Oral history interview with Vadeem Volansky, Anastasia Popovich, and Amdrei Skoro conducted by Jan Biggerstaff in approximately 2008 for the Let;s Runaway and Join the Circus Oral History Project. In this interview, Volansky reflects upon his upbringing in Ukraine, his entrance into circus college, and his competitions before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to perform in shows such as Mystere. Popovich discusses her upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada, while her father worked in a show at the Circus Circus. She reflects upon having the show animals at home, how she trained for the circus, and eventually worked in the theater at the Aladdin, later Planet Hollywood. Skoro discusses his upbringing in Chelyabinsk, Russia, military operations before the city name was changed to Ozersk, and his entrance into circus school. Digital transcript available; no audio recording.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Morris B. “Moe” Dalitz conducted by Brenda Baxter in 1977 and 1978 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In these interviews, Dalitz discusses his upbringing and military service prior to entering the nightclub and casino industry. He then discusses his arrival in Las Vegas, Nevada and partnership with Wilbur Clark at the Desert Inn. He describes the process by which he purchased land for a golf course behind the Desert Inn, and the impacts of desert water rights on the development of the golf course. He then discusses his involvement with The Stardust, segregation policies, skimming and corruption among Las Vegas hotels and casinos, and future plans for a hotel and casino in Downtown Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
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
The Kenneth Giles Professional Papers (1964-2001) contain documents and visual material related to Giles's time as an Environmental Radiation Monitor for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). Photographic slides, film, and digital images depict the general flora and fauna throughout the area surrounding the NTS. Visual materials also document specific mule deer and steer surveillance and testing at the EPA Farm located within the NTS. The collection also contains environmental reports written or collected by Giles, government documents, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings related to environmental monitoring and Giles's work at NTS. A small portion of the collection documents his brief role providing monitoring support at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania in 1979. Note: Some images may be of a graphic or disturbing nature and may not be suitable for some users. Photographs may contain scenes of animal testing or other objectionable imagery.
Archival Collection
The Dennis McBride Personal Papers (approximately 1920-2023) contain the papers of local historian and activist Dennis McBride. Papers include correspondence between McBride and many prominent members of the Las Vegas, Nevada LGBTQ community; financial and employment records from McBride's time at University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the Nevada State Museum; publications, press, and research surrounding McBride's numerous written works, unpublished and published; and family history, correspondence, and other personal documents. The collection also contains McBride's detailed personal date books and diaries that span multiple decades. Some audiovisual material and correspondence exist as digital files.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Steve Wynn conducted by David Schwartz on December 8, 2006 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. In this interview, Wynn discusses his relationship with Jay Sarno and Sarno's development of the Atlanta Cabana Motel in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as the early days of of Caesars Palace and Circus Circus in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
The Howard Hughes Film Production Records (1912-1992) represent Howard R. Hughes, Jr.'s Hollywood film production achievements through records from companies owned or established by Hughes. The bulk of the records date between 1926 and 1960 and include production and corporate materials from sixteen films, as well as materials related to Hughes' organizations outside of film development. Materials include documents, photographic prints and negatives, blueprints, line drawings, newspaper clippings, posters, paintings, and artifacts.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Cathrine Abrigo conducted by Cecilia Winchell and Stefani Evans on July 20, 2022 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Abrigo describes her early life in the Philippines, where she attended Catholic school and briefly studied medical technology in college. She describes immigrating to Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband and the difficulty of leaving her immediate family behind. She discusses working for the Cosmopolitan in 2011 and becoming deeply involved with the Culinary Workers Union Local 226. Throughout the interview, Abrigo talks about religion, food, and her activism with the Culinary Union.
Archival Collection
Oral history with Marclem Hernandez conducted by Cecilia Winchell, Stefani Evans, and Claytee D. White on June 30, 2022 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Hernandez begins the interview by describing the lengthy immigration process throughout his childhood that separated him from his mother for five years, as they lived in both the Manila, Philippines and Las Vegas, Nevada. After switching schools several times while living in Las Vegas, Hernandez graduated from Southwest Career and Technical Academy before attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) for a degree in criminal justice. After graduating UNLV, Hernandez describes attending Georgia Southern University for a master's degree in higher education. He discusses his experience living in southern Georgia, embracing certain parts of the culture, and what switching to virtual education was like during the COVID-19 pandemic. After finishing his degree online in Las Vegas, Hernandez became President Keith Whitfield's assistant at UNLV. He discusses the close relationship he has developed with the president, including how they shaped his own aspirations.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Rona and David Mendelson conducted by Barbara Tabach on April 26, 2016 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Rona and David Mendelson describe moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1973 as a married couple and how they became board members of Congregation Ner Tamid, which led them to getting involved with the small and growing Jewish community. They discuss their activities and their current family ties within the Jewish community in Las Vegas. As educators, they also delve into their experiences with the school system in Southern Nevada and the discrimination they faced as Jewish educators and parents.
Archival Collection