Mark Fine was born February 10, 1946 in Cleveland, Ohio, and was raised with a strong Jewish identity. When Fine was in fourth grade, his parents moved the family to Shaker Heights, and again moved to Arizona during his senior of high school. Upon graduation, Fine enrolled at the University of Arizona and became a member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. He graduated in 1964 with a degree in business administration with an emphasis in real estate.
Judy Jetter, a devout jazz music enthusiast, was born in a Chicago suburb in 1939. At the age of three, Judy began taking acting as well as tap and ballet classes. While raised by her mother until age 15 Judy was forced to study opera even though jazz music was her passion. Her first introduction to jazz came while listening to, legendary jazz great, Woody Herman on the radio. Judy developed an instant appreciation and love for jazz music. While working as a commercial actress during her childhood - Super Circus and Peter Pan peanut butter - Judy experienced live performances by the Stan Kenton Orchestra and was completely amazed. After graduation Judy was married and gave birth to her son. She worked for a movie studio in Chicago doing various jobs such as cleaning the stage, typing scripts, model work, and even playing the role of housewife. Later Judy went to college and earned a degree in psychology, which led to a job as a therapist. However, after remarrying to Bill Jetter, Judy switched careers and soon became an exercise instructor at the YMCA. There she cultivated her passion for working with people who suffered from disabilities. In particular, Judy developed a water regiment specifically designed for people with disabilities. Judy would go on to share her experiences in this field in two subsequent book publications. Unfortunately Judy's husband passed away with cancer. However, Judy found refuge and support from a group of jazz enthusiasts. Alongside her cadre, Judy began really studying how to listen to music. She moved to Las Vegas in 1992 and can often be found at different jazz venues throughout the city. She enjoys the local jazz scene in Las Vegas and making her weekly rounds to take-in Big Band and jazz singers such as Jobell and Terri James, as well as going to see Bruce Harper playing at Bugsy's, and the talented Gus Mancuso performing at the Bootlegger. Judy believes that music, like everything else, has evolved and will continue to mature; however, jazz musicians such as Louis Armstrong still remain as the foremost contributors in the long history of jazz music. Her hope is that music and the arts will continue to be offered through education to allow the next generation another "dimension to not only their education but their soul."
Interviewed by Nathalie Martinez. Jocelyn Cortez is a Salvadoran-American immigration lawyer. She grew up on the Eastside of Las Vegas and grew up going to school in the Clark County School District and at UNLV before going to Law School at the University of Arizona. She is an engaged community member as an immigration lawyer working alongside the Culinary Union and the Latino Bar Association.
On November 6, 1974, collector Jay Brewer interviewed Madeline Taylor Knighten (born July 7th, 1907 in Chanute, Kansas) at her home in Boulder City, Nevada. In the interview, Madeline Taylor Knighten discusses her life in the early days of Boulder City, Nevada. She also speaks about her husband’s work in the Green Hut Café, as well as in diamond drilling.
On February 26 and 29 of 1980, Leanne Terry interviewed Edwina E. Danzinger (born 1925 in Houston, Texas) about her life in Southern Nevada. Danzinger first talks about her family, specifically her siblings, children, and grandchildren. She also talks about church membership, early housing in Nevada, her husband’s work on the Nevada Test Site, and her family’s hunting practices. Danzinger then describes her involvement in Boy Scouts and hiking, her various positions of employment at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, how the college campus has changed over time, and how the college students have changed over the years. The two also talk about the changes in the crime rate, the atomic testing, air pollution, and the changes made to the university by the Buckley Amendment.
On March 2, 1977, collector Connie Boich interviewed Betty (born March 31, 1919 in Bisbee, Arizona) and Gus Ciliax (born May 13, 1909 in Michigan) in the Ciliax home in Las Vegas, Nevada. This interview covers Southern Nevada and early development of the area. During the interview, they also discussed local recreation, prostitution, Block 16, and various social activities, in addition to local businesses, such as Six Companies, the economy, Boulder Dam, and education in Nevada.
On March 3, 1979, William Hawley interviewed Oliver Crickman (born 1933 in Apex, North Carolina) about his experiences from living in Nevada and working in restaurants. Crickman first describes his background and his first occupations prior to starting as a cook in Las Vegas restaurants. He then explains how he gradually moved from the position of cook’s helper to sous chef and his then-current position of executive chef at the Royal Inn. Crickman goes into detail about the operation of those restaurants and other Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Las Vegas properties, and he describes the demographics of cooks as well as how the hospitality industry has changed over time. The latter part of the interview involves a discussion of Crickman’s various residences in Las Vegas over time, the extent of crime, the first places to shop, and a brief discussion on mobile homes.
Pat Marchese grew up in Johnston, Pennsylvania, and Lamar was reared in Tampa, Florida. Pat was raised on a farm surrounded by relatives. Lamar takes pride in his mother heritage, which can be traced to Tampa Bay, Florida, in the early 1840's. Pat and Lamar graduated from the University of South Florida and relocated to Las Vegas in 1972. Pat's remarkable 30-plus year passion includes working for the city of Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada. She created numerous art and cultural programs which consist of the Civic Symphony, Charleston Heights Arts Center, Rainbow Company Theatre, along with consulting work for the Allied Arts Council. In addition, to her creating art and cultural agendas, she became a budget analyst and chief lobbyists for the county, testifying before the Senate Taxation Committee. She implemented through the public arts program, a Mural Arts Series, the Parks and Recreation Cultural Division, and culture on the Strip. Pat executed the grant that ensured the necessary funding for the expansion for public broadcasting radio stations throughout California, Utah, Arizona and Nevada. She's certainly worthy of her title "Queen of Las Vegas Culture". Lamar's amazing 30-plus year's calling comprises putting into action an abundant number of libraries programs for the State of Nevada along with establishing the first public broadcast radio station in Nevada. His library accomplishments include merging the City's libraries branches, library programs, shows, concerts, unification of academic libraries and public libraries and the first reciprocal borrowing agreement for the State of Nevada with the Nevada library card. He consolidated Las Vegas Libraries and the Las Vegas Clark County Library District. He also sold bonds for the development of future libraries. Lamar's broadcasting achievements consist of incorporating the Nevada Public Radio Corporation with State of Nevada, serving as Chairman of the board for NPRC, constructing broadcasting translators and radio stations throughout the tri-state and enveloping the State of Nevada through public broadcasting. Combined, Pat and Lamar Marchese have served the Las Vegas community for over six decades. Thanks to the Marcheses, broadcasting is thriving throughout the tri-state area, libraries are blossoming and cultural programs are flourishing. They are looking forward to retiring, traveling, spending time with loved ones, and most of all, Pat and Lamar time together.