The YESCO visual materials series (1914-1988) document a visual history of YESCO from its early beginnings, through its expansions, to its work in the 1980s. They include visuals of various YESCO plants, shops, buildings, equipment and personnel, as well as various signs created and installed by YESCO in multiple states. The series includes black-and-white and color photographs as well as Polaroids. It contains photographs, slides, negatives, and digital files of a variety of Las Vegas landmarks and hotels and casinos, including The Mint, Flamingo, Sahara, Caesar’s Palace, Fremont Street,
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Coming from humble beginnings, Elaina Blake grew up in Port Orchard, Washington, where her father was in the logging industry and she involved herself in the love of horseback riding. After becoming engaged at age 16, she married the following year at 17 and moved to Las Vegas where she started as a statistical typist at the Sahara Hotel and Casino. This led to a position her to become an executive secretary at the Thunderbird where she dealt with the rampant sexual harassment that was typical of the executive office environment in the industry at the time. The rejection of those advances led her to start her career in real estate with Roberts Realty where she sold her first group of homes off of Nellis Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue. In 1976, she made the entrepreneurial move by buying into Roberts Realty, becoming an owner, and eventually buying out Young American Homes. She started giving back to the community through her service as being the first woman elected to president elect for the Chamber of Commerce in 1984 and also served on the Clark County Planning Commission for four years serving as vice chairman and chairman. She did such a wonderful job running the chamber, she was approached to run for Lieutenant Governor. Her involvement with the community increased during this time as she got involved with the United Way, saved the YMCA from closure and started the Focus School Project in 1989 with former superintendent Brian Cram where businesses adopt schools and provide money and volunteer. This project is still in operation today and has given back $8 million dollars to CCSD in volunteerism. During her time with the Chamber, she continued to work with major local builders such as Pageantry Homes, Heers Brothers, and Christopher Homes, which led to her taking another entrepreneurial milestone by taking a small team to create Blake and Associates. In 1996, Blake leveled up to become a developer starting with office buildings. As a champion for the inclusion of women, she never felt held back because of her gender and she always encouraged women in the Chamber to give more of themselves, even if it was for ten minutes because the men did so. In a male-dominated industry, Elaina Blake has been a trailblazer for women in business and the housing industry in the valley.
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Part of an interview with Arne Rosencrantz on February 18, 2015. In this clip, Rosencrantz discusses his family heritage, childhood, and living in Las Vegas.
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Series III. Professional work in the United States: show production materials -- Las Vegas shows: production materials -- Pin-Ups, Sahara Hotel
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