Oral history interview with Frank Cope conducted by Marianne Johnson on March 15, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Cope describes his occupation as distribution superintendent at the Las Vegas Valley Water District and meeting his wife who also worked for the water district as a secretary in the engineering department. Cope also mentions multiple organizations and committees that he was a part of.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Haines conducted by Thomas S. Hager on March 25, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Haines discusses moving to Reno, Nevada in 1931 and later to Tonopah, Nevada to be a card dealer. He describes building the Town Hall Casino, and explains how local troops stationed in Tonopah were the customer base until the bombings in Japan during the end of WWII. Lastly, Haines discusses his employment at the Frontier Club, mobster Bugsy Siegel, and how the mob influenced the gaming industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gaelan Felt conducted by Perry Kaufman in approximately 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Felt describes working at the Nevada Test Site and the effect the site had on Las Vegas, Nevada. Felt explains why Nevada was chosen as the location for the site, how they tested nuclear weapons, and how the local residents responded to the tests with varying levels of concern. He also talks about other aspects of the test site's history, such as workers' housing, and how Las Vegas has developed and changed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carol Forsythe conducted by Sam Copeland on March 02, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Forsythe discusses her husband’s career as a firefighter, specifically facts about the growth of the Clark County Fire Department. Forsythe later talks about the different residences at which she and her family lived and the developmental changes to Las Vegas, Nevada since she first arrived. Forsythe then discusses the Helldorado tradition and its changes as well as her family’s Episcopalian faith and the churches they attended.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Patricia Marchese conducted by Helen F. Knorr on February 24, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Marchese discusses her life in Morehead, Kentucky before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. She discusses her administrative work with the City of Las Vegas, the Rainbow Company Youth Theatre, the Allied Arts Council of Southern Nevada, and the KNPR Nevada radio station. Marchese also discusses the cultural future of Las Vegas, her reactions to this future as a parent, and the value of the city's image to citizens and visitors.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dorothy Lee conducted by Claytee D. White on June 02, 2016 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Lee discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada and recalls horse riding from Paradise Township to downtown Las Vegas. After moving to the John S. Park neighborhood, she attended Las Vegas High School and worked at the Huntridge Theater as an usher. She also discusses her time working as an elevator operator at the Riviera and how she became a Rhythmette in her second year in high school.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marie Padgett conducted by Tori Ascolillo on April 30, 1986 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Padgett discusses her family moving from Arkansas to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1955. Padgett discusses her involvement in local organizations including the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, the Women's Council, and the Allied Arts Council. She later discusses changes in Las Vegas such as the building of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the growth of the Strip, World War II, and atomic bomb testing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mark Whitmore conducted by William M. Paradiss on March 03, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Whitmore discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada since 1948 and recalls his family history. Whitmore then describes the growth of Las Vegas, specifically the expansion toward the west side of the city. Whitmore later discusses social and environmental changes, the increase in pollution, and recreational activities at the time. Lastly, Whitmore recalls his experience as a student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas during the mid-1960s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with David L. Weide conducted by Claytee D. White on May 31, 2007 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Weide discusses his career as a geologist, teaching geology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the history of the University of Las Vegas, Nevada. Weide begins by explaining the history behind the name "Blue Diamond Village," how he came to study geology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the employment process at UNLV. He describes the geological history of Nevada, hosting his own folk music program on the local radio station, KNPR, and his opinions on UNLV's intention to become a "Research One" institution.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Walter Casey conducted by Claytee D. White on November 15, 2004 and January 13, 2005 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Walter Casey discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada from 1951 with a business-related perspective. Topics that he discusses include: Paradise Valley before development; K-12 education before the creation of the Clark County School District; Chamber of Commerce; Las Vegas News Bureau; Live Wire Fund; the rise of corporate gaming; National Association of Manufacturers and lobbying. Casey then discusses the leisure activities that he would engage in including the Hualapai Club, as well as discussing the Southern Nevada Water Authority.
Archival Collection