Pin-Up Girls treat Plains veterans to unforgettable show

Julia Reed Nichols is a true force of nature, so it’s little wonder her Pin-Ups on Tour has enjoyed so much success.

According to her biography on imdb.com, Nichols, also known as Pinup Julia, is an award-winning pin-up, performer, personality and event producer most known for developing Pin-Ups on Tour, a World War II style burlesque show that raises funds to support hospitalized veterans.

Last Saturday night, the Pin-Up Girls came to Plains and put on a show few will forget at the VFW Post 3596.

Nichols was born is Alaska, raised in Seattle and educated in Michigan. She trained includes Western Michigan University (BA, Performance), RADA (London), Guildhall School (London), AADA (NYC) and Upright Citizen's Brigade (Los Angeles).

When not on stage or set, Nichols is a passionate supporter of dozens of Charities. In 2013 she founded Do Right! Industries, a consulting and production company dedicated to producing entertainment with purpose. Her work has been seen on ABC News, Good Day LA, We Are The Mighty, Los Angeles Daily News, NBC News, Fox News and various other media outlets.

The Las Vegas performer was inspired by her father, an Air Force pilot, and grandfathers who served their country in World War II.

“I was working in Las Vegas as a performer and I convinced my friends to start this,” Nichols said. “It seemed like a natural thing to support.”

At their Pin-Ups on Tour shows, all veterans and active duty military into the show for free as a thank you for their service. The money they raise through ticket sales and raffles at the show go directly toward Pin-Ups On Tours' mission of providing free entertainment to veterans inside and outside of our nation’s VA hospitals across the country.

“Since we first started entertaining veterans in 2015, Pin-Ups on Tour has performed in 46 states, donated more than 3,500 tickets back to our military heroes, and has been able to entertain close to 3,300 active duty and veteran service members in our nation’s VA Hospitals!” Nichols said.

“In these past few years we have donated over $50,000 in free veteran tickets and cash donations to non-profits such as AmVets, Heels for Combat Boots, Recon Sniper Foundation, Pin-Ups for Vets, American Legion posts and VFW posts.”

Nichols said she loves the fact that the shows really unite a community.

“They are a great way to bring together the civilian and military communities as well as young and old people in a town and celebrate our veterans, their service and what their sacrifices have meant for us and the freedoms we enjoy,” Nichols said.

So, just how did the Pin-Up Girls come to Plains?

“Our event coordinator called the VFW and said we’d be traveling through the area and they were very happy to have us come do a show,” Nichols said.

Nichols explained her group’s shows for veterans.

“From the moment guests enter the event, they will be treated to something special. Our goal is to recreate the magic of the Hollywood Canteen that operated during the 1940s as a club offering dancing, drinks and entertainment for servicemen, usually on their way overseas,” she said. “Our ticketed performance have occurred at American Legions, VFWs, and civilian venues in 36 states including the American Legion Post 43 in Hollywood.”

Saturday night, five talented performers sung and danced to the delight of the area veterans.

• Nicole Spina is a native of Guam and then moved to St. Louis and then Vegas.

“I like all of the different hikes in different parts on the country we perform in. Tomorrow we'll do Cascade Falls.”

• Paris Hawkins is from New Orleans. She began dancing as a little girl and started taking lessons in middle school.

”I enjoy making the veterans smile," Hawkins said.

• Celina Sasso is a native of Argentina. Her parents were the first in the family to move to the USA. She grew up in California and then to Vegas as a little girl.
• Bridget Reilly was born in California but lived in Vegas since she was 2.
• Jenelle Catherina was born in Canada before moving to Vegas. She has sung all of her life, following in her parents' footsteps as singers.

The veterans tour started in May and ends in October.

The quintet takes turns driving the 15-passenger van and they share rooms. Thirty-five seats were reserved for the Plains performance, which they said is a typical performance. In May they were in 20 different towns/cities.