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.

Interview with Doris, Gerald "Jerry", and Marcy Welt by Barbara Tabach on November 30, 2014. In this interview, the Welts discuss how they came to Las Vegas in the early 1970s from California, and Eli Welt's pawnshop, Stoney's, which he acquired from Doris's father, Jerry Fox. Jerry and Marcy talk about how they met and came to Las Vegas, where Jerry worked for Harry Reid's law firm. They talk about the community that existed in Las Vegas at the time, and their involvement with B'nai B'rith.

Just before the start of the Great Depression, Doris Fox was born in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of fifteen, she met Eli Welt, and the two were married three years later in Alexandria, Louisiana, where Eli was stationed with the United States Army Air Corps. Eventually, Doris and Eli moved to southern California with their three children-Gerald (aka Jerry), Richard (aka Rick) and Susan (aka Sue). In 1971, after all their children were out of the house, Doris and Eli moved to Las Vegas. They followed Doris' father, Jerry "Stoney" Fox, who had moved to the city in the 1940s, and was one of the first entrants into the local pawnshop industry. Like many migrants to the city, Eli became active in the Jewish community, particularly with B'nai Brith and Jewish Family Service Agency. Doris and Eli's eldest son, Jerry, and wife, Marcy, moved to Las Vegas in 1972 with their two small children. Tiffany and Cory. Jerry and Marcy had met through a Jewish youth group as teenagers in Anaheim, California. Having just finished law school, Jerry found that legal career opportunities were plentiful in the growing city. His first job was as a law clerk with Harry Reid's law office, Beckley, DeLanoy, Jemison and Reid, later becoming an associate attorney. He assisted Reid as lieutenant governor and on his early political campaigns. Jerry left Beckley, DeLanoy, Jemison and Reid to work for Oscar Goodman's firm-Goodman, Snyder and Gang-focusing on civil litigation. In 1975, Jerry opened his own practice, continuing to specialize in civil ligation, and served as general counsel to Las Vegas Clark County Library District. Since their arrival, Marcy and Jerry have been dedicated to community service, particularly within the Jewish community. Both were active in youth programs at Temple Beth Sholom, Jerry even serving as youth commissioner and later, education director. Marcy worked with Edythe Katz at the Holocaust Resource Center and assisted with producing a film and training program for educators. Both are avid supporters of youth travel to Israel and work hard to ensure these opportunities continue to be available for those interested.

On March 4, 1975, collector Connie Degernes interviewed truck driver and rigger, Richard L. (Curley) Francis (born on July 27, 1907 in Compton, California) in his home in Boulder City, Nevada. The main focus of this interview is the construction of the Hoover Dam. Mr. Francis discusses the various occupations he has held since relocating to Nevada, including, Cat Skinner, truck driver, cableway operator, rigger foreman, and crane operator. He also talks about working for the government and the Six Company in Las Vegas.

On March 31, 1977, Patricia Holland interviewed Celia Rivero Grenfell (born 1926 in Las Vegas, Nevada) about her life in Southern Nevada. Grenfell first talks about her family background in Mexico and later describes her family’s restaurant business. She also describes her education, recreational activities, Downtown Las Vegas, and Helldorado. The two also discuss racial segregation and prejudice, the El Rancho Vegas, Lorenzi Park, early churches, environmental changes, early air conditioning, and Grenfell’s early work in a laundry business.

On February 28, 1979, Jane Finfrock interviewed Mary Habbart (born 1897 in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania) about her life in Southern Nevada. Habbart first talks about her move to Las Vegas in 1920 and her husband’s subsequent employment. She also talks about the first casinos, the development of the university campus, visits of U.S. presidents, and the Mormon Fort. She also discusses the Helldorado Parade, flash floods, snowing in Las Vegas, her role in developing Sunset Park, her family, and her education.

Janice and Robert Spurlock were married in 1990 and each has a lifetime of Las Vegas memories. They have made Sandy Valley home for nearly 32 years. Together the couple recalls the people and places of Las Vegas' past from their points of view during this oral history interview. For Janice the stories begin in the 1930s after her family moved to Las Vegas from California. She was a youngster of about five. Among the topics she talks about is walking to Fifth Street Grammar School, graduating from Vegas High School, and fun had during Helldorado Days. In 1953, Robert arrived. He was a young man headed from Arizona to Colorado seeking work as a welder. He stopped in Henderson, Nevada and never quite made it out of the area. For the next two decades he worked construction and helped build many local landmarks. He shares stories about the range wars and about being accidentally exposed to radiation from the Nevada Test site.

Lytle discusses his birth in Salt Lake City, Utah, his early life in Overton, Nevada, moving around the Southwest United States, and returning to Overton in the early 1930s to work with the Civilian Conservation Corps. Subjects Lytle also talks about in the interview include road and campsite construction at the Valley of Fire State Park, stories about associates and relatives, and being enlisted as a male nurse with the United States Army during World War II. Lastly, Lytle talks about the construction of an exhibit building at Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) originally used as a headquarters for soldiers during World War II to protect the dam.