El Cortez Hotel & Casino Collection Connection

Jo Belle Yonely is the UNLV Division of Jazz and Commercial Music’s jazz vocal instructor. Jo Belle was born in Chicago into a show business family. Her father was the internationally renowned musician/comedian “The Great Yonely”, and her mother was a singer. Her family gatherings included regular contact with musicians including Louis Armstrong and Al Hirt. In Chicago, she worked all the jazz clubs with every notable musician on the scene; including Ira Sullivan, Von Freeman, Eddie Johnson, Johnny Frigo, Willie Pickins, Howard Levy, and John Campbell.

Johann Rucker, The Neon Museum’s Sr. Manager of Research & Scholarship, had the opportunity to sit Jo Belle Yonely on October 13, 2025, to speak of her father’s performances in Las Vegas.

Nerie has worked at the El Cortez for 18 years and is currently working as a cage cashier at the property. She has many regulars who frequent her window, some of whom have been coming to the property for as long as she has been working there. She refers to the El Cortez as her “second home,” citing its friendliness and family atmosphere. Nerie details how her uniforms have changed at the property over the years, from bright yellow when she first started to black and turquoise today. She notes that the property has changed quite a bit since she first started, through expansions and renovations. Upon seeing the “Prime Rib $19.95” signage, she noted its bright colors and the reasonable price of the prime rib at the property. She recalls that guests frequently note how affordable the prime rib is, especially when compared to other casinos. In this clip, Nerie talks about how her uniforms have changed since she first started working at the El Cortez. To hear the full conversation with Nerie and Johann Rucker, Senior Manager of Research and Scholarship from The Neon Museum, click HERE

Scott has worked at the El Cortez for seven years and is currently a security officer. Among his favorite memories from his time working at the property was when the Life is Beautiful music festival was hosted directly outside of the El Cortez, recalling the lively atmosphere and enthusiastic concertgoers. He identifies that the El Cortez makes its visitors feel comfortable, possibly unlike casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, and that comfortability being a primary factor as to why the property’s popularity has endured all this time. In this clip, Scott shares what he thinks keeps visitors coming back to the El Cortez. To hear the full conversation with Scott and Johann Rucker, Senior Manager of Research and Scholarship from The Neon Museum, click HERE

Linda has worked at the El Cortez for 42 years across a variety of roles and positions and is currently an opener and a seamstress. She shares some fond memories about Jackie Gaughan and her previous interactions with him at the property, specifically recalling his humility and generosity. Linda cites the familial culture of the El Cortez as one of the many aspects that makes the property special. In her time at the El Cortez, she has seen the property undergo immense change but notes that it has never lost its personality. Upon seeing the “Prime Rib $19.95” signage, Linda noted that the competitive price stood out to her, she recalled that many of her loved ones have worked at the kitchens in the El Cortez, and she shared some memories about enjoying the property’s prime rib herself. In this clip, Linda shares her memories about the El Cortez’s beloved prime rib offering. To hear the full conversation with Linda and Johann Rucker, Senior Manager of Research and Scholarship from The Neon Museum, click HERE

John has worked at the El Cortez for 23 years but has worked at other Jackie Gaughan properties since 1982 at the Gold Spike. Currently, he works as the Director of Hotel Operations at the property, assisting employees and visitors in a variety of capacities. He mentions that he was aware of the El Cortez’s rich history when he started working here, since he’s visited since he was a kid, fondly remembering meals with his family at the property. When recalling his memories with Jackie Gaughan, he remembers a learning opportunity in which Gaughan could have easily reprimanded him for making a mistake at work but instead used it as a learning opportunity. This was a major milestone for John, and he has strived to live up to Gaughan’s example in his career. He describes the El Cortez visitors and staff as a “huge family,” and notes that guests often compliment the property’s balance between innovation and honoring their history. In this clip, John shares a memory of Jackie Gaughan’s approach to leadership and customer service. To hear the full conversation with John and Johann Rucker, Senior Manager of Research and Scholarship from The Neon Museum, click HERE

Barbie has worked at the El Cortez for 25 years. She currently works as a bartender but started out working at the property’s front desk at just 18 years old. In addition to preparing and serving drinks, she also prides herself on providing local recommendations and making her guests feel comfortable. When she made the switch to cocktails upon turning 21, she notes that she underwent training on the property’s history, and her awareness has only increased with Kenny Epstein’s passion for the property’s history. This helps her answer questions from curious guests. Barbie shares some memories about Jackie Gaughan and his poodle, Charlie, who were both frequently seen on the casino floor. She describes Jackie as generous, humble, and hands-on. When asked about how the property has physically changed over the years, Barbie shared that she first visited the El Cortez when she was a child, because her mom worked at the property for a long time. Upon seeing the “Prime Rib $19.95” signage, Barbie shared that the tulip motif present in the design has always reminded her of her mom. In this clip, Barbie talks about her early memories of the El Cortez and what the property means to her today. To hear the full conversation with Barbie and Johann Rucker, Senior Manager of Research and Scholarship from The Neon Museum, click HERE