Whiskerino Contest & Kangaroo Kourt

Whiskerino finalists line up on stage for interviews.

Former Helldorado Queens served as judges for the Whiskerino Contest while Whiskerino fans wait for the results.

Whiskerino Contest
From its very beginning, Helldorado Days included a Whiskerino Contest -- a publicity stunt kept alive because local newspapers encouraged men to grow beards for weeks in advance of the event. Every beard on the street was a reminder that Helldorado Days was coming. And because the longest beard would win a prize, the publicity lasted a good long time.

On March 30, in the Centennial year of 2005, residents were invited to put down their razors and start growing. The sign-up took place at Gary and Derrill's Plaza Barbershop, 2341 E. Bonanza Road, which is owned by Las Vegas Councilman Gary Reese. Gary and Derrill's opened in 1959, making it the oldest barbershop in Las Vegas.

Then on May 12, 2005 winners were chosen from a variety of categories-most unique beard, most lovable beard, and most-colored beard (whitest, grayest, blackest, reddest). The judges that day were former Helldorado queens who know a bit about Helldorado whiskers.

Sheriff Bill Young lays the heavy hand of Helldorado law on Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman. The Mayor was tried in Kangaroo Kourt, found guilty and confined for a time to the hoosegow.

A couple local gunslingers and good ol' boys check out the door on the Helldorado Days jail.

Kangaroo Kourt
Another early Helldorado Days idea that captured local imagination was Kangaroo Kourt. Every year the town's mayor was arrested on some trumped-up charge, tried in Kangaroo Kourt, and locked in the hoosegow. And it happened again this year! On May 12, 2005, Sheriff Bill Young arrested Mayor Oscar B. Goodman and locked him up-just like back in the old days.

(Click on images for enlargements.)

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