Kermit Wayne was one of the senior designers, along with Hermon Boernge, at YESCO that routinely got tapped for big jobs and this one was no exception. The Stardust Hotel and Casino shortly after it opened. Vic has an older brother of sorts, Wendover Will located fittingly enough in Wendover, Nevada. City fathers decided that perhaps it was best if Vic stopped talking. Taking a couple of bows and arrows from the prop department, one night they commenced shooting at Vic from their hotel rooms across the street at the Mint Hotel. Vic stopped talking in 1966 when Lee Marvin and Woody Strode, tired after a day of working on location in the Valley of Fire for the film ' The Professionals', were kept awake by Vic's friendly greeting. He had a voice box that proclaimed 'Howdy Podner' every 15 minutes. Vic was 75 feet tall, had one moveable arm with a glowing cigarette in one hand and the other arm moved back and forth. Vic was designed by one of Yesco's Salt Lake City designers, Patrick Denner. Myths over the years included having various designers being responsible for Vic and many others purported to be the model. Vegas Vic was to become the icon of Fremont Street. In a smart move in 1951, the Chamber of Commerce approached Young Electric Sign Company about designing and building a neon cowboy for the Pioneer Club.
