Columnist John Katsilometes: Taking in the year’s best demolition (to date) of an old Las Vegas hotel and casino and reports how spectators rated the fall of the landmark that once was the Showboat

Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006 | 9:19 a.m.

Fabulous Las Vegas runs Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in the Las Vegas Sun. Reach John Katsilometes at kats@lasvegassun.com or at (702) 259-2327 or (702) 812-9812.

Only in Vegas do you have a community of implosion aficionados. A few braved the chilly elements Wednesday morning to witness the flattening of the Castaways.

A sampling of the early-morning discourse:

"I liked when they took down the Landmark, when the one side just sort of stood there before falling," said one implosion veteran.

"Or the Hacienda, when they had to do it in two parts because one side didn't fall," said another. "We had a half-Hacienda for a while."

A third offered, "The Sands just sort of creaked and buckled, like it didn't want to fall. That place was really built."

So Wednesday's affair offered a bit of nostalgia, and it was a fine morning for an implosion -- crisp and clear with nary a breeze and a limitless supply of hot coffee.

Following a rapid series of explosions, the Castaways obediently dropped just after 7 a.m. The west side crumbled first and the entire 19-story structure tumbled to earth in a matter of moments. A few of the hotel sign's letters -- the C, A and Y -- jutted from the resulting pile of rubble.

Station Casinos hasn't announced what will stand on the spot once occupied by the Castaways, and before that the Showboat. But it hardly mattered as we studied the Pile Formerly Known as the Castaways and marveled at its swift destruction.

I remember being on the perimeter as the Sands was taken down nearly 10 years ago, and some longtime Las Vegans cried. That wasn't the case Wednesday -- not from this implosion-hardened crowd. No one shed a tear.

NoteMart

All's fare: Tuesday's benefit at Tommy Rocker's Cantina for the Professional Drivers Association raised a little more than $6,000 ($4 more than $6,000, to be exact) for the organization of Las Vegas cabbies.

The PDA assisted in the recovery of cabdriver Wayne Sowers, who was badly injured in September in a wild accident when his Lucky Cab was slammed by a stolen Yellow Cab at the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Paradise Road. Sowers suffered a broken back, neck, ribs and clavicle. He also sustained a concussion, but recovered to return to work by November.

The ever-magnanimous Rocker and sidekick Joey Vitale performed during the five-hour event. Rocker said he has a contingency plan if his proposed high-rise condominium project -- scheduled to open in mid- to late-2008 -- does not pan out: He still holds a topless business license for his current property. It has never been utilized, but the cantina could be turned into an adult club in a matter of hours ...

Sashaying in sashes: All 52 (including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C.) Miss America contestants are taking part in "On the Runway With Miss America" on Sunday. The event at Fashion Show mall is the first and only public appearance by all of the contestants in Las Vegas. Fans will have a chance to take photos of and meet the 2006 contestants (including Miss Nevada, Crystal Wosik of Las Vegas) as well as reigning Miss America Deidre Downs ...

Viva Villa! I found myself arguing with a waiter over his name on Tuesday at Ricardo's restaurant on Decatur Boulevard and Flamingo Road. His nametag read "Pancho Villa."

"No way," I said.

"Yes way," he claimed. Actually, his real name is Francisco Villa -- Pancho being the alternative version of Francisco. The restaurant is back under its original ownership -- it was briefly sold about a year ago -- and is doing very well, according to my friend Pancho.