Apparently, I’m practically pregnant
Nothing riles up some Las Vegas natives like a transplant suggesting he's a local.
In last week's column, I pointed out that living in Sin City for nearly 20 years qualifies anyone as "practically a local," given the growth and transiency of the population and the physical transformation of the town. So I reached all the way back to the early and mid-'90s -- when I moved here -- for a handful of Sin City memories that recent arrivals will never know.
Naturally, I got an earful from a few lifetime Las Vegans.
"You're not a local unless you were born here -- period," one genuine Las Vegan told me.
"Being 'practically a local' is like being 'practically pregnant.' Either you are or you aren't. And you aren't," another reminded me. Ouch.
But enough about my kids.
I heard from readers who've lived here for between 20 and 60 years but came from somewhere else. And they have plenty of their own "practically a local" memories.
Diane Collins says you're practically a local if ...
... you heard Henderson's PEPCON plant blow up.
... you checked out a book from the Green Valley Library -- when it was in a store front.
... you played the Wild Horse Golf Club when it was called the Showboat Golf Club.
Charlie Lombardo, a 45-year resident, says you're practically a local if ...
... you remember when the Thunderbird, the Silver Slipper and Castaways were part of the Strip.
... you saw new movie releases at the Huntridge Theatre.
... you remember when the newest housing developments were Charleston Heights and Spring Valley, starting at under $25,000.
... you remember when the Desert Inn Golf Club hosted the PGA Tournament of Champions, and the winner's $10,000 prize was paid in silver dollars, delivered in a wheelbarrow.
J. Payton, a valley resident since 1958, says you're practically a local if ...
... you did your grocery shopping at Vegas Village.
... rode the glass elevator at the Mint.
... your house shook from atomic blasts at the Nevada Test Site.
J.C. Melvin says you're practically a local if ...
... you remember when the MGM Grand (now Bally's) was the only hotel with a movie theater and it offered cocktail service -- and the Gold Coast property was dirt.
... you remember when what is now U.S. Highway 95 at Decatur Boulevard and beyond was still Fremont Street.
... you remember when Rancho Drive was U.S. 95 heading north...
Del Barry says you're practically a local if ...
... you shopped downtown at Sears, J.C. Penney and Woolworth's.
Mary Macioce, a 44-year resident, says you're practically a local if ...
... you cruised Fremont Street on Saturday nights, making the turnaround at the Union Plaza.
... you remember when passenger trains actually stopped here.
... you remember when Valley and Clark were the new high schools.
... you remember when UNLV was Nevada Southern.
Richard Shenberger, a 38-year resident, says you're practically a local if you remember when White Cross Drugs was the only 24-hour drugstore in Las Vegas.
Here are some of the best memories from the website comments posted below last week's column:
You're practically a local if ...
... you played the Tropicana and Dunes golf courses.
... you remember when Sahara Avenue was a dirt road called San Francisco Avenue.
You're practically a local if ...
... you remember when the coffee shop at the Dunes served eggs benedict with filet mignon instead of Canadian bacon.
... you shopped at Zody's on Maryland Parkway.
... you played on the locomotive at Fantasy Park.
You're practically a local if ...
... you watched movies at the SkyWay Drive-In on Boulder Highway.
... you ate power lunches at Cafe Michele and Cafe Nicole.
Glenn Cook (gcook@reviewjournal.com) is a Review-Journal editorial writer.
