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Transcript of interview with Russell Dazzio by Claytee D. White, November 4, 2013

Date

2013-11-04

Description

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.

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Barbara Agonia oral history interviews

Identifier

OH-02669

Abstract

Oral history interviews with Barbara Agonia conducted by Suzanne Becker on September 17, 2007, September 25, 2007, and October 02, 2007 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Agonia's interviews begin with an overview of her early life, including her education and study abroad experiences in England during college. During the interview Agonia also discusses attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the 1950s for graduate school. Agonia talks about her community activism with Soroptimist International of Las Vegas, Friends of the Nevada Wildnerness, and Clark County Community College. Lastly, Agonia discusses advocacy initiatives for Great Basin National Park and rape crisis education.

Archival Collection

Transcript of interview with Mike Gausling by David G. Schwartz, December 7, 2016

Date

2016-12-07

Description

Mike Gausling started in the casino industry as a slot floor person at the Aladdin in 1976. After about a year, he moved to the Stardust in a similar capacity and in 1980 went to the the Sundance, later named Fitzgeralds and The D Las Vegas. Gausling later worked at the Holiday Casino where he held supervisory roles and then after about 12 years in those roles, eventually assisted in opening the Stratosphere. He would then move to The Mirage where he would start on the floor again before moving into higher positions at that property. Gausling later went to Green Valley Ranch Resort where he currently holds the position of slot guest service supervisor. Mike Gausling’s interview begins with his discussion of the various roles in slot operations he has held over the past 40 years. After describing the various positions and properties at which he worked, Gausling provides his thoughts on what makes both good and bad slot managers. He then discusses his experiences in interacting with customers and what his philosophy is on what casino guests want in playing slots. Gausling also discusses the differences between local casino properties and those on the Las Vegas Strip, and he describes his work in opening Green Valley Ranch. The interview continues with Gausling’s opinion on the impact of technology and free play as some of the biggest changes in the slot industry, and he later describes how a slot floor should be laid out. He also discusses how he thinks the future of slot machines will look like, particularly with skill-based gaming, and he also mentions his personal gambling preferences. The interview concludes with Gausling’s advice to young people who want to go into slot operations as a career.

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Roberta Sabbath oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02289

Abstract

Oral history interview with Roberta Sabbath conducted by Barbara Tabach on April 27, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Sabbath discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the late 1960s, her involvement with organizing University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ (UNLV) Hillel chapter, and the Hebrew Day School. She also talks about her husband’s, Dennis Sabbath, career as a union attorney, and her career as an UNLV literature professor.

Archival Collection

Ron Lurie oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02863

Abstract

Oral history interview with Ron Lurie conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on October 17, 2016 and November 10, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the first interview, Lurie discusses his upbringing in Los Angeles, California and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1953. He recalls his father’s business, Market Town, graduating from Las Vegas High School, and becoming manager for three Wonder World convenient stores. Lurie talks about his campaign to become Mayor of Las Vegas, running for Las Vegas City Council, and the redevelopment of Downtown Las Vegas. In the second interview, Lurie discusses the Las Vegas Downtown Progress Association, the National League of Cities, and the Las Vegas monorail. Lastly, Lurie talks about employee longevity and unionization.

Archival Collection

Julia Payne oral history interviews

Identifier

OH-01448

Abstract

Oral history interviews with Julia Payne conducted by Claytee D. White on February 11, 2004 and March 07, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the first interview, Payne discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1961. She describes discrimination, redlining on the Westside, and recalls the lack of integration at the time. Payne then discusses Jackson Street and compares it to the Las Vegas Strip. Lastly, Payne talks about Cove Hotel, Hank’s Place, Colony Club, and the decline in African American businesses on Jackson Street. In the second interview, Payne discusses welfare rights, changes to the Westside and growth of suburban areas. She describes her employment with the Southern Nevada Drug Abuse Council and becoming the first African American substance abuse counselor. Lastly, Payne discusses her position as Executive Director of Nevada Treatment Center.

Archival Collection

Joan Swift oral history interviews

Identifier

OH-01796

Abstract

Oral history interviews with Joan Swift conducted by Sue Peterson on March 18, 2004, March 25, 2004, and June 22, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Swift discusses life in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1940s and 1950s. Swift begins the interview by describing her upbringing in the Basic townsite and Boulder City, Nevada, attending Basic High School, and life in Southern Nevada during World War II. She then discusses working in the Clark County Recorder's office, explaining her job duties and what function the office served for the county. Swift continues, talking about recreation activities at the time, including visiting the casinos on the Las Vegas Strip and the Helldorado Parades. Swift discusses nuclear weapons testing at the Nevada Test Site and her career as the Clark County recorder. Lastly, she describes her thoughts on the future of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Archival Collection

Marie Jordan oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00976

Abstract

Oral history interview with Marie Jordan conducted by Danny Budak on March 20, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Jordan discusses her personal perspective of life in Nevada, being a local resident for twenty years, family life, and changes that she has witnessed in the Las Vegas, Nevada Valley.

Archival Collection

Transcript of interview with Buddy Frank by David G. Schwartz, January 3, 2017

Date

2017-01-03

Description

Buddy Frank grew up in Reno, Nevada and graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno. Frank worked in television news before getting into the gaming industry as a public relations manager at Fitzgeralds Reno in 1986 where he would also later become director of marketing and director of slot operations. Frank then moved to the Eldorado Hotel & Casino in 1995 where he became the director of slot operations as well; he would later join the Atlantis Casino Resort in 1998 to become executive director of slot operations. He joined Stateline & Silver Smith Casino Resort in 2000 as executive director of gaming development and eventually went to Viejas Casino in 2002 as vice president of slot operations. Frank joined Pechanga Resort & Casino in 2007 as vice president of slot operations and retired from that position in late 2015. Frank currently serves as a consultant on slot operations. The interview with Buddy Frank begins with a discussion on the progression of his career in slot operations, including the positions he held in both Nevada and California casino properties. Frank discusses topics regarding the utilization of free play as a marketing strategy and the use of Ethernet technology in slot machines. He then describes his philosophy on how to lay out a slot floor with an emphasis on local players before providing an anecdote related to the importance of infrastructure in casinos. Frank then gives his perspective on what makes both a good and bad slot manager, and he later provides input on what customers are looking for in slot play. The interview then moves into how much slots have changed since his start in the business and later transitions into a discussion on millennials, skill-based gaming, and the future of slot machines. The interview concludes with Frank’s advice to young people who want to go into the slot industry.

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Mary Wesley oral history interview

Identifier

OH-01950

Abstract

Oral history interview with Mary Wesley conducted by Claytee D. White on October 22, 2007 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Wesley discusses her early life in Quitman, Mississippi. She recalls the racism she experienced during her youth, the church community in Quitman, and traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada by train. She talks about the welfare rights movement in Las Vegas, Operation Life, and businesses on Jackson Street. Lastly, Wesley describes the entertainment on the Westside, and integration on the Las Vegas Strip.

Archival Collection