Transcript of interview with Celia Rivero Grenfell by Patricia Hollard, March 31, 1977

UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell i An Interview with Celia Rivero Grenfell An Oral History Conducted by Patricia Holland Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas Special Collections and Archives Oral History Research Center University Libraries University of Nevada, Las Vegas UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell ii © Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 2018 UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell iii The Oral History Research Center (OHRC) was formally established by the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada System in September 2003 as an entity of the UNLV University Libraries’ Special Collections Division. The OHRC conducts oral interviews with individuals who are selected for their ability to provide first-hand observations on a variety of historical topics in Las Vegas and Southern Nevada. The OHRC is also home to legacy oral history interviews conducted prior to its establishment including many conducted by UNLV History Professor Ralph Roske and his students. This legacy interview transcript received minimal editing, such as the elimination of fragments, false starts, and repetitions in order to enhance the reader's understanding of the material. All measures have been taken to preserve the style and language of the narrator. The interviewee/narrator was not involved in the editing process. UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell iv Abstract On March 31, 1977, Patricia Holland interviewed Celia Rivero Grenfell (born 1926 in Las Vegas, Nevada) about her life in Southern Nevada. Grenfell first talks about her family background in Mexico and later describes her family’s restaurant business. She also describes her education, recreational activities, Downtown Las Vegas, and Helldorado. The two also discuss racial segregation and prejudice, the El Rancho Vegas, Lorenzi Park, early churches, environmental changes, early air conditioning, and Grenfell’s early work in a laundry business. UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 1 My name is Patricia Holland. The date is March 31st, 1977, and I am about to interview Celia Rivero, who was born in Las Vegas, and who has lived here all of her life. What is your name and present address? Celia Rivero Grenfell, and my address is 6301 Garwood Avenue. Now, let’s start with your father first, Celia. What was his name? His name was Francisco G. Rivero. And when did he come to Las Vegas? In 1917. Now, where did he come from, where was he born? He was born in Tepic, Mexico. And he grew up there? Yes. And do you know any of the circumstances behind which he came to Las Vegas? Was he just travelling, or? No, he had a brother here. He had a brother here—I think you told me at one time, didn’t you, that he was with Pancho Villa? Yes, a long time ago. And your mother, what was her name? Margarita R. Rivero. And where was she born? She was born in Guadalupe de Los Reyes in Mexico. And how did she get to Las Vegas? UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 2 She came with her sisters. With her sister—did she come straight here? Well, she did. She stopped in Mazatlán, and, and then she came from over there over this way. I see. How many sisters, one? Well, I think there were two of them that I’m sure of. Are they still living here? No, they’re all passed away. I see. Do you have any other family here that came about the same time? My uncle is the only one, and my aunt that I have here. And they’re still living? They’re still living, yes. What are their names? My uncle’s name is Carlos G. Rivero, and my aunt is Inora Aguirre. When they came to Las Vegas—now, your father was a businessman here? Yes. And what business? Restaurant. Restaurant business—and what was the name of it? Frank’s Café. Did he go right into business when he came here? No, he worked at the Roundhouse for a while, and then after that he started working for the restaurant. So he was a railroad man—? UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 3 For a while. Well, for a while. I see. Did your mother come because of the railroad? No, she just came to see how she liked it. None of her family was involved in the railroad at all? No. I see. Did they know one another before? No. And they met here? They met here and got married. And married here, I see. That’s interesting. And then you were born here? Yes. And could you tell me any circumstances about your birth—when were you born? I was born on October 31st, 1926. Here in Las Vegas? Las Vegas, yes. And do you remember where? It’s 113 North First Street. Was that a hospital? No, that’s where we lived. That’s where you lived? Yes. And so you were born at home? At home, yes. UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 4 Did you have a doctor? Yes, but I don’t remember his name. I see. Was there a hospital here at the time? Yes. There was one on North Second Street. Now, what is there today? Is it still there? No, it’s not there. Right now—I don’t even know. Is that The Mint? No. That’s the Fremont, I think. Fremont? Right behind where the Fremont is, farther down. Ah. I think it’s a parking lot now. I see. Okay, well, going back to your father’s business, now, how long was he in business? Oh, I’d say about