Nevada Day revisited: 1951 & 1962

Editor’s Note: This continues a series featuring the Appeal’s coverage of past Nevada Days.

Reprinted from the Nov. 1, 1951, Nevada Appeal:

Carson City presented a disheveled appearance this morning in the wake of another Nevada Day celebration that saw the state’s capital literally bursting at the seams with a holiday throng estimated at 25,000 persons.

Streets and festive pre-celebration decorations bore the marks of a bang-up birthday celebration Oct. 31 that was featured by a bumper crowd, exceptionally fine, crisp fall weather and a noticeable lack of serious traffic accidents and law infractions.

The parade, although perhaps not as smooth-moving as in year’s past, nevertheless was its usual outstanding contribution to the Nevada Day show.

It started at 11:15 a.m. on North Carson Street and wound slowly southward with all the color and pageantry of past year’s celebrations. Review stand was immediately in front of the supreme court building and it took just an hour for all bands and entries to pass that point.

Gov. Charles H. Russell and his son, Clark, both were near the head of the parade, riding horseback and attired in appropriate western costume. The governor was warmly applauded all along route of march as were U.S. Sen. George W. Malone, Congressman Walter S. Baring and Mayors Wilbur Stodieck of Carson City and Francis Smith of Reno.

Clark Gable, the longtime Hollywood film actor whose popularity is at a high ebb in these parts, added greatly to the parade.

Cries, and in some instances female shrieks, of, “Hi, Clark,” “Hey Clark, look over here,” were frequent and the he-man hero of many a movie role was more than obliging, smiling at the women and halting his horse on numerous occasions to let some camera fan get a close-up.

The parade was both old-fashioned and modern. Authentic prairie schooners and wooden wheeled logging wagons depicted the era of early days while a float of stream-lined jet plane lent the procession a modern-day touch.

And the fact that the United States is very much embroiled in a “police action” was brought to mind by displays of anti-aircraft guns, a marine detachment and a squadron of fighter planes which made two roaring passes over the heart of Carson.