The dormant Fontainebleau Las Vegas as seen from the Fremont Street Experience parking garage in Las Vegas. The Fontainebleau was announced as the Las Vegas version of a classic Miami Beach hotel. Construction started in 2007, and stopped in 2009. In November of that year, financier Carl Ichan purchased the unfinished Fontainebleau out of bankruptcy. The following year, he sold off the fittings and furnishings purchased for the hotel. In late 2015, the Fontainebleau was listed as being for sale.
The dormant Fontainebleau Las Vegas as seen from the Fremont Street Experience parking garage in Las Vegas. The Fontainebleau was announced as the Las Vegas version of a classic Miami Beach hotel. Construction started in 2007, and stopped in 2009. In November of that year, financier Carl Ichan purchased the unfinished Fontainebleau out of bankruptcy. The following year, he sold off the fittings and furnishings purchased for the hotel. In late 2015, the Fontainebleau was listed as being for sale.
Elder Native American woman in Pahrump, Nevada stands for a portrait. Inscription with photo reads: "100+ year old (Pahrump Indian) grandma. Grandma was close to 100 years old in the 1950's. I often visited them. She broke her hip, and while confined to her bed I found her cutting out paper "dolls" from the Sears catalog to pass the time away." Reverse of duplicate has inscription that reads "Libby Scott."
In 1939, Wilma (Frank) Bass was born in New York City, where she began her involvement in theater at the age of ten. Almost twenty years later, she met Burt Bass (1932- ) when both worked for a photography studio, one of Burt first post-high school jobs. Burt opened his first professional photography studio in 1962, shortly after he married Wilma in 1960. The couple soon had two daughters – Jill and Wendy – and moved to Las Vegas in 1974. Burt initially worked for his brother-in-law Ed Frank's check cashing businesses and later opened his own photography business, Burton Studio. He later added services such as fingerprinting, background checks, and photographs for identification cards. Wilma worked as a jewelry salesperson, first at the Gold Factory then at Nieman Marcus. Socially, she was very involved with Temple Beth Sholom’s Sisterhood, using her theater talents to write, direct and produce various shows for the Sisterhood, ORT as well as B’nai B’rith Youth Organization. In this interview, Burt discusses his photography business, the migration of its storefront around town, and his colorful landlords, including individuals like Moe Dalitz and Art Marshall. Wilma talks about her sales career in the local jewelry industry, and more extensively, she shares memories of her involvement in the Jewish community with theater productions. Much of the discussion revolved around related news articles and personal photos from their relationships and activities within the Jewish community. The couple also shares stories of friendships with local entertainers, including Jerry Lewis and Neil Sedaka.