thirty, thirty-two years. And did he have Frank’s Café until he died? No. He give it up. He gave it up—do you have any idea when? No, I don’t remember the year it was when he give it up. But it lasted through the Depression and— Yes. Through World War II? Yes. Do you know George Logan, Logan (unintelligible) Electric? UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 5 Yes, I think I do. ‘Cause he said that it was one of the best places in town. I thought I’d just throw that in. Uh-huh. I think he said he had eaten there several times. Tell me something about your restaurant—can you describe it? Oh, well it was a little restaurant. You know, it had a lot of little (unintelligible) you know, to sit down, for twenty-five people. Oh, it was just something little—it wasn’t too big. Where was it? Right here on First Street, on South First. What’s there today? It’s a Nevada parking lot. Nevada parking lot—well, what did you serve? Everything—Mexican food, American food. And how many people worked for you? Did your mom—well, who cooked? My mother did most of the cooking, and Dad. And your father—well, what about waiting tables? Oh, we had two girls working there. Do you remember who they were, or, you know, I know this was a long period of time? I know their names, but I didn’t know their last names at the time. One was Addie, and the other one was Ruby. I see. And they worked for you a long time? Yes, they worked for a long time for my dad. Did you work in the restaurant? UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 6 Oh, once in a while, picking up dishes and helping all what I could. And your sister? The same. We helped out a little bit. But now this was during, well, the twenties, of course, when you were born, and the thirties during the Depression—do you remember anything about the Depression in Las Vegas? Well, I remember that when they rationed the sugar and shoes and stuff like that, we had to have books, you know, stamps for our gas and all that—I remember that. How did this affect the business, do you know? Not too bad. Not for sugar, or? Well, it was kinda hard for Dad for a while, but I mean, he made out pretty good. And then, the dam was built, and how did this influence business? Well, they did pretty good business then, because there were a lot of people here at that time, you know working at the dam, and Mom, well, (unintelligible) lunches for the workers. She made up to fifty to seventy-five lunches a day. That’s fantastic. And then they probably came in and ate. And ate, too, so we were very busy. Did you ever go out to the dam? Oh, once in a while—not when they were building it, no. I see. After it was built. Celia, returning to Downtown, now, where did you live? We lived on First Street. UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 7 Now, was that a house or was that behind your restaurant, or? Well, it was behind the restaurant, we had our house. Did you have any kind of a yard? No, not very much of a yard at all. And now this is all commercial property today? Yes. And you grew up there. I grew up there. Okay, and where did you go to school? Oh, here on Fifth Street. On Fifth Street—and that’s elementary? Yes. Is it still there today? No, it’s not there no more. It’s the government’s building now. Do you remember any of the teachers that you had? Oh, yes. I knew a few of them. I remember Mrs. Barstow, McDonald, Detwiler, St. James, and D.B. Keller. That’s great. What about your principal, who was your principal at the time, do you remember? Well, I remember we had two, but the more I remember was K.O. Knudson. When you were going to school, do you remember anything about the school in particular, about any of your school days, what you took, any of the children that you played with? UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 8 Oh, yeah, I remember a lot of my friends. There was Alice Soldis and there was Lupile Zuna, and there was Beva Lu Leavitt, Pearly Price, I think it was Bill Morris, and Benny Batista. What did you do for recreation? Most of the time, I went to the movies or—I liked to skate and I liked to go swimming a lot. And this was with some of your friends at school? Yes. Did you go to high school here? No, I didn’t finish school. I just went to the eighth grade. Now, was there only one high school? That I remember, yes. That was high school. Las Vegas High? Yes. Now, where was the edge of the city, when you were growing up? Well, I remember it was a little farther than Fifth Street. Were there houses out beyond that, or was it primarily desert? Well, most desert and a little bit of homes, not very much. What about out the other direction, do you remember anything about North Las Vegas? Well, not too much because I never went around that way too much. But that hadn’t been built up? Not that I remember at that time. Going back to the city itself, when you were a kid, what do you remember about the city, Las Vegas, Downtown? UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 9 Oh, the clubs, the stores, and, well, where I used to hand around most of the time, you know, when I used to go skating and all that. Tell me what was Downtown. Well, I remember the Overland, and next to the Overland on Main, there was a Troy Laundry, and across the street from there was Cashman’s, and then the depot, and then from there, across the street was—it used to be the