Apparently, I’m practically pregnant

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.