Oral history interview with Shirley Mudra conducted by Barbara Tabach on November 30, 2011 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview Shirley Mudra discusses life as the wife of a Nevada Test Site manager, family life in Las Vegas, Nevada, details of Las Vegas post 1966, and friendships in the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Pete Menefee conducted by Su Kim Chung on April 14, 2016 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Menefee begins the interview by talking about his childhood in San Diego, California, where he took dancing classes starting at the age of ten. He discusses working as a dancer on shows starring Dick Van Dyke, Terry Gar, Goldie Hawn, and Elvis. Menefee recalls working in shows and musicals including Bye Bye Birdie, Fair Lady, and Viva Las Vegas. He describes his evolution as a costume designer and stage designer from his childhood creating miniature stages of Disney shows to creating costumes for shows on the Las Vegas Strip, Nevada. He also talks about surviving the MGM Grand fire in 1980.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stanley Hyman conducted by Eleanor G. Doble on March 10, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Hyman discusses population growth in Las Vegas, Nevada and its transition into a metropolitan city. Hyman also discusses the kind of influence that Howard Hughes had in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hyman later discusses the first major convention held at the convention hall in Las Vegas, Nevada and his business in home insurance.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gloria Dea Anzalone conducted by Claytee D. White on October 22, 2022 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Gloria Dea describes her childhood in Oakland, California where she learned the art of magic from her father. Her family moved to Sacramento where Gloria Dea first performed in Breuners Department Store and by age twelve, she was working in nighclubs. Later in Hollywood, Gloria Dea danced in several films and entertained in USO shows. She performed in 1941 at the Last Frontier and the El Rancho - some of the earliest places on what was later the Las Vegas Strip. In the interview, she recalls time serving as president of both the Women's Club of Burbank, Hadassah, and the board of American Guild of Variery Artists.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Helen D. Newman conducted by Keri Morgan on March 11, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Newman discusses her early life and why she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. She discusses changes in the city from housing developments to growth in education due to the construction of additional schools and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She also discusses the construction of new hotels and resorts. Newman later describes the growth of the Girl Scouts in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert F. Gilbert conducted by Rosemary Howe on February 2, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Gilbert first talks about his educational background in Las Vegas, Nevada. He then talks about his political involvement, activity in social clubs, early air conditioning, and the illegal production of whiskey. He also talks about the Helldorado Parade, railroad activity, and early policing practices in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mike Smith conducted by Claytee D. White on August 17, 2018 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Smith discusses his early life in Santa Clara, California and his early interest in art. He describes the first drawings he did, drawing political cartoons, and drawing about controversial ideas. Smith remembers moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1983 and becoming the cartoonist for the
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tami Belt conducted by Claytee D. White on July 26, 2017 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
Tami Belt talks about learning to play golf on the Municipal Golf course where her father worked as a PGA teaching professional. She discusses life in Las Vegas, her family's professions in the city, and shops on Fremont Street like Ronzone's Department Store. Tami shares her career working in public relations and the work she has done with non-profit organizations to combat childhood cancer and homelessness.
Subjects discussed include: Nick Pahor; Emil Pahor; Cancer Camp for Kids
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Geraldine Kirk-Hughes conducted by Claytee D. White on April 28, 2011 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
In this interview, Geraldine Kirk-Hughes discusses her educational background, previous occupations, and her decision to attend law school in Reno, Nevada in 1984. Kirk-Hughes shares details of passing the bar exam in 1988, opening her one-woman law firm shortly thereafter, and her affiliation with the National Bar Association (NBA). She recalls how she met Charles Kellar, various cases she represented, and her experiences with racism both directed at herself and her clients of color.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carey Burke conducted by Terri Goodsell on March 12, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Burke talks about his schooling at St. Joseph’s Catholic School and Rancho High School. Burke also talks about the recreational activities he took part in during schooling, such as going to Lake Mead and joining a YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) camp. Burke then describes the Helldorado customs and his hobby of collecting gaming memorabilia.
Archival Collection