Las Vegas, NV – Four new U.S. postage stamps honoring Cowboys of the Silver Screen were unveiled thursday during Helldorado Days in downtown Las Vegas. The new stamps honor four extraordinary performers who helped make the American Western a popular form of entertainment. Film stars from the silent era through the singing era are feat...ured on the stamps: William S. Hart, Tom Mix, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers. Honored guest, Stamp Art Director, Carl Herrman will unveil the postage stamps that he helped to create. Herrman will be available to answer questions and sign stamp collectables. 

The new stamps honor four extraordinary performers who helped make the American Western a popular form of entertainment. Film stars from the silent era through the singing era are featured on the stamps: William S. Hart, Tom Mix, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers.  

A temporary Post Office was setup during Helldorado Days to sell the new stamps and offer a collectible Helldorado Days Postmark. The postmark was free and could be applied to virtually anything with First-Class postage affixed. A souvenir envelope wias also available. 

Following is some background information on those featured on the Cowboys of the Silver Screen stamps:

William S. Hart 
William S. Hart (1864-1946) brought a powerful presence and serious approach to early Westerns. Tall and trim, with acting skills honed by years of experience on the New York stage and in productions across the country, Hart became one of the most popular leading men of the silent film era. In his movies, the actor insisted on authentic depictions of the Old West and its people, from their clothes to their lifestyles and complex personalities. He frequently played the stalwart, tough-as-nails cowboy, and his favorite horse was a brown and white pinto named Fritz.

Freelance Artist Robert Rodriguez based his portrait of William S. Hart on a likeness of the actor that appeared on a poster for the epic film Tumbleweeds (1925).

Tom Mix 
Tom Mix (1880-1940) was one of the most celebrated Western film stars of the 1920s. He wowed movie crowds and live audiences alike with his daredevil riding, expert rope handling, unerring marksmanship, and rugged good looks. He also served as a role model for a generation of schoolchildren, maintaining a wholesome screen persona that involved “no cussin’ and no drinkin’” by his characters. A legend in his own time, Mix wore oversize Stetsons, fancy suits, and handmade Texas boots with engraved silver spurs. He rode “Tony, the wonder horse,” who also became an audience favorite.

Rodriguez based his portrait of Tom Mix on a likeness of the actor that appeared on the Cupid’s Round Up (1918) movie poster.

Gene Autry 
For more than two decades, Gene Autry (1907-1998) entertained movie audiences and won the hearts of millions of fans with his distinctive singing style and easygoing personality. His sorrel-colored horse, Champion, often played a major role in his films, as did frequent sidekicks Smiley Burnette and Pat Buttram. Aside from being one of the most admired cowboys to ever appear on the silver screen, Autry left behind a legacy that includes many hit records, a long-running radio show, and a successful television series.

Rodriguez based his portrait of Gene Autry on a likeness of the actor that appeared on a poster for the film Gold Mine in the Sky (1938).

Roy Rogers 
Roy Rogers (1911-1998) was a silver screen cowboy who sang his way to stardom. He always played the Western hero, with a warm smile, good character, and strong values. Although he found great success in show business—beginning with his first starring role, in a 1938 film—his modest roots kept him a down-to-earth country boy that Americans couldn’t help but admire. For decades, children across the country aspired to be like him and tried to live by the Roy Rogers code of conduct, which stated that boys and girls should “be neat and clean” and “always obey their parents.”

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Rank bulls from Flying U/Rosser Rodeo company and Diamond G Rodeo compete in Helldorado Days Pro Rodeo

They work for up to 8 seconds, then spend weeks resting in the pasture. They have been invited to the PRCA NFR and the PBR World Finals dozens of times, they are the "other" stars of professional rodeo. They must win, they must buck off cowboys and get high marks from the judges. High marks mean world ranking status and invitations to the finals. Here are a few of the rank bulls competing at Las Vegas Helldorado Days Pro Rodeo

Flying U / Rosse.r Rodeo's Bull "Hawaiian Ivory" is ranked 25th in the world. He's here at Helldorado Days. He bucked out 2 times at the 2009 NFR and he bucked off 2009 PRCA World Champion JW Harris in 4 seconds for a no time. He's RANK and nasty. Go to www.probullstats.com to find the rankest bulls stats.  Click here for more info: http://probullstats.com/bulls/10016/

His name is Spanish Fly, rank bull from Flying U/Rosser Rodeo and he bucked off Ross Coleman, Jesse Bail, Zack Oakes, Dustin Elliot and Cory Melton to name a few. He was invited to the NFR and he's here at Helldorado Days. Click here for more info: http://probullstats.com/bulls/14162/

Diamond G Rodeo company's rank bull "Charmed Im Sure" will be here for Helldorado Days Rodeo. He's been bucking off cowboys for 7 years and has a 100% buckoff rating 3 of those years. He's bucked off Guilherme Marchi (PBR), Luke Snyder (PBR), Jesse Bail, Zack Oakes, Sean Willingham to name a few. He's so good he has b...een invited to the PBR finals 7 times and the NFR here in Las Vegas 6 times. Click here for more info: http://probullstats.com/bulls/1043/

Diamond G Rodeo company's bull "White Magic" is here. He's ranked 10th most difficult bull in the world. He bucked off BJ Schumacher and Cory Navarre at the 2009 NFR Las Vegas. He's rank and doesn't like to be ridden. Come see him compete for points at Helldorado Days May 13 - 16. Click here for more info: http://probullstats.com/bulls/6506/

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Media Contact:
Steve Schroeder
Synergy communications
(775) 825-2665
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World Champion cowboy Randon Adams from Logandale heads up the 2010 entry list of must see  professional cowboys and cowgirls as they compete in the Las Vegas Helldorado Days Rodeo.
 
