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.
The Nevada Consolidated Copper Company Records (approximately 1907-1978) contain the business records of the company, including correspondence, freight bills, ledgers, maps, leaching data, and books relating to mining. The majority of the records post-date the company's name change to Kennecott Mining Company.
The Charles P. and Delphine Squires Papers from 1882 to 1964, with bulk dates from 1905 to 1964, contain book and short story manuscripts, articles, press releases, newspaper clippings, and radio scripts written by Squires and his wife, all relating to their early life in Las Vegas. Also included are report cards, certificates, Parent Teacher Association material, Mesquite Club records and church activity materials.
The Syphus-Bunker Papers date from 1891 to 1994, with the majority of the collection consisting of correspondence between Mary Etta Syphus and John Mathieson Bunker from 1891 to 1895. The collection also contains correspondence from friends and relatives, and documentation related to Mary Etta Syphus' attendance at Brigham Young Academy Church Normal Training School. Other materials include family history information and two color photographs of family homes. The collection also includes typed transcripts of the correspondence.
The Robert E. Robinson Legislative Papers are comprised of materials relating to Robert Robinson’s career in the Nevada State Legislature as an assemblyman and senator from 1970 to 1986. The papers include correspondence, assembly bill research, bill proposals, roll calls, and materials from assembly committee meetings. The collection also contains Robinson’s campaign materials, including financial disclosures, press releases, advertisements, and correspondence with voters.
The Margo Mansergh Papers (approximately 1920-2010) document the life of former showgirl and dancer Margaret "Margo" Mansergh Tomaszewski. Materials include photographs of Margo modeling, backstage at various shows, portraits, and personal family photographs as well as programs from her international career performing in the Lido de Paris and Pigalle Nightclub in London, as well as a number of shows in Las Vegas, Nevada, such as Vive Les Girls, Casino de Paris, Minsky's Burlesque, and Lido de Paris at the Stardust. The collection contains materials from Mansergh's modeling career, including photographs, book covers, and images of her as an extra in films. Digital images from the closing Stardust performance and an event for Miss Bluebell are also found in the collection.
The History of Nursing in Southern Nevada Oral History Project Records (1965-2014) are comprised of material related to a volunteer project initiative at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Nursing to conduct oral history interviews with nurses who have practiced in Southern Nevada. The collection contains subject files related to the project, as well as audio, video, and transcript files for the interviews. The collection also includes general information on nursing in Southern Nevada such as research papers and documents from the Nevada Nurses Association.