Nevada Hotel; now, it’s Sal Sagev. And a little farther down from there was, I think it was the Northern Club, and then I think they built it up to Las Vegas Club, and down farther, there was more bars, and on the corner, it was Beckley’s. What was Beckley’s? Well, it was a regular store. It has most men clothes in there. So, like a department store? Yes. Okay. And across the street from there, that was the White Drug Store. And I remember, when I was very small, I can still remember Sears was next to the Overland Hotel. I remember that far back when I was a child. So, it was moved then? Yes. Further down Fremont Street, later? Yes. And then across the street on South, there was a bank, and after the bank, next to that was the Busy Bee Café. And there was a little alley there right before The Mint is. Behind there, that’s where we lived. Was the Busy Bee Café like yours? UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 10 It was lots bigger. It was nice, real nice. Was there any kind of a hangout for kids? Oh, yes, that’s down on Fremont Street. That was the Rochelle—it’s a sweet shop there we used to hang around. Nice when you were teenagers? Yes. But did you go there for, like, malts and? Malts and— Dancing? Dancing a little bit in the back once in a while. Cashman’s—now, were they a Cadillac? Yes. Still? It still was. Or did they sell anything else besides Cadillacs at that time? That’s all that I remember. What else about Downtown? Now, what about some of the other streets? What else was Downtown? Well, next to the Rochelle’s was a five-and-ten cent store, I remember, and a little farther down there was a bowling alley, and then our skating rink, we used to go skating upstairs—I don’t remember the name of it, but it was a very big, large place where we did all our skating. And then, with the bowling alley, they had a little restaurant in there where we could eat. In the corner, I don’t really remember just where the Golden Nugget is right now, it must have been a UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 11 little bar there, but I just can’t remember at that time, and then across the street was Apache Hotel. A little farther down on Fremont was Carl’s Shoe Store there, and Smith and Chandlers was there on First Street—little stores, and the Boulder Club. And right next to the Boulder Club, I remember upstairs, they used to—they pay their bills there, or I don’t know what it was at that time—I think it belonged to the union at that time. They made their payments for the union. Was Gara Hines Downtown at that time? Yes, I think that was on Third Street. On the street from there was a furniture store that I remember, I think it was Brown’s Furniture Store. Can you remember anything else about Third Street? Well, on Third Street, let me see—yes, there was Whimpy’s, I think. And what was it? Well, it was just where the kids hang out, more a little place to have hamburgers, hot dogs, and— I see. And milkshakes and coffee and stuff like that they would serve there. What about the post office? Where was that? That was on Third Street. It’s still there, same old post office. And now, this was a (unintelligible)—where was the courthouse? The courthouse was on Carson Street, on Third. On Third Street? Yes, that’s where our courthouse was at. Was there any kind of a park Downtown? Yes, there was a very beautiful park, very pretty. Where? UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 12 On Third? In front of the courthouse? Yes. All around the courthouse, it was all park. And what about—now, the depot, of course, was Downtown. Yes. And can you tell me anything about it? Well, that had a little park, too—very pretty. There was trees and everything. And then next to there was the bus depot. Greyhound? I think it was the Greyhound—I’m not too, I really don’t remember if it was the Greyhound or not. Was it, Roundhouse was still there? Was still there, yes. And the ice plant? Yes. And do you remember anything else about the railroad? Well, I used to go there a lot to watch the trains come in and sit out there in the park. That was a view to see down Fremont. Where was the end of Fremont at that time? The end of Fremont, well— How far did it extend? Well, quite far. Oh, I say, about Seventh Street or Eighth, around there. I see. UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 13 That I can remember. What else about Downtown? Can you remember anything else? Well, the Mermaid Pool, where I used to go swimming a lot, that was on Fifth Street. Tell me about it. What was it like? Oh, it was a real nice swimming pool. We used to go in—all the kids, get out of school, we go there, going swimming. Was it indoor, outdoor? It was outdoor. Heated? No, not that I remember. Oh. So it was mainly open during the summer? Yes. And do you remember what it cost or anything like that? Oh, I don’t know if it was fifteen or twenty cents, but I think it was about fifteen cents to go in swimming. Diving boards? Yes, everything, it had everything there. And it was right Downtown? Right Downtown, Fifth Street South. So it must have been pretty close to the school? Yes. Now what else did you do for recreation, any other? Well, that’s all I did mostly is just swimming and, you know, skating. UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 14 But you grew up right Downtown? Right Downtown, that’s where I— And that