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Mike Unger oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with Mike Unger conducted by Barbara Tabach on January 21, 2016, February 03, 2016, and February 24, 2016 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Unger discusses his long career in hotel management in the 1970s-1980s, including general manager of Caesars Palace from 1978-1983 and working at Frontier Hotel and Aladdin Hotel. He also talks about being active in the Las Vegas, Nevada Jewish community with B'nai Brith and charities.
Archival Collection
Audio clips from interview with Mike Unger, January 21, 2016
Date
Archival Collection
Description
In these clips, Mike Unger discusses his career at Caesars under the management of Cliff Perlman, bringing boxing to the Strip, and the involvement of Jews, Italians and Mormons in the casino industry.
Sound
Transcript from interview with Mike Unger by Barbara Tabach, January 21, 2016
Date
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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Mindy Unger-Wadkins oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with Mindy Unger-Wadkins conducted by Barbara Tabach on October 28, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Unger-Wadkins discusses her childhood in Las Vegas, Nevada, working in Yucca Mountain, Nevada Power, land development with her brothers, and her leadership in the Jewish community.
Archival Collection
Unger, Mike, 1947-
Mike Unger was born June 6, 1947 in Queens, New York. He spent most of his childhood in Long Island, New York, growing up in a predominantly Jewish and Italian community. As a young adult, Unger was running one of his family’s restaurants after school. When he was in high school, his family moved to Los Angeles, California to accommodate his father’s health needs, and eventually ended up in Las Vegas, Nevada by 1967. Over the next two decades, Unger worked at nine properties in the city.
Person
Unger, Michael, 1947-
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.
Person
Transcript of interview with Mindy Unger-Wadkins by Barbara Tabach, October 28, 2015
Date
Archival Collection
Description
In this interview, Unger-Wadkins discusses growing up in Las Vegas? close-knit Jewish community in the 1960s and 1970s, and involvement with various Jewish youth organizations and activities. She also describes her career in public relations, reflecting upon the unique challenges faced when interacting with the public, and with politics, in her positions. Unger-Wadkins ends by describing her current work in land development, particularly the history of the Three Kids Mine and the technical and political process of ensuring the land is suitable as a residential area.
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