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Photograph of Temple Beth Sholom's sanctuary, Las Vegas (Nev.), August 24, 1971
Date
Archival Collection
Description
An interior photograph of the temple sanctuary within Temple Beth Sholom in Las Vegas, Nevada. 120mm negative.
Image
Audio clip from interview with Myra Berkovits, August 21, 2014
Date
Archival Collection
Description
Part of an interview with Myra Berkovits on August 21, 2014. In this clip, Berkovits talks about her first home in Las Vegas, and a very helpful neighbor who helped her find employment as a teacher.
Sound
Israeli American Council (Las Vegas, Nev.)
The mission of the Israeli American Council (IAC) of Las Vegas is to support the local Israeli-American community and "to strengthen the Jewish and Israeli identity of the next generation, engage in outreach to the Jewish-American community at large, and reinforce support for Israel." IAC has programs to teach children, college students, and adults about Israeli language and culture. IAC also provides volunteer opportunities and holds a festival and other events centered on Israeli culture and Jewish holidays.
Corporate Body
Transcript of interview with Irwin Molasky by David G. Schwartz, April 23, 2014
Date
Archival Collection
Description
Interview with Irwin Molasky by David G. Schwartz, April 23, 2014. In this interview, Irwin Molasky discusses arriving in Las Vegas in the 1950s, and building the Pyramids motel on the Strip. He talks about the entertainers in various hotels on the Strip, the concept of the "star policy," and bringing Parisian shows to Las Vegas. He goes on to discuss his real estate developments, including Paradise Palms, Boulevard Mall, and Sunrise Hospital, and donating the land for the development of UNLV.
Irwin Molasky came to Las Vegas in 1951, during a time when "everyone knew everyone else," and there was a small, but strong Jewish community. An Army veteran, Irwin and his wife moved to Las Vegas after living in California for a short time. Irwin soon built The Pyramids, a Strip motel next to the Flamingo Hotel and Casino. The Pyramids opened the same day as its northern next-door neighbor, The Sands Hotel and Casino, on December 15, 1952. Irwin used his newly acquired contractor's license to become on the city's most important real estate developers. Over the next 60 years, he built everything from residential housing, including Paradise Palms to commercial properties. Projects included Sunrise Hospital and the surrounding medical buildings; Sunrise City Shopping Center and other power centers; Bank of America Plaza and much other downtown development; and golf courses. When the recession hit, Irwin began bidding on government projects across the country, successfully shielding his business and employees from the economic downturn. Irwin's real estate ventures not only had a tremendous impact on Las Vegas' economic development, but a substantial effect in social programming. Irwin donated 40 acres of prime real estate to the University of Nevada - Las Vegas (UNLV) so that university could expand. Additionally, he was the Founding Chairman of the UNLV Foundation and received an honorary doctorate in humanities.
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