Harris, creator of Caesars decor, dies

Wednesday, June 8, 2005 | 8:42 a.m.

Shirley Joan "Jo" Harris, who created the ornate interior designs for Caesars Palace, including sketching the short, sexy tunics long worn by the Strip resort's cocktail waitresses, died Saturday in Sacramento. She was 78.

Services are pending in Sacramento, where Harris was a resident for about 40 years, said Evergreen Memorial Mortuary, which is handling the arrangements.

Harris, who was a Las Vegas resident during the 1960s, is credited with designing the interiors Jay Sarno's major Las Vegas properties, Caesars and Circus Circus.

Much of what Harris originally designed for Caesars has since been redesigned by other interior contractors.

In recent years, the short cocktail waitress togas that Harris sketched under Sarno's orders to create an adult fantasyland reminiscent of the glory of ancient Rome have been replaced by more conservative Roman-themed outfits.

Born Jan. 27, 1927, in Pennsylvania, Harris developed an interest in interior design while attending high school and, after graduating, was trained in that field while working at an Ohio department store.

Harris graduated from Georgia Tech, where she had studied architecture, and in 1956 met Sarno, who hired her to design the interiors of his restaurant nightclubs in Atlanta, Dallas and other cities. She accompanied Sarno to Las Vegas in the early 1960s.

When Caesars opened in 1966, it featured towering pillars, marble fixtures and other decor designed by Harris, who also is credited with naming some of the resort's restaurants, including Cleopatra's Barge and the Bacchanal Room.

Circus-Circus, featuring Harris' circus big top-themed interiors, opened in 1968. Harris worked for Sarno on other projects until his death in 1984.

An official at Evergreen Memorial said a list of survivors had not been provided to the mortuary.