Ellie Norman, Wood River Museum Collections Specialist
The Sun Valley après ski scene has seen many legendary acts, but none quite like The Fabulous Vuarnettes. This all-female cabaret group took the stage in 1981 and remained a beloved fixture for 30 years, captivating audiences with a dynamic blend of singing, dancing, and irreverent comedy. Performing at venues such as Silver Creek Saloon, Elkhorn Saloon, Whiskey Jacques, Creekside Bar & Grill, and the Boiler Room, The Fabulous Vuarnettes consistently packed the house with their high-energy shows. Their name paid homage to Jean Vuarnet, whose groundbreaking ski sunglasses from the late 1950s revolutionized eyewear by enhancing depth perception—a fitting choice for a group thriving in a ski town.
The original lineup included Mary “Buddha Schwartz” Stevens, Cherie “Kitty Litter” Kessler, Callie “Cheetah Velveeta” Galpin, and Vickie “Titsa Hoy” Saito. Over the years, the group evolved, with Karen “Lola Motorola” Hale joining in 1984 and Linda “Fern Fein D’Buck” Badell in 1986. The final iteration featured Kessler, Galpin, Badell, and Heidi “Ruby Rose Hips” Bates. Bates, the youngest member, had been a devoted fan long before joining—sneaking into bars at just 16 to catch their performances.
A defining aspect of The Fabulous Vuarnettes was their flamboyant stage presence. Dressed in 1950s prom dresses, metallic jumpsuits, bejeweled platform shoes, and wildly adorned headpieces, they brought a theatrical spectacle to their performances. Their humor shone through in their cheeky parodies of 1950s and 1960s songs, tackling subjects from the quirks of men to midlife crises and the passage of time. Over the years, they wrote and performed more than 200 parody songs, all crafted by the group members themselves, along with their elaborate choreography, sets, and props.
Their popularity extended beyond Sun Valley. In 1990, they made a cameo in Warren Miller’s ski film Extreme Winter, where they were filmed on the Warm Springs side of Baldy. The segment featured them riding the lift, skiing, and performing at the North Face Hut while lip-syncing an original song, “Vuarnette Daze,” which they wrote for the film.
This photograph from January 1990 captures the essence of their performances. Taken at Creekside in Warm Springs, it shows three Vuarnettes on stage, each adorned in extravagant attire—frilly prom dresses, oversized sunglasses, sparkling jewelry, and crimped and curled updos. The image is a testament to an era when après ski entertainment in Sun Valley was as much about humor and spectacle as it was about music.
Note this story was originally published in April of 2025 in the Idaho Mountain Express.
