Vegas Vic, Neon sign in downtown Las Vegas, US.
Vegas Vic is a 40-foot-tall neon cowboy figure on Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas, towering above the sidewalk in the old casino core of the city. The glowing cowboy moves his right arm in a slow greeting gesture and wears a white hat, checkered shirt, and yellow neckerchief.
The Young Electric Sign Company built the figure in 1951 as advertising for the Pioneer Club, which was then among the largest casinos on Fremont Street. When the Pioneer Club closed in 1995, the city purchased the sign and had it restored as part of the neon era's historical legacy.
The cowboy's mechanical voice saying 'Howdy Partner' was silenced for years after Lee Marvin complained during filming of 'The Professionals.' Today Vic greets visitors again with this recorded message, making him one of the few talking neon signs in the world.
The cowboy stands directly on the pedestrian area under the Fremont Street Experience canopy, so viewing is best in the evening when the neon tubes light up. A short walk along the street leads to more historic neon signs and other mid-century landmarks.
The figure weighs over 6 tons and requires more than 1,000 feet of neon tubing just for the outline of the hat and the glowing facial expression. The moving arm is powered by a motor originally from the automotive industry, modified for industrial applications.
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