Search Results
Transcript of interview with Lonnie G. Wright by Claytee D. White, October 23, 2009
Date
2009-10-23
Archival Collection
Description
Interview with Lonnie G. Wright conducted by Claytee D. White on October 23, 2009. Wright played basketball at UNLV and became a successful local educator and businessman. His grandmother worked as a maid for prominent Las Vegans.
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Photograph of Lonnie Wright with co-presenters (left to right: Chef Bow Hampton, Warden Hatcher, Board of Regents member Linda Howard, Lonnie, and Chef Jeff Henderson) outside High Desert Prison, circa 2001
Date
2001 (year approximate)
Archival Collection
Description
Color photograph of Lonnie Wright (second from right) with prison staff. Wright gave a presentation to young offenders in the prison system along with the others in this photograph.
Image
Photograph of Lonnie Wright (left) with William Shack and Rev. Jesse Jackson at Hurricane Katrina fundraiser, circa 2006
Date
2006 (year approximate)
Archival Collection
Description
Color photograph of Lonnie Wright (left), William Shack and Rev. Jesse Jackson during a fundraiser for Hurricane Katrina victims who relocated to Las Vegas, circa 2006.
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Newspaper clipping, "Basketball Artistry," with photograph of Lonnie Wright with UNLV Basketball Association presenting Reggie Theus with a painting, February 18, 1987
Date
1987
Archival Collection
Description
Lonnie Wright, along with the UNLV Basketball Association, presented a painting to former UNLV athlete Reggie Theus. Lonnie helped design the "Stop Drugs" shirts that the other members are wearing.
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Audio recording clip of interview with Lonnie G. Wright by Claytee D. White, October 23, 2009
Date
2009-10-23
Archival Collection
Description
Part of an interview with Lonnie G. Wright by Claytee D. White on October 23, 2009. Wright describes how he started the Basketball Alumni Association to help players complete their education.
Sound
Marquee of the Hotel Sahara's 6th Annual Invitational Golf Tournament: photographic film
Date
1960 (year approximate) to 1969 (year approximate)
Archival Collection
Description
Marquee of the Hotel Sahara's 6th Annual Invitational $77,777.77 Golf Tournament, October 15-20 at the Paradise Valley Country Club. A smaller arrow-shaped marquee says "Welcome British Ryder Team". A sign for the Holiday Hotel is visible in the background. The Sahara Invitational was a PGA Tour event that was played in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1958 to 1976. From 1958 to 1961 it was called the Sahara Pro-Am and was not an official PGA Tour event. It was played at the Paradise Valley Country Club from 1962-1968 and from 1970-1971; and at the Sahara Valley Country Club (also referenced as the Sahara Nevada Country Club) in 1969 and from 1973-1976. The Sahara Hotel sponsored the tournament. Two tournaments were won here on October 20th, with the first tournament being won on October 20, 1963 by Jack William "The Golden Bear" Nicklaus with a final score of 276 over second place finisher Arnold Palmer, who shot a total of 285. Juan Antonio "Chi-Chi" Rodriguez won the second tournament on October 20, 1968 with a final score of 274, besting Dale Dwight Douglass, who tied with him at 274, in a sudden death playoff to take the title. Once owned by Howard Hughes, the Golf Club was re-named the Wildhorse Golf Club in 1994. The golf club is located at 2100 W. Warm Springs Road, Henderson, Nevada.
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The Castaways Hotel and Casino: photographic film
Date
1960 (year approximate) to 1986 (year approximate)
Archival Collection
Description
An exterior view of the Castaways Hotel and Casino. A marquee advertises Open now all new rooms", "air conditioned", "pool". The Castaways was a hotel and casino in Paradise, Nevada that operated from 1963 to 1987 on the Las Vegas Strip. The property had originally been San Souci Auto Court, an early motel which opened in the 1930s, and developed into Sans Souci Hotel in the 1950s. In 1962, the resort became Castaways Hotel & Casino. The hotel had a 1,500-gallon aquarium in its bar. In 1967, the Castaways was sold to billionaire Howard Hughes for $3 million dollars. The resort operated until July 1987, when it closed and was demolished and the property was purchased by Steve Wynn. The resort became the Mirage, opening on November 22, 1989. The property is located at 3400 South Las Vegas Boulevard Las Vegas, NV 89109.
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An exterior view of Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn Hotel and marquee: photographic film
Date
1960 (year approximate) to 1986 (year approximate)
Archival Collection
Description
An exterior view of Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn Hotel and marquee. The marquee advertises "Now in the lounge Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians", "Kenny Gardner", "Bill Flanagan", "Lombardo Trio", and "Twin pianos", "Entertainment in the Lounge" "Ben Blue and his Rollicking Review", "Sky Room Murray Arnold & Sam Melchionne".
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The Dunes Hotel Driving Range: photographic film
Date
1960 (year approximate) to 1986 (year approximate)
Archival Collection
Description
A view of the Dunes Hotel Driving Range from the parking lot. A Union 76 gasoline station is visible in the background. The Dunes golf course opened in 1959. In 1993 the Dunes Golf and Country Club, since re-named The Mirage Golf Club, closes. It is now occupied by parts of Park MGM, New York-New York, CityCenter, and Cosmopolitan, and T-Mobile Arena.
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The Dunes Hotel tower under construction: photographic film
Date
1960 (year approximate) to 1986 (year approximate)
Archival Collection
Description
A view of the Dunes Hotel tower under construction. The famous sultan statue is visible in the foreground. The marquee is visible in the background advertising "Now in the Persian Room Vive Les Girls French Stage Spectacular 8:30 pm, 11:30 pm, 1:15 am" and "Persian Room All new direct from Paris Vive Les Girls! Produced by Danny Costello Star of the Ed Sullivan Show". The Dunes, which was themed after the Arabian Nights stories, opened on May 23, 1955 with 200 hotel rooms, located in several two-story buildings. From the time of its opening, the Dunes was known for the 35 foot tall fiberglass sultan statue that stood above its main entrance. In 1961, a 24-story, 250-room hotel tower, known as Diamond of the Dunes, was added to the northern part of the property, bringing the total number of rooms to 450. At the top of the tower was the Top O' the Strip restaurant and lounge. The tower was the tallest building in the state at the time. In 1979, the South Tower was added, expanding the hotel to 1300 rooms. A second casino in a separate, round building on the site opened in 1983 under the name Oasis Casino at The Dunes. In 1985, the sultan statue was moved to the golf course during renovations, and later caught fire, reportedly due to an electrical short. On November 17, 1992, the Dunes was sold to Wynn's company, Mirage Resorts, Inc., for $75 million. On January 26, 1993, the Dunes closed its doors for good. Steve Wynn bought the Dunes and started the redevelopment trend with the demolition of the 32-year-old North Tower. On October 27, 1993, the Dunes was demolished in a grand ceremony that involved major fireworks displays and the use of several "cannon blasts" from the English ship 'HMS Britannia' of Treasure Island Hotel and Casino. The 15-year-old South Tower was demolished 9 months later in July 1994, with no fanfare and minimal media attention. The Bellagio now stands in its place. The property is located at 3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89109.
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