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Transcript of interview with Russell Dazzio by Claytee D. White, November 4, 2013
Date
2013-11-04
Archival Collection
Description
A special note: This interview was conducted in two parts before students of the UNLV College of Hotel Administration. Mr. Dazzio serves as a member of the college's International Advisory Board. During the interview he shares stories of his path from the son of an early dealer to being twenty-something working at the Stardust with Al Sachs and Frank Rosenthal to being a cofounder of R&R Global Hospitality. It was unlikely that Russ Dazzio's father had any idea of what he was bringing his young family into when he moved to Las Vegas from Pueblo, Colorado and became a dealer in the early 1950s. A few months afterwards, five-year-old Russ and his mother stepped off the Union Pacific train to join him. They walked down Fremont Street, "a tree lined horseshoe sidewalk", to the casino where his father dealt cards. No minors were allowed, so young Russ sipped an ice cold Coke and waited. From that point on, Russ's life became entwined with the growth and evolution of Las Vegas. After graduating from Western High School in 1968, Russ became one of the first students of the Hotel College at UNLV (then Southern Nevada). His studies were interrupted by enlisting in the Army during the Vietnam War, but he returned to his studies. During this interview he recalls his career path from a thirteen-year-old bus boy at the Thunderbird Hotel for $1.25 an hour to a finding himself working closely with Stardust executives Al Sachs and Frank Rosenthal while in his early 20s. He garnered a wealth of experiences in his jump from the Strip to an international chain of successful hotels The interview is sprinkled with humorous stories and sage advice from a successful hotel operator for the ITT Sheraton chain and founding partner of R&R Global Hospitality, a third party management firm (started in 1985). This is a business story filled with the ups and downs caused by two recessions in the 1980s. Today Russ is ever-busy with projects underway. He maintains a close relationship with UNLV's Hotel College, serving on the International Advisory Board and is proud of being an alumnus.
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Photographs of Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), February 8, 2017
Date
2017-02-08
2017-08-05
Archival Collection
Description
The Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel sign sits at 1205 Las Vegas Boulevard South. The chapel has provided themed weddings since 1999. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 1205 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Ron Decar And Jamie Richards
Sign details: The building was constructed in 1950. This location was originally The Thunderbird Lounge. In 1999 it was bought by Ron and Jamie to be the Viva Las Las Vegas Wedding Chapel.
Sign condition: 4- still in good condition, paint is still bright
Sign form: Pylon
Sign-specific description: This sign showcases a pink and white color scheme. The sign has a caricature of Elvis, as well as other caricatures surrounding him. The words Viva Las Vegas are in pink channeled neon letters. This sign also has a video screen marquee. Underneath the video screen is sparkling incandescent light bulbs contained in channeled letters stating "Wedding Chapel". This sign also has a plastic back lit signs that advertises themed weddings and themed rooms.
Sign - type of display: Neon, Incandescent light bulbs, plastic back lit and video screen display
Sign - media: Steel, plastic and media screen.
Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic back lit section and Video Display screen.
Sign animation: Flasher for incandescent light bulbs
Sign environment: This location is on South Las Vegas Blvd. in between Downtown and the Strip. This chapel is next to a Super 8 motel, a couple blocks from the Little White Wedding Chapel, across the street from two Hostels.
Sign manufacturer: Thompson Neon Sign Company and Hyoco Sign Company(the Video board display)
Sign - date of installation: 2000
Sign - date of redesign/move: 2004 video screen added
Sign - thematic influences: This sign showcases Vintage Las Vegas themes with Elvis and his relation to Vegas particularly with the name of the chapel and his caricature on the sign.
Survey - research locations: Assessor's Page, Viva Las Vegas Wedding chapel website http://www.vivalasvegasweddings.com/ , Email correspondence with Blaze Linn(wedding Coordinator)
Surveyor: Wyatt Currie-Diamond
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-05
Sign keywords: Flashing; Incandescent; Plastic; Backlit; Neon; Pylon; Steel; Video screen; Chasing; Back to back; Paint
Site address: 1205 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Ron Decar And Jamie Richards
Sign details: The building was constructed in 1950. This location was originally The Thunderbird Lounge. In 1999 it was bought by Ron and Jamie to be the Viva Las Las Vegas Wedding Chapel.
Sign condition: 4- still in good condition, paint is still bright
Sign form: Pylon
Sign-specific description: This sign showcases a pink and white color scheme. The sign has a caricature of Elvis, as well as other caricatures surrounding him. The words Viva Las Vegas are in pink channeled neon letters. This sign also has a video screen marquee. Underneath the video screen is sparkling incandescent light bulbs contained in channeled letters stating "Wedding Chapel". This sign also has a plastic back lit signs that advertises themed weddings and themed rooms.
Sign - type of display: Neon, Incandescent light bulbs, plastic back lit and video screen display
Sign - media: Steel, plastic and media screen.
Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic back lit section and Video Display screen.
Sign animation: Flasher for incandescent light bulbs
Sign environment: This location is on South Las Vegas Blvd. in between Downtown and the Strip. This chapel is next to a Super 8 motel, a couple blocks from the Little White Wedding Chapel, across the street from two Hostels.
Sign manufacturer: Thompson Neon Sign Company and Hyoco Sign Company(the Video board display)
Sign - date of installation: 2000
Sign - date of redesign/move: 2004 video screen added
Sign - thematic influences: This sign showcases Vintage Las Vegas themes with Elvis and his relation to Vegas particularly with the name of the chapel and his caricature on the sign.
Survey - research locations: Assessor's Page, Viva Las Vegas Wedding chapel website http://www.vivalasvegasweddings.com/ , Email correspondence with Blaze Linn(wedding Coordinator)
Surveyor: Wyatt Currie-Diamond
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-05
Sign keywords: Flashing; Incandescent; Plastic; Backlit; Neon; Pylon; Steel; Video screen; Chasing; Back to back; Paint
Mixed Content
Transcript of interview with Jack Herst by Suzan DiFederico, March 1, 1976
Date
1976-03-01
Archival Collection
Description
On March 1st, 1976, Suzan DiFederico interviewed Jack Herst (born in 1943 in Las Vegas, Nevada) in his home on 3221 La Mirada Street, Las Vegas, Nevada. During the interview, DiFederico does not speak; rather, Herst appears to read and answer questions aloud from “DiFederico’s dossier.” Herst talks about the population growth in Nevada and emphasizes the significant changes Las Vegas has experienced from its origins as a small town. Herst also discusses his personal family history, his Jewish identity and community affiliations, as well as his employment history as a dealer and broker at different casinos.
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Transcript of interview with Bud Weil by Claytee White, December 9, 2003
Date
2003-12-09
Archival Collection
Description
Bud Weil worked as a disc jockey in Mexico after serving in the military during World War II. In 1947, he moved to Las Vegas to work at KLAS but after two days he was job hunting. His search landed him at KENO, a radio station owned by Max and Laura Belle Kelch. His was an interview show that afforded him entree to stars performing in town. The list of his favorite interviews includes Sophie Tucker, Sammy Davis, Jack Benny, The Mills Brother, Rosemary Clooney, Leno Home, Joey Lewis and many others. In 1955, he became restless, left the career in broadcasting, and joined Max Kelch as a partner in a new venture for Las Vegas - Musak. This enterprise took him to the doors of every business in town and shortly, he knew everybody. He uses that knowledge in this interview to talk about all aspects of life as the town grew over the years. Today he is a senior statesman of our town, enjoying everything about Las Vegas except the traffic.
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