Oral history interview with Helen Jamison Baker conducted by Rod Lotspeich on March 12, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Baker discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1932. She talks about housing at the time, Six Companies, Inc., and the development of Boulder City, Nevada in the 1930s. Baker describes the construction of the Hoover Dam, and the increase of convention centers in Las Vegas through the 1960s and 1970s. Lastly, Baker compares living in Henderson, Nevada to her past experience living in Boulder City.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Valma Alvarez von Holt conducted by Claytee D. White on February 06, 2018 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, von Holt discusses her early life and arriving to Pahrump, Nevada in 1994. She talks about her interest in amateur radio, raising horses, and purchasing forty acres of land. Von Holt recalls building a farm and her involvement in launching a local women’s group. Lastly, von Holt discusses the role women had during World War II and radio broadcasting during that time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Louise Riley conducted by Bryan Neel on March 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Riley discusses her life after moving to Boulder City, Nevada in 1946, and later moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. Riley describes dates with her husband on the Las Vegas Strip, which included visiting clubs or watching Liberace perform. Riley also discusses her husband's job as an accountant at the Hoover (Boulder) Dam, as well as briefly discussing her experiences viewing nuclear weapons tests.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charles F. Sells conducted by Noble B. Young on March 13, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sells describes his personal history in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sells discusses how Las Vegas has changed, the jobs he has held, and the death of his wife. Sells also discusses his enjoyment of going out with his wife to gamble at the casinos when he was younger, meeting Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, playing in a local softball team, and his business, an industrial laundry cleaning plant.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Martin A. Sherman conducted by his daughter, Marta Sherman, on March 17, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sherman discusses his personal history and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada from Wichita, Kansas in 1957. Sherman discusses jobs he had, including police officer with the Henderson Police Department and as a locksmith. He also describes involvement with the United Commercial Travelers of America organization. Sherman also discusses how Las Vegas has changed and his own aspirations for himself and his business.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Byron Shutt conducted by Jack Andrews on March 09, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Shutt discusses the history of Henderson, Nevada after moving there from Missouri in 1949. Shutt describes hitchhiking his way to Las Vegas, Nevada from Missouri, meeting Jim Thorpe in Thorpe's Henderson supper club, and the legalization of gambling in Henderson. Shutt also discusses mining operations in Henderson, chemical plants in Henderson such as the Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada plant, housing, and the Henderson school system.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert M. Smith conducted by Mary Ellen Crane on March 15, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Smith discusses his career in cosmetology and being a hair dresser for shows in Las Vegas, Nevada casinos, such as the Copa Line in the Sands Hotel & Casino. He also describes owning his own salon, how entertainment and casinos have changed in Las Vegas, and aspects of the beauty industry in Nevada. Smith concludes by talking about Las Vegas' growth and his experiences in real estate.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Erick Spiess conducted by Gretchen Spiess on June 29, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Spiess discusses the history of the Nevada Test Site, and briefly discusses Las Vegas, Nevada history. Spiess describes his career as the technical liaison at the Nevada Test Site working for EG & G, Inc. and the research performed there, including the model town built to observe the effects of a nuclear weapon on an urban area. Spiess goes on to discuss how Las Vegas residents reacted to the testing, and how Las Vegas has changed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Earl Stokes conducted by his son, William R. Stokes, on March 02, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Stokes discusses working in the moving and shipping industry of Las Vegas, Nevada. Stokes talks about the history of the companies he worked for, the condition of roads in Las Vegas during the 1960s, and who he moved materials for, including the Las Vegas Convention Center and Nellis Air Force Base. He continues, discussing life in Las Vegas, the Helldorado Parades, and how Las Vegas has changed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Max Velasquez conducted by Janice F. Hurtubise on March 08, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Velasquez discusses his personal history as a construction worker in Las Vegas, Nevada. He describes the construction projects he worked on and the differences between 1950s construction and construction at the current time. Velasquez goes on to discuss the government regulations workers had to follow, how water pipelines were laid, and the types of equipment used in construction. Lastly, Velasquez talks about the bidding process for contractors and environmental changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection