabonds and performed primarily at the 500 Club in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Pier left the Vegabonds and began performing with another comedy act, the Happy Jesters, at the Stardust Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada around the 1960s. Pier eventually ventured out as a solo comic in Las Vegas and performed for both stage and screen throughout his career. A devout fan of boxing, Pier also helped organize and participate in comedic boxing fights to help fund the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.
In 1987, Pier married Cindy Raft, a fellow Las Vegas entertainer and talent manager. Babe Pier passed away at the age of 82 on July 31st, 2012 after battling cancer.
Sources:
"An Interview with Babe Pier," Classic Television Showbiz, September 9, 2012.
https://classicshowbiz.blogspot.com/2012/09/an-interview-with-babe-pier.html
"Babe Pier," Obituary Dignity Memorial, Accessed January 5, 2024. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/las-vegas-nv/babe-pier-5191885
Johnson, Norm, "Babe Pier," The Norm, August 2, 2012. https://vegas-to-you.com/TheNorm/babe-pier/
Babe Pier Papers, approximately 1962-2012. MS-01150. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/f1n78f
Materials were donated by Terry Simmons in 2023; accession number 2023-035.
In 2024, Tammi Kim processed the collection and created the finding aid in ArchivesSpace. Materials were rehoused and digital files were transferred off of original source media and access copies were created.
Administrative Information
Acquired by Claytee White, Director of the Oral History Research Center, as part of UNLV Special Collections and Archives holdings in entertainment history in Las Vegas. Claytee White and curator Su Kim Chung reviewed and selected audiovisual materials for inclusion in the collection. Tammi Kim performed minimal appraisal on the digital media and digital files. Temporary files were deleted and duplicative media were removed. Finally, software that was not necessary to render files was also deleted.