In this interview, George reflects upon his life in Las Vegas, particularly the period as ma?tre d? of the Sand?s Copa Room. Joined by his daughter - and former United States Democratic Congresswomen-Shelley Berkley, George shares stories of working in the gaming industry during this unique era, including those of Frank Sinatra and Wayne Newton. He also talks about his life as a professional gambler.
Born on February 28, 1925 in Sommerville, New Jersey, George Levine?s family moved to his childhood home, Manhattan?s Lower East Side, when he was six months old. George served on a United States Navy aircraft carrier for thirty months during World War II. After returning home, he met his first wife Estelle, with whom he had two daughters, and soon moved to Kiamesha Lake, New York to work at the Concord Resort Hotel. In 1963, George and his family moved to Las Vegas and took his first job at Mr. Sy?s Casino. Six months later he began waiting tables at the Sands Hotel and Casino. He worked his way up the ranks and was ma?tre d' from 1979 until the hotel closed in 1996.
Bob Unger is a businessman and real estate developer in Henderson, Nevada. A long-time resident of the Las Vegas Valley, Unger attended Valley High School and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. After attending Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, California, Unger practiced law in Las Vegas from 1977 to 1989. He represented business on the Strip and in real estate before undertaking his own development projects. He is president of Unger Development and is responsible for the Showcase Mall on the Las Vegas Strip and the Tuscany neighborhood in Henderson.