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Transcript of interview with Burton Cohen by Claytee White, January 9, 2009

Date

2009-01-09

Description

In this interview, Burton Cohen discusses his involvement in the Las Vegas casino industry, including booking entertainment for various hotels.

Burton Cohen's long casino executive career began in the mid-1960s when he accepted a proposition to become involved with the transformation of the Frontier Hotel. He left his south Florida roots and law practice to become a co-owner/general manager of the Frontier Hotel. Thus, began his highly regarded Las Vegas presence. For nearly four decades he served in the management of some of the Strip's most famous casinos: Flamingo, Dunes, Circus Circus, Caesar Palace, Thunderbird and the Desert Inn, which remains his favorite. In this interview, Burt reflects on the positions he held, the celebrities he hired and befriended, and offers a unique look at the behind the scenes marketing and entertainment strategies that he helmed. He shares stories of becoming entrenched in casino operations, his reflections of union experiences, and even anecdotes about moving his mother to Las Vegas.

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Transcript of interview with Nellie Bunch by Robin Ducharme, November 20, 1975

Date

1975-11-20

Description

On November 20, 1975, C.A. (Robin) Ducharme interviewed Nellie Bunch (born 1902 in Chariton County, MO) about her life in Southern Nevada. Bunch first talks about her settlement into the Whitney Ranch area and her knowledge about the building of Hoover (Boulder) Dam. She also talks about the early utilization of water resources from Lake Mead, early sources of power, and the early use of evaporative coolers. Bunch also speaks about her experience as a postmaster and later discusses telephone technology and the early churches of Las Vegas.

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Transcript of interview with Will Provance by David G. Schwartz, July 14, 2016

Date

2016-07-14

Description

Will Provance was born in Mississippi and grew up mostly in St. Louis, where he earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Missouri before earning a Master’s in Business Administration from Shiller University. Provance would eventually attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he earned a Master of Science in Hotel Administration. He started in the gaming industry as a pool manager at Sunset Station, where he would eventually become slot analyst before entering Station Casinos’ management development program. Provance then trained in various positions at Red Rock Resort prior to moving to Green Valley Ranch as a shift manager. He then went back to Sunset Station to become slot operations manager and was promoted to director of slots at that property. Provance is currently the director of VLT operations at Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park in Northfield, Ohio. Provance’s interview begins with his discussion of the various roles he has held in the gaming industry, including the types of duties he was assigned at the different properties. He then describes the difference between managing slot machines in his earlier positions and video lottery terminals (VLTs) in his current position in Ohio. Provance then mentions some of the mentors he has had in his career, and he describes what he believes are the qualities of both good and bad slot managers. He also discusses what he believes makes a good slot floor, including the process of working with slot vendors in getting new slot machines for the slot floor as well as working with other departments in the casino. Provance then talks about how slot operations has changed since he started in the industry and what he thinks the future of slot machines will be, specifically regarding skill-based gaming. The interview concludes with Provance’s discussion of his personal gambling and his advice to young people who want to go into the slot industry.

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"Around the World with Bob" calendar, 2011

Level of Description

File

Archival Collection

Robert L. Forbuss Papers
To request this item in person:
Collection Number: MS-00888
Collection Name: Robert L. Forbuss Papers
Box/Folder: Oversized Box SH-081 (Restrictions apply)

Archival Component

Personal and professional papers for Robert L. "Bob" Forbuss, 1948-2007

Level of Description

File

Archival Collection

Robert L. Forbuss Papers
To request this item in person:
Collection Number: MS-00888
Collection Name: Robert L. Forbuss Papers
Box/Folder: Box 01

Archival Component

Photographs of Bob Forbuss with friends and politicians; childhood and school; photographs of Marjorie Keas Forbuss and Bob Forbuss at their home; photographic negatives of St. Anne's Elementary School, Bishop Gorman High School, personal images of Bob Forbuss, 1945-2010

Level of Description

File

Archival Collection

Robert L. Forbuss Papers
To request this item in person:
Collection Number: MS-00888
Collection Name: Robert L. Forbuss Papers
Box/Folder: Box 02, Box 03, Oversized Box SH-048

Archival Component

Appraisal report for a house, 1985

Level of Description

File

Archival Collection

David R. Parks Papers
To request this item in person:
Collection Number: MS-00418
Collection Name: David R. Parks Papers
Box/Folder: Box 01

Archival Component

"Camp David," men's health club, Las Vegas, Nevada, brochures, undated

Level of Description

File

Archival Collection

David R. Parks Papers
To request this item in person:
Collection Number: MS-00418
Collection Name: David R. Parks Papers
Box/Folder: Box 01

Archival Component

Certificate of Appreciation, undated

Level of Description

File

Archival Collection

David R. Parks Papers
To request this item in person:
Collection Number: MS-00418
Collection Name: David R. Parks Papers
Box/Folder: Box 01

Archival Component

Copy of a plaque, 1994

Level of Description

File

Archival Collection

David R. Parks Papers
To request this item in person:
Collection Number: MS-00418
Collection Name: David R. Parks Papers
Box/Folder: Box 01

Archival Component