|
|
Article: Las Vegas is fabulous, thanks to Betty
- Article from:
- International Herald Tribune
- Article date:
- January 20, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightProvided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
Patricia Leigh Brown
International Herald Tribune
01-20-2005
Throughout Las Vegas's evanescent history many have been able lay claim to fabulousness. Elvis was fabulous. Liberace was fabulous. Frankie, Dino and Sammy Davis Jr. were of course fabulous.But the birth mother of fabulous, the creator of the seminal shrine to fabulousness, is an unsung 81-year-old headliner named Betty Willis, whose 1959 ''Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada'' sign a luminous diamond stretched like Silly Putty, each letter of ''Welcome'' encircled by silver dollars brought twinkling destiny to Las Vegas: love at first sight in neon.''We thought the town was fabulous, so we added the word,'' Willis recalled, ...