Search the Special Collections and Archives Portal

Search Results

Display    Results Per Page
Displaying results 23611 - 23620 of 25450

Audio clip of an interview with Tom Kerestesi by Wendy Starkweather on October 3rd, 2013

Date
2013-10-03
Description
Thomas Kerestesi was born in Redding, California. Son of Austrian immigrants, Tom’s family relocated to Las Vegas in 1956 when his father was offered a job with the Cragin and Pike Insurance Agency. The Kerestesi family moved into McNeil Estates, the neighborhood where the father would live for nearly fifty years until his passing. Tom attended West Charleston Elementary School and Hyde Park Junior High School, before entering Bishop Gorman High School. In high school, his extra-curricular activities included tennis and participated in Boys State. After graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno with a major in Accounting, narrowly missing being drafted into the military, Tom moved to Los Angeles to begin in own career in insurance. Longing for home and newlywed, he soon moved back to Las Vegas with his wife Buffie, and joined Cragin and Pike as an agent alongside his father. Tom would remain at Cragin and Pike for the next 38 years, where he dealt with underwriting the gaming and construction industries. Tom has served as a member of the Las Vegas Rotary Club, president of the Nevada Independent Insurance Agents, and has been awarded Outstanding Alumni of the University of Nevada. Tom and Buffie have two children who both also still live in Las Vegas.

Sound

An exterior view of the Riviera Hotel and marquee: photographic film

Date
1960 (year approximate) to 1986 (year approximate)
Description
An exterior view of the Riviera Hotel and marquee. The marquee is advertising "Edie Adams" "Rowan and Martin" "Starlite Lounge" "Lionel Hampton" "The Cousins" and the "Sawyer Sisters". The Riviera (colloquially, "the Riv") opened on April 20, 1955 as the first high-rise at 9 stories, and the ninth resort on the Las Vegas Strip. Liberace cut the opening ribbon, and became the first resident performer. The Riviera also broke new ground in its design: previously, Strip resorts resembled roadside motor courts. The Riviera underwent an expansion from 1988 to 1990 this included the 24 story Monaco Tower designed by Martin Stern Jr. and two parking garages. In February 2015, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority acquired the Riviera hotel and its associated land for $182.5 million. The property was leased back to its existing operators, Paragon Gaming, who officially closed the establishment on Monday, May 4, 2015. Due to its size, the Riviera was demolished through two separate implosions conducted in June and August 2016. The first implosion took place at 2:35 a.m. (Pacific Time) on June 14, 2016, taking down the 24-story Monaco tower. A firework display and countdown led up to the implosion. On August 16, 2016 at 2:30 a.m., the Monte Carlo tower along with the 12 story tower constructed in 1966 were imploded. The property was located at 2901 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89109.

Image

Transcript of interview with Myram Borders by Claytee D. White, February 9, 2009

Date
2009-02-09
Description
Growing up in Las Vegas, Myram Borders remained in Nevada most of her life. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Nevada Reno. An internship with United Press International wire service would place her on a career path that included working in Reno, Los Angeles, and then brought her back to Las Vegas in 1965. Her journalism experience with UPI created a foundation for unique insights about living in Las Vegas and the effect gaming had on the world's perceptions of Las Vegas newsworthiness. After her long career with UPI, Myram also worked briefly for Gannett and then became commissioner of Consumer Affairs under Gov. Bob Miller, which she admits was not her favorite work. Her next step was to head up of the Las Vegas News Bureau. As one might expect, Myram has stories about the stories she covered. She recalls how by sheer accident she came upon the scene of Lefty Rosenthal's car being blown up in a parking lot. She explains how a light system was put atop the El Cortez Hotel to signal whether workers were to show up for work at the test site. She covered the first woman dealer in Las Vegas and scooped other reporters to announce Elvis' wedding at the Aladdin.

Text

Transcript of interview with Jean Tobman, Marilyn Moran and Janie Moore by Claytee D. White, November 5, 2013

Date
2013-11-05
Description

Interview with Jean Tobman and two of her daughters, Marilyn (Tobman) Moran and Janie (Tobman) Moore by Claytee White, November 5, 2013. In this interview, Jean Tobman recalls coming to Las Vegas with her husband and two young children in the 1950s, and the life they established in the Pinto area of the Westside. Her husband, Herb, owned City Furniture and a cab company near downtown. Marilyn and Janie discuss their youth and the enjoyable time they had growing up in Las Vegas. Marilyn talks about how the city has grown and her time on the planning commission. Janie also discusses the growth of Las Vegas and her nostalgia for old Las Vegas.

In 1953, Jean and Herb Tobman moved from New Jersey to Las Vegas. The Tombans settled in the Pinto Palamino. Upon moving, Jean initially assisted her mother at her rooming house, and Herb worked with Jean's father at City Furniture. Herb bought his first cab soon thereafter, and grew one vehicle into Western Cab Company, which is still family-run. After a large fire closed City Furniture, Herb worked as the general manager at Moulin Rouge, jumpstarting his career in the gaming industry. Marilyn, Janie and Helen are the children of Jean and Herb and all still live in Las Vegas. The girls grew up keeping horses, as did many other neighbors in the Pinto area. Marilyn married John Moran, the sheriff's son, who served as a police officer himself. She sat on the planning commission for a decade, during the city's growth spurt. Janie spent a semester at Arizona State University before returning to Las Vegas to work at Stardust Hotel, a property co-owned by her father, who also served as the its president.

Text