Oral history interview with Ronald (Ron) Tomlin conducted by Claytee D. White on December 20, 2022 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Tomlin recalls growing up as child with his mother, Dorothy Dalton Tomlin, who started the Dotty Dee Dancers in 1952. Ron recalls spending much of his childhood with his grandmother while his mother toured the country with the Dotty Dee Dancers. In 1955, his father, Donald Sherwood Tomlin, opened a clothing store, Scottie's Clothing Store, in the Moulin Rouge shopping strip on the Westside of Las Vegas, where he sold the latest fashion trends to Black men. Ron traveled across country with his parents after high school, helped them run a small resort on the Russian River called the Bohemian Grove, and then began his photography career. Throughout his career as a photographer, he has photographed Mike Tyson, Naomi Campbell, and Elvis. Tomlin also talks about having a passion for dancing, like his mother.
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Oral history interview with Paul Sarno conducted by David G. Schwartz on July 13, 2007 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. Sarno begins by discussing the Sarno family, his grandparents, their Jewish heritage, and the early life of his uncle, Jay Sarno, and his father. Sarno then describes how his uncle married a lot later than his older siblings and he was the only one who had personal hobbies such as golf. Sarno then chronicles his uncle’s role as a businessman in Las Vegas, Nevada and how he only visited Las Vegas once because his father was a gambling addict. Lastly, Sarno discusses everything he knew about his uncle’s relationship with Allen Dorfman, the Teamster’s Union, and his legal troubles with the Internal Revenue Service.
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Oral history interview with Catherine Scherwenka conducted by Claytee D. White on February 28, 2020 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Scherwenka recalls growing up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and later living in New York City. Scherwenka discusses travelling to India, and how her life changed after that trip. She talks about becoming a oneness meditator, her business, "Interviews Initiative", and coming to Las Vegas in the aftermath of 1 October to perform trauma meditation for first responders.
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Oral history interview with Gary Sanoff conducted by David Schwartz on June 29, 2015 for the Table Games Management Oral History Project. In this interview, Sanoff recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1979 and going to dealer school to become a craps dealer. He discusses his work in casinos including the Nevada Hotel, the El Cortez, Union Plaza and the Desert Inn. Sanoff then describes his work at the Bellagio as pit manager, assistant shift manager, shift manager, Interim Vice President of Table Games, and director at the time of the interview.
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Oral history interview with Michael Mack conducted by Claytee D. White on May 21, 2009 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park Neighborhood Oral History Project. Mack discusses his childhood memories living in and near the John S. Park Neighborhood, including his father opening a shoe store in Boulder City, Nevada and later expanding into the salvage business. Mack later discusses his parents moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, opening his clothing store, and setting up the first bail bondsman office in the city.
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Oral history interview with Kathleen Bryan Gaston conducted by Niki Rodriguez on March 17, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Kathleen Gaston talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, how Las Vegas looked when she was growing up, the growth of Las Vegas, the schools she attended, and the growth of the Las Vegas Strip.
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Oral history interview with Joan Clow conducted by Joyce Moore on October 23, 2003 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Clow opens her interview describing her family and upbringing in Nebraska. she then explains how her and her husband's jobs with the Buraeu of Reclamation lead to their move to Boulder City, Nevada in 1977. Clow then explains her husband's job, Head of the materials lab, and her own job, as an assistant to various directors. She recalls revising drafts for environmental impact statements and how the improvements were meant to protect various wildlife. She also discuses travel related to her work and her membership on the Boulder City Hospital Board after her retirement. Clow goes on to talk about her other charity work with organizations including the Philosophical, Educational Organization. Lastly, Clow comments on the changes she has seen in Boulder City over her 26 year residency, she also explains some of the housing construction ordinances of the city.
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Oral history interview with Alex Kang conducted by Cecilia Winchell and Stefani Evans on October 4, 2022 for the Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Kang discusses his childhood moving back and forth between Pusan, South Korea and America as his parents sought the best place to raise their children. Kang recalls the multitude of endeavors he has heavily invested in since he was young, from moving to Brazil to pursue his interests in soccer to practicing golf every single day in his youth. Kang attended San Diego State University on a scholarship to play golf and majored in math. He got involved in a party bus business, honed his golf skills, and decided to learn how to count cards at the casino. Kang moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2013. Throughout the rest of the interview, Kang discusses how he organizes extravagant events, including an event hosting the popular K-Pop group BTS in Las Vegas, his golfing career, and enjoying his life surrounded by his family.
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Oral history interview with Benny Binion conducted by William Hernstadt on February 8, 1976 for the Las Vegas, Nevada KVVU Channel Five television program "Spotlight." Binion talks briefly about the Horseshoe Hotel and Casino, the process of running a successful casino, publicity, and potential city improvements that could help business. He likes the idea of more hotel rooms, a convention center, a weekend train to and from Los Angeles, California, and dislikes the idea of a pedestrian mall in the downtown area.
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Oral history interview with George Lee conducted by Stefani Evans and Su Kim Chung on February 29, 2024 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Lee describes his four decades of experience as a Las Vegas blackjack dealer (36 at the Four Queens Casino), after leaving behind a career in dance. Lee was selected to originate the role of "Tea" in a 1954 New York City Ballet stage production of The Nutcracker. He also danced in South Pacific at the Thunderbird, and with Carol Channing's revue at The Riviera, and a traveling production of Disney on Parade. After dancing in Alcazar de Paris at the Desert Inn Hotel in 1980, he quit dancing and went to dealer school. He worked swing shift at the Four Queens Hotel, and attended ballet classes at UNLV during the day. Lee, now 89, still works five days a week at the Four Queens. In this interview, Lee talks about ballet, typecasting, discipline, and being "ten times better." He discusses becoming a U.S. citizen in 1959 and changing his surname from Li to Lee.
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