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Estelle and Julia Elliott oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03821

Abstract

Oral history interview with Estelle and Julia Elliott conducted by Vanessa Concepcion and Stefani Evans on December 2, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.

Twins Estrellita "Estelle" and Julieta "Julia" Elliott share their personal histories growing up in Cebu City, Philippines with their grandparents. They discuss moving to the United States to live with their parents after the death of their grandfather, and how they preserved their "tricultural" Castilian Spanish, Filipino, and American identities. After graduating from Stevens College, an art and academic school in Missouri, Estelle recounts marrying her husband and moving to Las Vegas where she gave birth to her daughter. Julia shares how she followed Estelle a few years later to Las Vegas, and the two women share their experiences as entertainers on the Las Vegas Strip. Both Estelle and Julia joined Minsky's Burlesque before becoming a permanent act in Siegfried and Roy's show at the Frontier Hotel. They also discuss their performances with Kirby VanBurch at the Aladdin's Abracadabra Show, dancing at the Playboy Mansion, and how Siegfried and Roy helped to diversify Las Vegas entertainment by incorporating dancers and performers of color, like the King Charles Troupe, into their shows.

Archival Collection

Lucela M. Wattin oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03822

Abstract

Oral history interview with Lucela M. Wattin conducted by Stefani Evans on December 6, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.

Lucela shares memories of her life growing up in Cebu Province, Philippines and being raised by her mother and grandparents after her father's death. She talks about immigrating to the United States under her fiancée's visa, moving to Chinatown in Las Vegas, and her work as a busser at the Excalibur Hotel. Lucela discusses how joining the Culinary Workers Union improved her work conditions and benefits, and how she is working with the union and a legal attorney to help her daughter immigrate to America. She also shares her favorite Filipino dishes (sinagang, chicken adobo, and bugas mais), holiday traditions, and what life was like when casinos shut down during COVID-19.

Archival Collection

Owen S. Bunker, Mary F. Botts Miller, LaRue and Richard Worthen, and Janice Zobrist oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02125

Abstract

Oral history interview with Owen S. Bunker, Mary F. Botts Miller, LaRue and Richard Worthen, and Janice Zobrist conducted by Claytee D. White and Karen Schank on June 12, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, participants discuss their relationship to the Old Mormon Fort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Miller talks about her family’s involvement at the Fort and remembers school integration. Richard and LaRue recall moving to Las Vegas in 1942 and describe the old Las Vegas creek. Bunker talks about his uncle’s involvement at the Fort raising hogs and cultivating fig trees, and remembers the Quinn Dairy Farms business. Lastly, Zobrist discusses growing up in Las Vegas and being a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.

Archival Collection

Shar Rednour and Jackie Strano Papers on S.I.R. Productions

Identifier

MS-01077

Abstract

The Shar Rednour and Jackie Strano Papers on S.I.R. Productions (1981-2015) contain the personal and professional papers of Rednour and Strano, two lesbian filmmakers, writers, and activists from the 1990s until the 2010s. The collection contains the personal papers of both Rednour and Strano, including correspondence between the pair before they married in 2006. The collection also contains the professional files of Rednour and Strano in their capacity as creators of SIR (Sex, Indulgence, and Rock and Roll) Video in 1998. Materials include financial documents, correspondence, scripts and editing notes, crew information, publicity photographs, and direct order forms for S.I.R. Productions. In addition to records on SIR Video, the collection also contains a number of sex-positive and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) publications from the LGBTQ scene in San Francisco, California during the 1990s.

Archival Collection

Cassius Smith oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03819

Abstract

Oral history interview with Cassius Smith conducted by Claytee D. White on November 16, 2021 for African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project.

Cassius talks about his childhood and early interest in fashion design. He describes his chance encounter with a FUBU employee on a train in New York that opened the door to a ten year career with the hip hop clothing line and other clothing designers. Cassius talks about his decision to move to Las Vegas after attending the MAGIC Fashion Trade Show, and how he settled in the city just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. He shares what life has been like since the move and his current entrepreneurial pursuits, including designing a new clothing line with his nephew.

Archival Collection

Zia U. Khan oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03768

Abstract

Oral history interview with Zia U. Khan conducted by Vanessa Concepcion, Cecilia Winchell, and Stefani Evans on May 21, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.

Zia talks about his childhood growing up in Zambia, Africa and reflects on the personal histories of his family. Zia shares how he returned to his birth country of India to attend medical school before immigrating to the United States to complete his cardiology residency at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Zia also discusses his move to Las Vegas where he opened his own cardiology practice, Desert Cardiovascular Consultants. He shares stories of his work as well as his philanthropic efforts with the Imagine Foundation and other humanitarian causes.

Archival Collection

Jimmy Lee oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03771

Abstract

Oral history interview with Jimmy Lee conducted by Vanessa Concepcion, Kristel Peralta, and Stefani Evans on May 25, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.

Jimmy shares his family's history as entertainers and producers in Korea and their migration to the United States when Jimmy was six years old. He talks about their move to Durham, North Carolina and their relocation to Las Vegas, his education, and his current business, mentorship, and philanthropic pursuits.

Subjects discussed include: Arirang Sisters; Jo Mackey Sixth Grade Center; Nevada's tax structure; Commercial Center

Archival Collection

Rozita Lee oral history interviews

Identifier

OH-03773

Abstract

Oral history interviews with Rozita Lee conducted by Stefani Evans, Cecilia Winchell, Kristel Peralta, Vanessa Concepcion, Jerwin Tiu, and Su Kim Chung on June 1, 2021, April 12, 2022, and May 18, 2023 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Rozita shares her experiences growing up on a sugar plantation with her family in Hawaii. She talks about the benefits her family received and the "privileged" life she led with her father as the plantation boss, allowing her household to have electricity, plumbing, and a telephone. Rozita discusses her use of Pidgin English amongst her peers and "good English" in her household, and the roles and responsibilities her parents had working on the plantation. She shares what life was like day to day and what she remembers growing up during World War II including hearing air raid sirens and hanging blackout curtains in her home. Rozita also talks about meeting her husband, Clifford Lee, in high school, their marriage in 1979, and how the couple came to move to Las Vegas. In the second interview, Lee discusses pursuing a bachelor's degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), working with Governor Miller and Bob Bailey, and her involvement in a Polynesian show at Imperial Palace for eighteen years.

Archival Collection

Aaron Shayne Manfredi oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03823

Abstract

Oral history interview with Aaron Shayne Manfredi conducted by Barbara Tabach on December 8, 2021 for the Veterans Oral History Project of Southern Nevada.

Aaron discusses enlisting in the United States Navy after graduating high school and his service from 1993-1996. He talks about his education, his advanced degrees, and his scholarship and service as a University of Nevada, Las Vegas alumnus and President of the UNLV Alumni Veterans Club. Aaron also shares his employment history and current entrepreneurial pursuits as a real estate agent and owner of a landscaping company.

Archival Collection

Chris Lee oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03824

Abstract

Oral history interview with Chris Lee conducted by Cecelia Winchell and Stefani Evans on December 14, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.

Judge Chris Lee reflects on the lives of his parents, their occupations and experiences during the Korean War, and his family's decision to immigrate from Incheon, South Korea to Las Vegas. He recalls memories from his childhood visiting family in Korea, Korean traditions and food, his educational pursuits, and the livelihood of his parents after immigrating. Chris also shares details of his employment history as Deputy District Attorney for the Clark County District Attorney’s Office, as Deputy Secretary of State for Southern Nevada, as the first Asian American elected to the Clark County Justice Court bench, and presently as Judge in Department 1 of the North Las Vegas Municipal Court.

Archival Collection