A special note: This interview was conducted in two parts before students of the UNLV College of Hotel Administration. Mr. Dazzio serves as a member of the college's International Advisory Board. During the interview he shares stories of his path from the son of an early dealer to being twenty-something working at the Stardust with Al Sachs and Frank Rosenthal to being a cofounder of R&R Global Hospitality. It was unlikely that Russ Dazzio's father had any idea of what he was bringing his young family into when he moved to Las Vegas from Pueblo, Colorado and became a dealer in the early 1950s. A few months afterwards, five-year-old Russ and his mother stepped off the Union Pacific train to join him. They walked down Fremont Street, "a tree lined horseshoe sidewalk", to the casino where his father dealt cards. No minors were allowed, so young Russ sipped an ice cold Coke and waited. From that point on, Russ's life became entwined with the growth and evolution of Las Vegas. After graduating from Western High School in 1968, Russ became one of the first students of the Hotel College at UNLV (then Southern Nevada). His studies were interrupted by enlisting in the Army during the Vietnam War, but he returned to his studies. During this interview he recalls his career path from a thirteen-year-old bus boy at the Thunderbird Hotel for $1.25 an hour to a finding himself working closely with Stardust executives Al Sachs and Frank Rosenthal while in his early 20s. He garnered a wealth of experiences in his jump from the Strip to an international chain of successful hotels The interview is sprinkled with humorous stories and sage advice from a successful hotel operator for the ITT Sheraton chain and founding partner of R&R Global Hospitality, a third party management firm (started in 1985). This is a business story filled with the ups and downs caused by two recessions in the 1980s. Today Russ is ever-busy with projects underway. He maintains a close relationship with UNLV's Hotel College, serving on the International Advisory Board and is proud of being an alumnus.
Interviewed by Claytee White. Dr. Liu is the City Manager for the City of North Las Vegas. Discusses housing, diversifying the economy, Apex, Faraday and negotiations to secure that business for North LV.
Oral history interview with Steve Wynn conducted by David Schwartz on December 8, 2006 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. In this interview, Wynn discusses his relationship with Jay Sarno and Sarno's development of the Atlanta Cabana Motel in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as the early days of of Caesars Palace and Circus Circus in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Oral history interview with Mitchell A. Cobeaga conducted by Raymond E. Frey on March 14, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Mitchell Cobeaga discusses early life in Nevada, the history of the Nevada State Bank, education in Nevada in the 1920s and 1930s, and Southern Nevada's influence over the rest of the state.
Oral history interview with Helen M. Baucum conducted by William Marshall on February 28, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Baucum discusses her life as a local Nevadan. The interview covers Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Henderson, Nevada.Baucum also discusses her family history.
Oral history interview with Joseph Kine conducted by Debbie Nesbit on March 02, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Mr. Kine discusses working at Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) as a high scaler. He also speaks about living in Boulder City in its very beginnings as a town.
Oral history interview with Mary Kreuzer conducted by Patricia Kohlman on December 15, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. The two discuss Kreuzer’s childhood, as well as the different addresses that she’s lived at in Las Vegas. The interview concludes with a discussion on entertainment and small businesses before the population boom in Southern Nevada.
Oral history interview with C.E. Hansley conducted by George Whitehair on May 27, 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In his interview Hansley discusses moving to Nevada in the mid 1950s and mining in Tonopah, Nevada. He also discusses the changes he has seen in Nevada infrastructure.
Oral history interview with Howard Heckethorn conducted by Neil Dalmas on March 02, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. This interview offers an overview of early education in Nevada. Mr. Heckethorn also discusses Stewart Ranch, Howard Hughes and the Hughes Site, and the migration of the Mormons to the Las Vegas area.
Oral history interview Betty Pavlikowski conducted by Roy Mankins in the 1970s for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Pavlikowski discusses her position on the board of directors for a social club in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pavlikowski details the creation and daily operations of the club.