The 2010 Helldorado Days entry list looks much like an NFR qualifier list. Several of the world’s top professional cowboys and cowgirls ride into town for the 3 day Helldorado Days rodeo. 19 pros from Nevada head up the list of 289 entries in this year’s rodeo.
 
Adams, Austin Logandale, NV CR TR
Adams, Jay Logandale, NV CR TR
Adams, Randon Logandale, NV TR
Barnes, Bryce Las Vegas, NV CR
Barron, Cody Reno, NV TR
Brown, Kristen Las Vegas, NV GB
Cowans, T Money Las Vegas, NV TR
Filippini, Max Battle Mountain,NV SB
Heguy, Joe Elko, NV SB
Hintz, Dustin Spring Creek, NV TR
Horky, Charlie Las Vegas, NV TR
Jones, Bryan Elko, NV BB
Munns, Montee Moapa, NV CR
Murphy, Marvel Fallon, NV GB
Tibbits, Dustin Pahrump, NV BR
Vavricka, Laura Pahrump, NV GB
Vohs, Jason Las Vegas,NV CR
Wade, Jake, Alamo, NV BR
Watts, Justin Las Vegas, NV TR
 
KEY
BB=Bareback, SB=Saddle Bronc, BR= Bull Riding, TR=Team Roping, CR=Calf Roping, SW= Steer Wrestling, GB=Girls Barrel Racing
 
Las Vegas Helldorado Days, May 13-16, 2010. Downtown Las Vegas 2 blocks from the Fremont Street Experience. For tickets call 702-870-1221. For more information visit www.ElksHelldorado.com

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About Las Vegas Helldorado Days:
Helldorado Days is an outdoor community event celebrating Las Vegas’ tribute to the Wild West and produced by the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks Lodge No.1468. Helldorado Days which began in 1935, is the longest running civic event in the history of Las Vegas, originally created as a means to encourage tourism to the city upon completion of the Boulder Dam. With over 40,000 people in attendance, Helldorado Days offers a 4 day pro rodeo, a parade, carnival, treasure hunt for gold, whiskerino contest, golf tournament, poker tournament, art show and auction, trail ride, exhibits and food. For 4 days Downtown Las Vegas is transformed into Helldorado Days as the event takes over several vacant downtown blocks and builds a rodeo arena and carnival from the ground up. Helldorado Days is a non-profit community event. The members of Elks Lodge No. 1468 are committed to assisting children and veterans in need and have given back over $75,000 in 2009 and over $4 million to the community since 1935.

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First Annual Elks Helldorado/ Sahara Coins Treasure Hunt for Gold is under way

Saturday, May 1st was day 1 of the Treasure Hunt as Elks Helldorado Days joined with Sahara Coins & Extraordinary Collectibles to launch the event.

The annual event started off Saturday morning with a ribbon cutting, sponsored by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and officiated by Mayor Oscar Goodman, as the Mayor showed his strong support for Helldorado Days, which has given back over $4 million to the community of Las Vegas since 1935.

The Treasure Hunt is free to enter and was designed to add even more excitement to the already popular Las Vegas Helldorado Days Rodeo.

The Treasure Hunt is a collaboration of Mark & Cheryl Scott, managing partners of Sahara Coins & Extraordinary Collectibles located at 7293 W. Sahara Ave and Duane LaDuke, executive Director of Las Vegas Helldorado Days.

Sahara Coins & Extraordinary Collectibles has been serving customers for over 30 years. When asked why he would want to do this now, Mark Scott replied that Las Vegas has been so good to he and his wife that they decided it was time to give back.

The Treasure Hunt is a 13 day event with 13 clue stops at businesses throughout the Las Vegas Valley. The object of the Treasure Hunt is to gather all 13 clues on a clue card and after solving the clues finding a medallion that is hidden somewhere in the Valley.

The person to find the Medallion first will win the Grand Prize of $10,000 in American Buffalo Gold Coins.

Although opening day was May 1st, everyone who would still like to participate can go to Sahara Coins & Extraordinary Collectibles or Las Vegas Elks Club #1468 and register to receive their clue cards and enter the Treasure Hunt, until May 13th.

Remember, the sooner you get started the better chance you have of finding the Medallion!!!

For more information go to www.saharacoins.com or www.elkshelldorado.com

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Media Contact:
Steve Schroeder, President
Synergy Communications
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