Columnist Ruthie Deskin: Phone books then and now

Nothing emphasizes the tremendous growth of Las Vegas more than the telephone directory.

By now, most residents have received the new directories -- one for business and information, and the other for residential listings. According to Sun reader Elizabeth Patrick, the "red yellow pages" book alone weighs five pounds.

I happen to own a Las Vegas telephone directory for 1917, which weighs only a few ounces. It was distributed in the days when the operator was a real, live person with whom one could hold conversations. In fact, there is a notice in the directory that reads, "In case of fire notify central and give exact location." That just might have been the precursor for 911.

Six hotels are listed, alongwith two hospitals. All numbers are single or double digits, with the First State Bank as number one. Incidentally, the bank boasted assets of "over $500,000."

A couple of doctors and one dentist took care of the ailing and six saloons (bars) offered libations to the thirsty. The Las Vegas Age claimed the "largest circulation in Southern Nevada," and solicited "items of interest." The Las Vegas Pharmacy claimed to be "agents for Chocolate Shop Chocolates, the most delicious chocolates made." They also guaranteed pure fresh drugs.

A 1934 city and telephone directory, also in my possession, begins to tell the story of growth as many more listings are included. At the time, the assessed valuation of the city was $5.5 million. There were 700 telephones and Greater Las Vegas claimed a population of 9,000.

Notably absent from these old directories are the so-called entertainment sections prominently displayed in the new directory. More than 100 pages are devoted to sexually-oriented ads, which I, for one, find distasteful. We have heard all the arguments about freedom of speech and the legal mumbo-jumbo that protects this kind of salacious advertising, but that doesn't mean we have to like it. I would suggest that the weight of the yellow pages could be lessened by ripping out 100 pages of questionable "entertainment" ads.

Random Thoughts Department: When residents objected to a pawn shop at the corner of Meadows Lane and Decatur, did they ever dream the building would later house a tattoo parlor?

With all the great technology that produces miracle products for our use, why hasn't someone come up with a milk carton that is easy to open without breaking a fingernail or two?

A note for the trivia file -- Michael Jordan was married to Juanita Vanony on Sept. 2, 1990, in Las Vegas.

Jack Sheehan's column in the latest issue of Showbiz Magazine is recommended reading as possibly the best analysis of the relocation of the teachers of basic English composition to a shabby trailer so that the Consciousness Studies Program might take over the space formerly occupied by the English teachers.

Sheehan, himself a former English instructor, describes his tenure at the university and winds up with the observation that the university should "quit boasting about the strides it's making academically" as long as the teaching of English is given short shrift.

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