Oral history interview with Doris, Jerry, and Marcy Welt conducted by Barbara Tabach on November 30, 2014 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, the Welts discuss how they came to Las Vegas, Nevada in the early 1970s from California. They also discuss Eli Welt's pawnshop, Stoney's, which he acquired from Doris Welt's father, Jerry Fox. Jerry and Marcy Welt talk about how they met and came to Las Vegas. They also talk about the community that existed in Las Vegas at the time, and their involvement with B'nai B'rith.
In 1939, Wilma (Frank) Bass was born in New York City, where she began her involvement in theater at the age of ten. Almost twenty years later, she met Burt Bass (1932- ) when both worked for a photography studio, one of Burt first post-high school jobs. Burt opened his first professional photography studio in 1962, shortly after he married Wilma in 1960. The couple soon had two daughters – Jill and Wendy – and moved to Las Vegas in 1974. Burt initially worked for his brother-in-law Ed Frank's check cashing businesses and later opened his own photography business, Burton Studio. He later added services such as fingerprinting, background checks, and photographs for identification cards. Wilma worked as a jewelry salesperson, first at the Gold Factory then at Nieman Marcus. Socially, she was very involved with Temple Beth Sholom’s Sisterhood, using her theater talents to write, direct and produce various shows for the Sisterhood, ORT as well as B’nai B’rith Youth Organization. In this interview, Burt discusses his photography business, the migration of its storefront around town, and his colorful landlords, including individuals like Moe Dalitz and Art Marshall. Wilma talks about her sales career in the local jewelry industry, and more extensively, she shares memories of her involvement in the Jewish community with theater productions. Much of the discussion revolved around related news articles and personal photos from their relationships and activities within the Jewish community. The couple also shares stories of friendships with local entertainers, including Jerry Lewis and Neil Sedaka.
Dr. Leon Steinberg is the founder of Steinberg Diagnostic Centers in Las Vegas, Nevada. He moved to Las Vegas in 1958 to help build the first radiology center in Southern Nevada at Sunrise Hospital. In 1988 he founded Steinberg Diagnostic Medical Imaging (SDMI) with his son Dr. David Steinberg.
Oral history interview with Gene Greenberg conducted by Barbara Tabach on February 12, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Gene Greenberg discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, working in television ad sales, and becoming executive vice president and general manager of KVBC-TV. He also talks about his ties to the Jewish community, his parents being holocaust survivors, and about his family life.
Bernice Eisenberg has been a Las Vegas resident since 1955 and was a part of the formation of Midbar Kodesh Temple. Eisenberg was a teacher and has taught at many Las Vegas schools. She met her husband, Ivan, at the Jewish Community Centers’ social club for young adults and married him in 1956. During the mid 1990s Las Vegas was a growing and Temple Beth Sholom was the only synagogue and Eisenberg worked to help form Midbar Kodesh Temple to serve the growing Henderson community. Bernice has two children.
Lovee Arum is the Chief Financial Officer of the Morris A. Hazan Family Foundation and Director of Hospitality for her husband Bob Arum’s boxing promotion company Top Rank. She holds a Nevada Real Estate Broker Sales License and was a partner in Western Linen (a Las Vegas linen rental and laundry company) for many years. Arum is a volunteer and philanthropist in the Las Vegas, Nevada community and works with organizations such as Temple Beth Sholom and the Nathan Adelson Hospice.
Jacob "Jake" Kozloff was a casino investor and manager in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1940s and 1950s. Born in Russia, he moved to Redding, Pennsylvania in 1905. Beginning in 1933, Kozloff was president and treasurer of Lebanon Valley Brewing Company in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. In the 1940s he moved to Las Vegas where he invested in and oversaw operations at the Thunderbird, the Frontier (1951-1955), and the Golden Nugget.
Albert "Al" Goot was president of Temple Beth Sholom in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1955 to 1956. He helped build the first synagogue in Las Vegas in 1946: the Jewish Community Center at 13th Street and Carson Avenue. Goot owned several local businesses including Hollywood Furniture on South Main Street (during the 1960s) and two markets in downtown Las Vegas. His brother was Max Goot, another Las Vegas business owner.
Mike Gordon (1903 - 1992) was born Meyer Harold Gordon. He is one of the founders of Temple Beth Sholom in Las Vegas and served as Temple president from 1949 to 1951.
In 1932, Mike moved to Las Vegas with his wife, Sallie Gordon. They owned and operated liquor and grocery stores. Mike also worked as a postman and later became Clark County Secretary of the Democratic Central Committee and a member of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce board of directors.