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Greg Goussak oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02422

Abstract

Oral history interview with Greg Goussak conducted by Barbara Tabach on May 19, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Goussak first discusses his family history and how they ended up in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1960. He also talks about desegregation efforts in the Clark County School District and the role B’nai B’rith Youth Organization had on his childhood. Goussak then discusses his education, working at the Dunes Hotel, the Boulder Highway project, and his various occupations.

Archival Collection

Kent Carmichael oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03648

Abstract

Oral history interview with Kent Carmichael conducted by Stefani Evans on November 25 and December 2, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.

In the first session of this oral history, Carmichael discusses his early career in lighting design and maintenance from his start at Interstate Neon to his work in the 1950s and 60s in Las Vegas. He discusses some of the iconic signs he built including the Casino Center, Carnival Room, Thunderbird, The Frontier, Bonanza, and the Stardust. He also details the technology and inner workings of these innovative signs including the transition from mechanical to electrically controlled signage. Carmichael continues to discuss Native American laborers and various individuals that he interacted with throughout his early career including Max and Mo Oggenblick, Doby Doc, Benny Binion, Arby Alper, Steve Wynn, Peter Arp, and Wayne and Jerry Newton. Carmichael ends the first interview by recalling a high wind event that damaged the Frontier sign and his efforts to bring the sign under control and repair it as well as his vision and behind the Stardust sign.

The second oral history interview contains Carmichael’s discussion of his career from 1968 onward. He immediately picks up discussion of the Stardust sign and his transition to desk work. Carmichael details the challenge and limitations of designing the International sign (the Westgate as of 2021). He describes the development of his first messenger sign for the International and the time consuming task of using tape to program the sign. He fondly remembers working on the Holiday Inn Riverboat signs, and International transition to Las Vegas Hilton and the Hilton’s transition from blue to red letters. Carmichael shares the story of being caught between organized crime and a young Steve Wynn. He recounts his last project for Ad Art, developing and construction the sign for the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. He details working through legislative and construction issues as well as the fallout from the Nat Kiefer Commission.

After leaving Ad Art Carmichael began working with Heath and Co. and began collaborating with Raul Rodriguez. Carmichael and Rodriguez went on to design some of the most enduring and visually unique signs in Las Vegas including, the Flamingo, Four Queens, Golden Nugget, Dunes Hotel, and the Desert Inn. They also worked in Reno on Circus Circus and El Dorado. Carmichael also details his interior work including the main pylon and interior signs for MGM Grand; 1974 renovation Golden Nugget, suspended stained glass ceiling at Tropicana, and the MGM Lion display. Lastly Carmichael outlined his work with Young Electric Sign 1983-85 and the Dewey Sign Company including the Las Vegas Convention Center sign. He ends by sharing his views on the role and importance of lighting in Las Vegas.

Archival Collection

Kochy Tang oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03772

Abstract

Oral history interview with Kochy Tang conducted by Kristel Peralta, Vanessa Concepcion, and Stefani Evans on May 26, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.

Kochy gives a family history of her parents and how they both came to practice medicine; her father served in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War and later practiced alternative medicine alongside Kochy's mother in San Francisco and Reno. Kochy shares her educational and employment path pursuing osteopathic medicine and how, with the help of Tony Marnell, she was able to open her pratice within the M Resort and Casino. She discusses her work as a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) and the relationships she has built within the Las Vegas medical community.

Archival Collection

Anna Bailey oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00096

Abstract

Oral history interview with Anna Bailey conducted by Claytee White on March 03, 1997 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Bailey opens her interview by describing her early life, family, and dance training. She discusses moving to Los Angeles, California at age fifteen, her first dancing gigs, and touring in London, England. She also talks about her experiences as an African American dancer including issues with segregation while touring in the southern United States. Bailey then discusses her life in Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1950s, and working as a dancer at the Moulin Rouge. She describes the club, the other dancers that performed there, and how the African American community felt when the club closed. Bailey then discusses how her husband and the entertainers Josephine Baker and Frank Sinatra helped integrate Las Vegas. She ends her interview by describing the last hotel she danced at, the Flamingo, where she performed in an integrated dance line.

Archival Collection

Jacque Dvorak oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03151

Abstract

Oral history interview with Jacque Dvorak conducted by Barbara Tabach on March 9, 2017 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Dvorak discusses being a member of Jewish youth organizations at Temple Beth Sholom, early episodes of antisemitism, the opening of MGM Grand, and raising Jewish children in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Archival Collection

Mildred Michele Fikes oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00575

Abstract

Oral history interview with Mildred Michele Fikes conducted by Kerry Thomas on May 14, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Fikes discusses her personal Las Vegas, Nevada history starting with her arrival to the city in 1942.

Archival Collection

Cynthia Bunch oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02989

Abstract

Oral history interview with Cynthia Bunch conducted by Gayle Allen for the KDWN Radio Lifelines Oral History Interviews on Nursing.

This interview is undated but likely took place between 1988 and 1999, the time span that "Lifelines with Gayle Allen" was taped by KDWN Radio.

Cynthia Bunch, a registered nurse and Nevada Nurses Association member, discusses Bill AB-156 and the importance of its passage in Congress. The bill requested better regulations across the United States for quality patient care under "Managed Care" insurance coverage. Bunch talks about consumer care rights and the types of requests patients can and should make when they are dissatisfied with their insurance-provided quality of care.

Archival Collection

Walter Weiss oral history interview

Identifier

OH-01939

Abstract

Oral history interview with Walter Weiss conducted by Claytee D. White on November 02, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Walter Weiss discusses how Judaism and boxing kept him out of trouble in his youth. Weiss talks about his boxing training, becoming a runner for a bookmaker, and coming to Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1950s to be a bookmaker for the Stardust Hotel, and working the slot machine floor. He also talks about having several different jobs in various casinos, and discusses different people involved in the gaming industry in Las Vegas.

Archival Collection

Norma Friedman oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02522

Abstract

Oral history interview with Norma Friedman conducted by Barbara Tabach on November 19, 2015 and April 06, 2016 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Friedman talks about owning Walker Furniture, her family history, and being a member of the Las Vegas, Nevada Jewish community for over 40 years.

Archival Collection

Robert Allen III oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00029

Abstract

Oral history interview with Robert Allen III conducted by Leonardo Gray on March 21, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. During this interview Allen discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada from his perspective, high schools in Nevada, casinos, local television stations, sports and recreation, and the Las Vegas Strip.

Archival Collection