was most of it. That’s the most I ever went hardly anywhere by town. What about the police station, where was it? Well, the police station was Second Street on North, North Second—I think they used to call it the Blue Room. Why? I don’t know, but I guess that’s the name of it, that I remember, that was the Blue Room. But it wasn’t blue on the outside? No, uh-uh. And there was a fire department next to it, and then there was a flower shop by the name of Ruby’s that I remember, too. I think Ruby’s is still—isn’t it still here? Yes, still here. Let’s go back to recreation and so forth. Growing up right Downtown—I think that’s interesting. Some of the things that, like, activities Downtown would be interesting, like what did you do for Christmas? Oh, when Christmas came, we’d all get together and we’d go to the Christmas tree at the park. Tell me about that. Well, they had a beautiful tree up there, and Santa Clause would come with candy and toys, and all the kids would get in line, and they would sing carols and, oh, just something beautiful. Which park? That’s where the courthouse is right now. UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 15 I see. So, I mean, this park doesn’t exist anymore? No, it doesn’t. What about Easter? Well, Easter, we had to have Easter hunts, same place, by the courthouse. Now, I think that you were telling me a story about the Easter egg hunt. Oh, yeah, we had Easter hunts, and I remember, I must have been about, oh, I’d say about seven or eight, and, well, we had to find the golden egg. So I finally found it, and I won a big box of Corn Flakes. (Laughs) (Laughs) That’s quite a prize. That was a prize. Any other Easters, can you remember? Yes, we used to go to the Last Frontier when they had that little village in the back. They used to have Easter hunts there. I don’t understand the little village in the back. Well, there used to be a little village in the back with little rides and stuff like that for, you know, the kids to go out there. Like merry-go-rounds? Yes, but it’s all gone now. Since they built the New Frontier now, it’s all very different. And now this is before my time, so I don’t— So that must have been about—‘cause I remember taking my children there when they were small, so it must have been about in the forties, around there. Did you have to pay to get in? No, it was free at that time. UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 16 But it was all this and (unintelligible)— (Unintelligible) rides and stuff like that, yes. And games? Games and stuff like that they would play out there for their Easter hunt and stuff like that. Was this open all year round? That I remember, yes. I think it was open there just a time. And staffed by the hotel? Yes. I see, that’s interesting. I didn’t realize that. Yes, they had that there. It was a village, they used to call it. Any other? No, not that I can remember. What about Helldorado here? Oh, yes. Helldorado was something (unintelligible). In the old days, not the same like it is now, we used to have a lot of floats, parades—we used to be in them all the time for the school. It was very pretty in those days—everything so, oh, I don’t know, it was just so different. It’s nothing like in the old days like it is now. In the old days, we used to have more floats, more bands, most of everything more than we do now. Why? Were the hotels—? I don’t know why, but everything was just lots bigger in the old days than it is now. More community? Yes. People taking (unintelligible)— UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 17 Oh, and the floats were just beautiful. Well, now, did your kid get in on this, on Helldorado? No, not that I remember. But there wasn’t anything special for the merchants Downtown that they had to do? Well, they used to get Dad once in a while and put him in that kangaroo court—(Laughs)—put him in jail. Did they all dress up? Some of them did, Western style, yes. But I mean, as far as the community was concerned, it was more active participation? Oh, yes. Did they have the beauty contest? Yes, that was on Sunday. And the Old Timers Parade—now, we have that today? Yes, we still have that, but I still think the old days were the prettiest, because it was just something fantastic how they were— Did you go horseback riding or anything like that? No, never did. I wondered, with all the going along with Helldorado and everything—what about the rodeo? Did you have the rodeo? Oh, we had rodeos here. I think I just went a couple of times to it. But where were they? Oh, right down here, I think it was on Fifth Street. Did they have a special place? I mean, today, we go out to Cashman Field. UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 18 Well, I can’t remember very well where it really was, because they had different places most every year. So there wasn’t a particular stadium or anything kind of built, this was makeshift? Yes. Just for that? Yes, because they had their carnivals and all of that, but I think it was right down here down on Fifth Street where it was, they used to have it most. That’s interesting. What about some of the other events? Well, we had our street dance? They used to close between, I think it was on First Street—Second, they would close the street so we could do our dancing out there, and they had entertainments from the Strip and stuff like that, movie stars, you