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Burton Cohen oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03187

Abstract

Oral history interview with Burton Cohen conducted by Claytee D. White on July 9, 2013 as part of the UNLV Boyd Law School project, UNLV Gaming Law Journal. In this interview, casino executive Burton Cohen begins with his early life in Miami, Florida where he “fell in love with the hotel business” while working in his father’s hotel as a boy. He recounts how he abandoned his law career to return to the hotel business and how he came to Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1960s to build up and manage operations at The Frontier. Cohen discusses his long career as a chief operating officer, touching briefly on some of the hotel/casinos that he helped launch and oversee in Las Vegas, including The Frontier, Circus Circus, Flamingo, Caesars Palace, the Desert Inn, and the Dunes. Cohen discusses some of the major changes that have occurred over the years in hotel/casino management and expresses respect for some of his contemporaries in the hotel industry such as Kirk Kerkorian, Billy Weinberger, and Gary Loveman.

Archival Collection

Burton Cohen oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02592

Abstract

Oral history interview with Burton Cohen conducted by Bill Willard on May 31, 1995 for the Arnold Shaw Oral History Project on Las Vegas Entertainers. In this interview, Cohen discusses his experiences working with the entertainment industry, booking entertainers for local shows, and lessons that he learned about successfully advertising shows to attract varieties of audiences.

Archival Collection

Burton Cohen oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00230

Abstract

Oral history interview with Burton Cohen conducted by Claytee White on January 09, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Burt reflects on the positions he held in numerous famous Las Vegas, Nevada Strip casinos, the celebrities he hired and befriended, and offers a unique look at the behind the scenes marketing and entertainment strategies that he helmed. He shares stories of becoming entrenched in casino operations and his reflections of union experiences.

Archival Collection

Burton Cohen oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00221

Abstract

Oral history interview with Burton Cohen conducted by Michael Geeser on November 14, 2005 for the I Remember When: Recollections from Las Vegas Jewish Leaders Oral History Project. He talks about his career as a casino executive, celebrities in Las Vegas, Nevada, the role of organized crime in the city, and about executives of other casinos. He also answers questions from the audience.

Archival Collection

Burton Cohen oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02753

Archival Collection

Claudine Williams and Burton Cohen photographs, 2006

Level of Description

File

Archival Collection

Claudine Williams Papers
To request this item in person:
Collection Number: MS-00094
Collection Name: Claudine Williams Papers
Box/Folder: Box 22 (Restrictions apply)

Archival Component

Photograph of Burton Cohen in front of the Sands Hotel, Las Vegas, circa mid 1950s

Date

1953 to 1957

Archival Collection

Description

Burton Cohen in a Lincoln Continental Mark convertible in front of the Sands marquee (which was advertising Danny Thomas) in Las Vegas.

Image

Transcript of interview with Burton Cohen by Claytee White, January 9, 2009

Date

2009-01-09

Description

In this interview, Burton Cohen discusses his involvement in the Las Vegas casino industry, including booking entertainment for various hotels.

Burton Cohen's long casino executive career began in the mid-1960s when he accepted a proposition to become involved with the transformation of the Frontier Hotel. He left his south Florida roots and law practice to become a co-owner/general manager of the Frontier Hotel. Thus, began his highly regarded Las Vegas presence. For nearly four decades he served in the management of some of the Strip's most famous casinos: Flamingo, Dunes, Circus Circus, Caesar Palace, Thunderbird and the Desert Inn, which remains his favorite. In this interview, Burt reflects on the positions he held, the celebrities he hired and befriended, and offers a unique look at the behind the scenes marketing and entertainment strategies that he helmed. He shares stories of becoming entrenched in casino operations, his reflections of union experiences, and even anecdotes about moving his mother to Las Vegas.

Text

Photograph of Two Mayors from Alaska and Burton Cohen, Sands Hotel, May 6, 1959

Date

1959-05-06

Archival Collection

Description

Paul Haggland (The mayor of Fairbanks, Alaska), Burton Cohen, Hewitt Lounsberry (Mayor of Anchorage, Alaska) at the Sands Hotel.

Image

Burton Cohen in a Lincoln Continental Mark convertible in front of the Sands marquee, approximately 1953-1957

Level of Description

File

Archival Collection

Sands Hotel Photograph Collection
To request this item in person:
Collection Number: PH-00287
Collection Name: Sands Hotel Photograph Collection
Box/Folder: Folder 27

Archival Component