Jacque Dvorak was born in London, England, in 1944. Two years later, her family immigrated to Canada and then in 1953 they fulfilled their dreams to reside in the United States. The Dvorak family settled in Long Beach, California where Jacque?s brother was born. In 1957, the Dvorak family relocated to Las Vegas when Jacque?s father, Sam, opened a 24-hour barbeque restaurant in Market Town with his brother Harry. While growing up in California, Jacque enjoyed dancing and being on stage. She found herself drawn to performance much like her mother, Irene, who was an entertainer in Great Britain. This enthusiasm served her well in her future retail career which included the opening of the MGM. Jacque attended Las Vegas High School and graduated in 1962. Taking full advantage of being a teenager in Las Vegas, Jacque remembers the days when the need to lock your doors didn't? exist. Though, Jacque describes being keenly aware of being Jewish and forming strong bonds within the Jewish community through BBYO and other Jewish organizations. She also recalls protesting during school prayer recitations in the 1960s. In this interview Jacque gives an insider?s perspective of growing up in Las Vegas and Jewish life in the city. Her stories range from tales of teenage fun to dealing with modern anti-Semitism in Las Vegas to the joy she has found in friendships in the community. Jacque has two children, Harry Fagel and Lisa Sokoloski.

Interview transcript with Daryl Alterwitz by Barbara Tabach on November 8, 2014. In this interview Daryl Alterwitz, son of Deanne and Oscar Alterwitz, recalls moving to Las Vegas from Gary, Indiana, for his parents' pursuits in the furniture business. He speaks about his schooling at Valley High School, his friendship with Robert Engel, and attending University of California Santa Cruz, and taking a leave of absence to travel through Asia. Alterwitz became more involved in Judaism after his bar mitzvah, and has continued his religious affiliation throughout his adult life, and has traveled to Israel twice. He talks about meeting his former wife, his travels through Europe, and coming back to Las Vegas after some time in Reno.

In 1959, Daryl Alterwitz was born in Gary, Indiana, son of Oscar and Deanne Alterwitz. When he was thirteen years old, his family moved to Las Vegas to capitalize on new opportunities in the growing city, and his parents purchased Walker Furniture soon after their arrival. As a high school student, Daryl experienced a powerful trip to Israel, which strengthened his connection to Judaism. After graduation from Valley High School, Daryl attended the University of California - Santa Cruz, and after two years of study, Daryl took time off to travel throughout South Asia, accompanied by close childhood friend Robert Engel. He returned after a year and graduated with an independent major in classical studies. From there, Daryl spent more time in Israel living on a kibbutz. Daryl next went to law school at Santa Clara University, and then supplemented his education with a degree in taxation from New York University School of Law. Between law school and New York, he met his wife, Teri Shoofey; they two had two children, though are now divorced. After New York, he returned to Nevada, first living in Reno. After his father passed away, Daryl moved back to Las Vegas, and took on more responsibility with the family business as well as practicing law. Daryl?s commitment to community service is enduring and visible. He has donated his time and resources to both Jewish organizations, like Jewish Family Services, and non-Jewish groups, like Las Vegas Rescue Mission. He has also served on the boards of the Jewish Federation, Congregation Ner Tamid, and the Anti-Defamation League. Daryl also continues to indulge his passion for international travel, having visited Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Cambodia, and has even biked from Hungary to Poland.

Robert “Bob” Agonia (1938- ) was born in Garden Grove, California on a migrant camp made up of Filipino and Mexican-American workers. Agonia’s father was a farmer on a 70 acre farm owned by the Beggs family. Agonia did not spend much time living on the migrant camp, as his father moved the family to a private residence when Agonia was four. Agonia attended school, during an era of school desegregation in Garden Grove. He recalls that his mother dealt with segregation during her schooling, being forced to attend a school miles down the road from her home despite living across the street from another school. Agonia recalls his community being very diverse with families sharing Filipino and Mexican-American heritage and his neighbors being Japanese Americans. Agonia participated in a multicultural Boy Scout troop. After high school, Agonia joined the Peace Corps and served in El Salvador. While there, Agonia worked in an agricultural research center in Santa Tecla where he helped local farmers select the proper insecticide for their crops. After the Peace Corps, Agonia had his choice of government jobs, ultimately selecting to work for the Internal Revenue Service. Agonia’s work with the IRS is what eventually brought him from California to Las Vegas. He quickly realized that the type of IRS cases he would be handling in Las Vegas were completely different from the work he was accustomed to in California. One of those unique cases required him to close the doors of a downtown casino. Since moving to Las Vegas, Agonia was critical in establishing a Las Vegas LULAC chapter, an American GI Forum, an EEO council, and the UNLV Engineering school.

Interviewed by Catherine Bellver. Velma Haselton was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1914. She worked as an assistant bookkeeper for Hart, Schaffner and Marx and rose to Assistant Credit Manager. Velma worked at various jobs after she married for the second time and her son was born. She also represented the San Francisco CPA firm Lybrand, Ross Brothers and Montgomery (now Coopers Lybrand) in various capacities, both in California and St. Louis, eventually attaining the position of controller. Velma moved to Las Vegas for the first time in the 1950s, where she and her husband Don ran a coffee shop at the Park Lane Motel on South Fifth Street. Family requirements necessitated a move back to California. In 1971, Velma and her third husband, Charles Haselton, "retired" to Las Vegas. Velma immediately went to work as a cost accountant for United Pipeline, and later as an accountant for Kafoury Armstrong, a CPA firm. She eventually ran her own accounting business. Velma also held memberships and offices in various women's service groups.

Dennis Wilson an experienced musician was born in Arabi, Louisiana in 1951. His parents both served in the Marine Corps. Dennis started playing the clarinet in the 4th grade but he did not stop there by the time he was in college he could play the alto saxophone, flute, and clarinet. He received a scholarship to Loyola University in New Orleans. The first introduction to Las Vegas was in 1971. At this time Dennis played for Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders traveling all around the United States with the band. In 1979 Dennis moved back to Las Vegas after a short stay in New Orleans. On his return to Las Vegas Dennis recalls his experiences playing with relief bands and performing weekly at Stardust, Dunes, Flamingo, Tropicana, Sands and Caesars. Dennis recalls what it was like working in Las Vegas and the rigorous schedule of a musician. Dennis has had a successful carrier as a musician he went on to play for Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick traveling the world. He then settled back in Vegas working on prominent shows such as Avenue Q, Spamalot, and Phantom of the Opera. Dennis still resides in Las Vegas and is now a paraprofessional at Johnson Junior High.

Interviewed by Barbara Tabach. Mara Braun, a native of Puerto Rico, has lived in Las Vegas since 1975. She is the owner/operator of a successful event and catering business. Mara married Abe Braun and raised their children in both Latinx and Jewish traditions.