know, they would sing and all that there. And everybody was having a good time. Oh, that sounds like fun. Yes. Now that had to be after the Strip was being built, so—? Yes, we had a few movie stars that come in. What about before that? Do you remember when you were small, was Helldorado—did you participate in Helldorado when you were small? Oh, yes, in school parades. So, it has been going a long time. Yes, very long. Back in the twenties and thirties. Yes, we were in the parades every time, most every year in the school. UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 19 Did they have all this Downtown back then? Yes. I mean, with the dancing and the rodeos? Everything, yes, most every year. Now, also being Spanish-American, did you have any kind of an organization or any kind of activities? Yes, right there on South First, right next to my aunt’s hotel that was Elko’s rooms, next to her, there used to be a little place upstairs that used to celebrate the independence of Mexico, so we had our dances there. And that’s where everybody met there, you know, we danced and they had a band and everything. Well, that sounds like fun. Yes. Kids were invited? Yes, and your children could go with the parents. Do you remember any particular celebration, just kind of offhand? Well, they used to have quite a lot of dances up there, different kind of dances, but—like, for Mexican people, they used to have the dances there only once a year, and that was on September the 15th, that’s the independence of Mexico. And what did you do special—did you have special things to eat? Oh, they had everything there, yes. They would make speeches and little drink and have food. By saying they would make speeches, who? Well, more or less, like—well, the people that (unintelligible) dances at that time. Oh, I see. But it wasn’t really an organization, like—? UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 20 No, not that I remember, ‘cause I was still—I must have been about seven or eight years old at that time. That sounds like fun. But I used to love to go up there and watch them dance. And your parents would let you stay up? Yes. Huh, yeah that sounds like fun. And can you tell me anything more about—now, that’s the only event that they had, though? That’s all that I remember of. Well, they used to have picnics here and there and go to Blue Diamond—used to go a lot there with Dad, and he used to take us out a lot. There wasn’t very too much to do in that time, you know, in the old days. It sounds like to me like you had plenty. Well, most of us were in around town there, you know, that’s about all we did, just go to the movies most and skating at the big skating rink, and go swimming most of the time. When you say go to the movies, now, where were the movies Downtown? Well, the ones I used to go to a lot was the El Portal; in fact, it’s still there. And Palace Theatre is still there; it’s on Second Street. And then we had one on First Street right behind Beckley’s, they used to call it the Western Theatre. And after the Western Theatre, they put a secondhand store that belonged to Gragson, our mayor, Mayor Gragson, he owned the place there. But he wasn’t mayor at the time? No, he wasn’t. Secondhand store, that’s interesting. Which particular theater did you go to the most? Oh, I liked to go to the El Portal a lot. UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 21 Was it the biggest? I think it was the biggest. At that time? Yes. [Audio cuts out] Now, Gragson had a secondhand store, and then when—he went to his furniture store next? Yes, and I think he went on Main. On Main? On North Main, I think he had one. But now, that isn’t the only one? No, then he had another one on Charleston, too, that I remember. Did he sell the secondhand store and so forth? Yes, I think he did at that time. As he moved. Yes. Now, same thing with your father. He had one restaurant? And my aunt had—well, his sister had the hotel next to the restaurant. But now, it wasn’t always in the same place, his restaurant wasn’t always in the same place, was it? No, it wasn’t. He had, what I remember, he had about two more. They’re all on First Street—he started off on the north side, and then he came up through the south. And then when he moved again, he moved again on the south side? UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 22 Yes. Did you always live directly behind it? Always. So that when he moved his restaurant, he also moved his family? Yes. And other people lived Downtown behind their stores like this? Well, right on the same street there, next to Dad’s restaurant, there was a (unintelligible) bar, and then a little jewelry store, and right on the corner was Palms. And then across the street from there on the same street was the Playland, it was a bar there. And there was a little market there, they used to call it the Mesquite, that I remember, and then a little farther down was another bus stop—I just don’t remember exactly the name of it. I should remember, but I just can’t think. And there was another hotel across the street from Dad’s restaurant, they used to call it the Charleston Hotel, and then right on the corner right there next to it was the Review paper. The Review-Journal? Yes, that’s where it was. Who owned it, do you remember it? No, I don’t remember. Was it the only paper in town? That I remember, yes. And a little