Las Vegas mascot sought – tortoise, showgirl or Vegas Vic?
Apparently affected by late summer doldrums, city bureaucrats have proposed the lowly desert tortoise as a mascot for an “urban pathway” of wide sidewalks, trees, banners, and areas for chess tables and tai chi.
“The desert tortoise? I don’t think so. It should be something else,” said radio talk show host Alan Stock, who proceeded to conduct an impromptu listener survey. Most of the callers on the morning AM radio show said a showgirl or Vegas Vic should be the mascot. Others suggested dice, slot machines, or a miner with his burro.
Trouble is, a desert tortoise isn’t exclusively native to Nevada. It’s found in native habitats in California, Arizona and Mexico. Further, it wouldn’t help promote Las Vegas among high rollers from China or Hong Kong because of the pejorative connotation a turtle has in South China. Calling someone a turtle in those parts of the world is equivalent to calling someone a snake, salamander or skunk in the United States. And, of course, Las Vegas moves considerably faster than a tortoise’s pace.
A showgirl? Whose showgirl? It would be a risky proposition. The dad-blamed lawyers would pounce on it claiming copyright, trade mark, service mark or some other kind of infringement. The P.C. harpies would be out in legion, claiming the showgirl image is sexist (of course it is, this is Vegas, baby—what did you expect?). And the multicultural mavens would be out clamoring she’s gotta be African American; no, she’s gotta be Hispanic; and no, she’s gotta be Asian—anything but white Anglo, which is what Vegas showgirls were, from the start. “Oh, no,” they’ll scream in their madness. “She’s gotta be a woman of color.”
So that leaves Vegas Vic. And who is he? For the benefit of the twenty-somethings, other born-yesterdays and those who live in Rio Linda (kudos to Rush), Vegas Vic stood 40 feet tall as a neon-illuminated cowboy over Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, directing customers into the Pioneer Club starting about 1951. Every quarter hour his voice would bellow, “Howdy Pardner.” The sign deteriorated over the years but nevertheless remains the non-plus-ultra iconic symbol of Las Vegas in the memories of many.
For those who haven’t a clue, you can buy a color picture post card of Vegas Vic at the Walgreen’s store on Fremont Street, where there’s a whole nostalgia souvenir section.
As surely as three of a kind beats two pair in poker, Vegas Vic beats a desert tortoise, a shifty showgirl or any other item proposed as the Las Vegas mascot.
Comments
Vegas Vic is good to me we have heard of him over here across the pond thought he was the Vegas Mascot and why change tradition. Every one Knows Vegas Vick
Posted by: Alex Barwick | September 6, 2006 02:28 PM