Unveiling the Mysteries of Las Vegas: Facts You Didn't Know

Las Vegas, the city of lights and entertainment, has its share of mysteries and lesser-known facts. Many people, including former U.S. President George W. Bush, have mispronounced the state of Nevada.

The iconic 'Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas' sign, designed by Betty Willis, is a symbol of the city. Betty Willis was born in Overtone, Nevada, and moved to Las Vegas two weeks later. She designed the sign in the 1950s for the company Western Neon. The letters in the word 'Welcome' are arranged in circles styled like silver coins, reminiscent of Nevada being the 'Silver State'. However, Betty Willis disliked how she wrote the word 'Fabulous' on the sign.

Betty Willis created other famous symbols of the city, including an angel with a magic wand for the motel 'Blue Angel'. The 'Rat Pack,' an informal creative alliance of the most famous stars of American cinema and show business, formed around Humphrey Bogart and his wife Lauren Bacall in the late 1940s. The group included stars like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. The 'Rat Pack' was named by Lauren Bacall after seeing a group of drunk celebrities at Humphrey Bogart's house. The group had a motto: 'One rat does not turn in another'. The 'Rat Pack' starred in the 1960 film 'Ocean's Eleven', directed by Lewis Milestone.