Former dancer Petty remembered as ‘the life of the party’

Monday, Jan. 30, 2006 | 8:26 a.m.

Las Vegas lost one of its more colorful characters Jan. 12 with the passing of 73-year-old Betty Petty.

Petty's real name was Mary Elizabeth Petitti. She adopted the stage name when she came to Las Vegas in the late 1950s to dance, first at El Rancho Vegas and then several other hotels.

"She really wasn't a showgirl," said her daughter, 40-year-old Alyson Fink of Howell, N.J. "She was what they called a 'pony.' Showgirls were tall, 6-foot and topless and they wore large headpieces.

"Mom was too short, about 5-4. All the girls in the line know what a pony is."

In 2003 Petty suffered critical injuries when she accidentally ignited her clothing.

"She never really recovered," Fink said.

She said her mother died of heart failure at Desert Lane Care Center.

Petty was born in Boston, but left for New York City at age 17, where she danced at a number of clubs, including the Copacabana.

In 1955, at the age of 23, she and her husband, Karl Rand, moved to Las Vegas, where they divorced.

Petty danced for about 10 years, but she was better known for her many escapades.

"She was the life of the party," Fink said. "At the time, she was hanging out with Frank Sinatra. She partied with the Rat Pack.

"Mom hobnobbed with a lot of celebrities -- her prize photo is of her and Elvis."

Her friends came from all walks of life, from singer Kenny Rogers to gangster Sam Giancana, Fink said.

"She hung out with mobsters," Fink said. "She was a legend back then. Everyone everywhere knew her.

"She would go gambling at the Lady Luck, where she was chip hustler -- when a guy needed some luck, a chip hustler would blow on the dice and if he won he would give her some money."

Fink said her mother did some unorthodox things in a casino that would not be permitted today.

"One Easter Sunday she brought in a live rabbit and put it on the table," she said. "Sometimes she would take off her mink coat and throw it on the table while she was gambling."

When her dancing career ended, Petty became a bartender.

Fink said among her mother's best friends was Larry Lamb, youngest brother of former Sheriff Ralph Lamb.

Survivors include two daughters, Alyson Fink and Lill Cacci of Las Vegas; one brother, Charles J. Petitti of Boston; one sister, Eileen Brow of Hamilton, Ontario; and two granddaughters.

Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or at jerry@lasvegassun.com.