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Displaying results 1981 - 1990 of 2017

Transcript from interview with Mike Unger by Barbara Tabach, January 21, 2016

Date

2016-01-21

Archival Collection

Description

In this interview, Unger reflects upon his long and successful career in hotel management in Las Vegas and also in Arizona and Pennsylvania. He shares stories as a local celebrity, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s when he worked at Caesars Palace, as well as the big projects he oversaw, including organizing the first big fight nights, World Series of Tavern Poker and Grand Prix race. He talks about working with Morris Shenker, Moe Dalitz, Cliff Perlman and Billy Weinberger, and the role of the Jewish community in the city, and specifically in the gaming industry. Unger also discusses his non-gaming industry ventures which have included a satellite communications business and a bagel business.

Mike Unger was born in Queens, New York in 1947, and spent most of his childhood in Long Island, growing up in a predominantly Jewish and Italian community. As a young adult, Unger was already working hard, running one of his family?s restaurant after school. When he was in high school, his family moved to Los Angeles to accommodate his father?s health needs, and eventually end up in Las Vegas by 1967. Over the next two decades, Unger would work at nine properties in the city. Unger is one of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas? first hotel management graduates, and started his career with Summa Corporation in its management training program at the Frontier Hotel and Casino. After a brief stint at the Airport Marina Hotel in Los Angeles in 1972, Unger returned to Las Vegas, serving in management capacities at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino, Summa Corporation headquarters and Landmark Hotel and Casino. In 1978, he joined Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino management team, and was integral in creating the city?s first large boxing events, the World Series of Tavern Pool, and the Grand Prix race. Unger also ran properties for the White Mountain Apache and Colorado River Indian Tribes in Arizona, as well as the Showboat Hotel and Casino. In this interview, Unger reflects upon his long and successful career in hotel management in Las Vegas and also in Arizona and Pennsylvania. He shares stories as a local celebrity, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s when he worked at Caesars Palace, as well as the big projects he oversaw, including organizing the first big fight nights, World Series of Tavern Poker and Grand Prix race. He talks about working with Morris Shenker, Moe Dalitz, Cliff Perlman and Billy Weinberger, and the role of the Jewish community in the city, and specifically in the gaming industry. Unger also discusses his non-gaming industry ventures which have included a satellite communications business and a bagel business.

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Transcript of interview with Maurice "Maury" Halfon Behar by Barbara Tabach, March 14, 2016

Date

2016-03-14

Description

In this interview, Behar reflects upon his childhood in France, and later adjusting to life in New York. He talks of his admiration for those that have cared for him in his youth, including Marie Cazous and his parents, Marco and Flora Behar. He details his career path, and how he ended up in Las Vegas. In addition, Behar describes a recent family trip to France, visiting his place of birth for the first time since leaving as a child.

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Transcript of interview with Thomas Barbarite by Dennis Chamberland, March 3, 1981

Date

1981-03-03

Description

Dennis Chamberland interviews Thomas Barbarite (b. 1932) in his home about his time in Las Vegas and his experiences in the casino industry. Barbarite discusses his time at the Four Queens and the Dunes as a dealer as well as his work as a pit boss at the Flamingo, the Aladdin, and Caesars Palace. Chamberland also asks Barbarite about the changes over time on the Strip, including the disappearance of lounge shows and expansion of larger shows on the Strip. Barbarite also discusses the involvement of the mob in Las Vegas, particularly the influence of Bugsy Siegel in the operation of various properties.

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Transcript of interview with William Boyd by Theresa Bradley, February 26, 1981

Date

1981-02-26

Description

Theresa Bradley interviews William W. Boyd, born in McNeil, Arkansas on January 27th, 1906, about his involvement in the gaming industry of Las Vegas. Boyd talks specifically about his experiences with five-card stud poker and his introduction of poker games without dealers to the poker room. Boyd also talks about his role as poker room manager at the Golden Nugget and how he was present to open the room when the casino first opened.

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Transcript of interview with Chris Bianchi by David G. Schwartz, April 14, 2015

Date

2015-04-14

Description

Chris Bianchi comes from Peru, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in hotel administration with a concentration in casino management and received his master's in hospitality administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2015. Chris did an internship at the Barbary Coast Hotel & Casino in 2002 as a dealer and was transferred to the South Point Casino and Spa as a pit manager in 2005.

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Transcript of interview with Ed Walters by David G. Schwartz, April 20, 2015

Date

2015-04-20

Archival Collection

Description

Ed Walters was a pool and card hustler in New York City when he was in his 20s. He was asked by a major crime boss in 1959 to go to Las Vegas to find out if a card dealer was cheating. Ed did figure out he was cheating, so the crime boss got him a job learning the Western card games at the Fremont during the day and being a pit boss at the Sands at night. He worked at the Sands until 1967 and then at various other casinos until approximately 1981.

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Transcript of interview with Dave Torres by David Schwartz, May 22, 2015

Date

2015-05-22

Description

Interviewed by David Schwartz. Dave Torres was born in San Pedro, California, in 1966. He moved to Las Vegas with his family when he was 14 or 15. Dave started his career in gaming as a dealer at the El Cortez. He moved to the Barbary Coast, then he moved to the Stardust where he became a manager. Dave had just become a pit boss when he moved to the Rio. Subjects: El Cortez; Barbary Coast; Stardust; Rio; Palms; M; Cosmopolitan

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Transcript of interview with Hannah Brown by Claytee D. White, September 27, 2012

Date

2012-09-27

Description

Growing up in the Westside community, worked in the Sight N Sound Record Store. Brown spoke of entertainers in the neighborhood and their influence on community children. Second portion of interview filmed at PBS.

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Transcript of an Interview with Sonny Thomas by Barbara Tabach on February 28, 2013

Date

2013-02-28

Description

Sonny (Sandy C.) Thomas is from Fordyce AR. He worked in hotels for over 30 years before securing job as funeral director for which he was trained.

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Transcript of an Interview with Marcia Washington by Claytee D. White, February 14 and March 14, 2013

Date

2013-02-14

Description

Marcia moved to Las vegas in 1966 as a young teen; became first African American on the State Board of Education (2000-2008)

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