farther down from, I think First and Carson, across the street from there was Elwell’s Hotel, right on the corner, across the street from there was Von Tobel’s store, and then on the next building from there was—I don’t know, it might be in the gas when you pay your gas bills, a little bakery right there that I remember. And down farther on Carson UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 23 was a big store right where the Palace Theatre was, a little farther up on Carson was the Market Spot. That was a very famous store at that time was the Market Spot. Was it big? It was a very big store, yes. Was it groceries? Groceries, yes. Nothing else? (Unintelligible) groceries, yes. Where did you shop? Well, we did most of our shopping there at Market Spot. For the restaurant? For the restaurant, yes. Do you remember who owned it? No. And then I remember when they built the first Safeway, and that was on Second Street, the first Safeway was built in Las Vegas. And now, none of these—Market Spot isn’t there today. No. Neither is Safeway. Nothing’s there now. Nothing. Everything’s gone. And primarily hotels. Hotels and parking lots. UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 24 Do you remember anything about the city government, who was mayor at the time or police chief, or? Well, I remember Glen Jones, and he was sheriff here at that time that I remember. And the one that used to work with him was Harry (Unintelligible), I remember him. And I don’t know of too many. Right. Now, leaving Las Vegas, just Downtown Las Vegas, for just a minute, the areas outside of Las Vegas—for example, Las Vegas Proper, Glitter Gulch—what about Westside? Oh, Westside, it’s been there for quite a long time. Was it called Westside at that time? That I remember, yes. They used to call it the Old Town, but I remember, it was Westside. Now, was it very populated—what was over there, can you tell me anything about Westside? Well, most little homes, that I remember. We used to cross a track to go over there, because I had an aunt that used to live over there. Where? On 63 G. Street. On G. Street? Yes. But it wasn’t a racially segregated area as it has been now, I mean, it has become (unintelligible) Black— Most (unintelligible) since they made that freeway, but there is a few little homes out there yet that I remember. But I remember we used to cross the tracks to go over there to visit my aunt. UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 25 Was that considered a nice section of town? Well, I liked it, it was real nice. Everybody was very friendly up that way. And now, did you have any Blacks at this time in Las Vegas when you were growing up? Yes, we did. Where were they? Well, most up towards Westside. Towards Westside? Yes. Can you be more specific? Well, they most lived up that way, Westside, that I remember. On, say—well, G. Street was pretty far out, wasn’t it, at the time? Yes. A little closer up, maybe, where the underpass used to be around there—way in the back, far back. What about Downtown—were there any Negroes living Downtown? Not that I remember. Did you go to school with any? Yes, I did. Did they have any difficulty, did you notice any prejudice? No, not at all. We got along very good with them. What about the Mexican-Americans? Did you have any difficulty? Nothing at all, it was just wonderful, got along real good. That sounds great. What about the other areas going out towards the Strip, what is today the Strip? UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 26 Well, what I remember, when they built the Rancho Vegas, then across the street from there, I think, farther down must have been the Bingo Club they built, and then they started building the little clubs here and there that I remember. Now, when you were growing up here as a kid, was it Rancho Vegas—do you remember approximately when it was built? No. Do you remember anything about them building it? No. I don’t remember the year, no. But it was built while you were living here? Yes. I mean, can you tell me anything about it? Oh, it was famous, I remember that, ‘cause it was a beautiful hotel. Did you go out to it ever before it burned down? No, I never did. I see. I used to pass by there, but I never been inside or anything like that. Now, it was one of the first on the Strip, do you remem—well, you’ve been here, of course, since all the hotels have been built and you’ve seen a real change. Oh, yes, everything is not there no more. (Laughs) When you were a child, though, what was along Sahara, anything? Nothing, that I remember. How far did the homes extend out that way? Gee, I don’t remember, really, to tell you. UNLV University Libraries Celia Rivero Grenfell 27 You didn’t have occasion to really—? No, really go out too much, because my parents were always in the restaurant, and we hardly ever went—stuck around in the main town, that’s about it. And of course, that’s all desert. Yes. Do you gamble? No. And so you wouldn’t have occasion, really, to go into it? Oh, okay. Do you remember any of the celebrities who came here? Did you ever go out to see? Oh, yeah, you mean like movie stars? Yes. Oh, yeah, go to the hotels once in a while. Do you remember any of the other areas in Las Vegas? Well, like, the Old Ranch—I used to go swimming a lot there, too. Describe it. What do you remember about it? It was so pretty; it was just beau