Oral history interview with Betty Francisco conducted by Joanne Goodwin on August 12, 2002 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Francisco opens her interview by discussing her early life in Arizona and California. Francisco then talks about her dance career in Las Vegas, Nevada, starting with her work at the Dunes Hotel. Francisco also discusses working for choreographer Harold Minsky. Finally, Francisco describes common dancer experiences, such as getting injured or sick.
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Oral history interview with Patricia Merl conducted by Claytee D. White on October 09, 2008 October 28, 2008 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Patricia Merl discusses her career as a professional dancer, working at the famous Radio City Music Hall, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada for opportunities in dancing, and moving to Florida for new possibilities. She also discusses teaching at the Hotel School at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and working as the Director of Gaming Outreach for the International Gaming Institute.
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Oral history interview with Gary Sternberg conducted by Barbara Tabach on February 12, 2015, April 07 2015, and October 20, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Gary Sternberg discusses how his family came to live in the United States. He also discusses his wife Noreen in 1957, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, his repair business, and his importing business with his wife. Sternberg also discusses his entrepreneurial nature and his ownership of three patents.
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Oral history interview with Joyce Mack conducted by Barbara Tabach on February 23, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Joyce Mack discusses meeting her husband, Jerry Mack, their early life as a couple, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada at the suggestion of Jerry's father, Nate Mack. She discusses how Jerry met Parry Thomas and their banking and real estate investments. Mack talks about the opening of the Thomas and Mack Center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the development of the strip hotels, and discusses her children.
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Oral history interview with Jackie Boiman conducted by Barbara Tabach on March 27, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Boiman discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1985, working in administrative and youth programs positions at local synagogues, and her administrative position at Touro University.
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From the Sister Klaryta Antoszewska Photograph Collection (PH-00352).
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Oral history interviews with Ted Quirk conducted by Claytee D. White on December 15, 2017 and December 20, 2017 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the first interview, Quirk discusses his early life in Ithaca, New York and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1973. He talks about his employment at Shell Oil, working in a chemical plant, and oil drilling. Quirk describes practicing law for patents, licensing, and contracts. He talks about his career in the housing development industry, and his involvement in the development of the Spanish Trails County Club. In the second interview, Quirk talks about Boys and Girls Club of America and being involved with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He remembers forming the UNLV Golf Foundation, the Runnin’ Rebels Club, and the UNLV Research Foundation. Quirk explains the situation regarding UNLV’s Basketball Coach, Jerry Tarkanian, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Lastly, Quick discusses the historical importance of the
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Oral history interview with Rossi Ralenkotter conducted by Claytee D. White on August 4, 2022 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Ralenkotter describes migrating to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1951 with his parents at the age of four. He shares early memories of the city, and talks about how it brought him to be president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). Ralenkotter is responsible for marketing and branding Las Vegas and Southern Nevada as the world's most desirable destination for leisure and business travel. Under his leadership, the LVCVA launched the most successful branding campaign in tourism history, "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas." In 1971, Ralenkotter earned a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and in 2008 was selected as Alumni of the Year. In 2009, he was honored with UNLV's Distinguished Nevadan Award. Throughout the interview, Ralenkotter recalls his many memories of the city throughout his life, including cruising Fremont Street, swimming at Lorenzi Park, participating in Helldorado parades, and watching the transformation of sports in the city.
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Oral history interview with Sasha Semenoff conducted by Claytee D. White on April 29, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Semenoff begins the interview by discussing his early life in Latvia and learning to play the violin as a child before the Nazi invasion. He describes being a Jewish Holocaust survivor, surviving the ghettos and concentration camp where he was held, and explaining how he immigrated to the United States after he was liberated. Semenoff then discusses moving to New York City, New York, where he joined the musician's union before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1959. He details his career as a prominent lounge and big band violinist in Las Vegas, where he played at several different casinos, including the Desert Inn Lounge, the Dunes Hotel and Casino, and the MGM Grand Hotel. Semenoff also talks about the musicians he has played with, such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, his work at the time of the interview, and the presence of organized crime in Las Vegas.
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Oral history interview with Ace Lagman conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on July 29, 2024 for the UNLV Remembers: an Oral History of the 6 December 2023 Shootings project. In this interview, Lagman (a senior, English major, Creative Writing emphasis) recalls having just left Lied Library with friends when he received the text alert about the shooting. After a short debate, the group decided to head for their cars in the Cottage Grove parking lot. On the way, Lagman stopped to warn some construction workers at the Engineering building, even using Google Translate to communicate the alert to one worker. One friend drove Lagman to his apartment, leaving Cottage Grove and taking Flamingo Road East to Eastern, as they knew Tropicana would be closed. He talks about reaching out to friends, and how two friends especially helped him in the days after. He recalls a two-hour drive beginning at 2:00am, windows down, listening to music, while driving aimlessly in places where businesses were open and people were about. The creative writer talks of being unable to write anything in the first five months after the shooting; he still has not written about the event or his reaction to it. He remembers calling the Suicide Hotline two weeks after December 6 and the worker telling him he was their tenth call that day. Digital audio and transcript available.
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