Oral history interviews with Eva Futch conducted by Claytee D. White on November 02, 2010 and November 10, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Futch begins by discussing her personal history in Sweden, describing her early life, education, and what life was like in Sweden. She continues by describing her involvement in the boxing industry through her husband, Eddie Futch, who was a prominent boxing trainer. Futch provides insight into various aspects of boxing, how her husband trained fighters, and provides details on how the industry operates and the athletes she met. Futch describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1995 and the boxing events she was involved with in the city. She also goes through a series of photographs and memorabilia of her husband and explains their history and significance.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Louis A. Tabat conducted by Jo Anne Marshall on March 30, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Tabat discusses his personal history in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tabat describes being stationed at Nellis Air Force Base and searching for housing in Henderson, Nevada because of lack of housing in Las Vegas. He also describes his television repair business, how Las Vegas has developed and changed, and life in North Las Vegas, Nevada. Lastly, he talks about nuclear testing, being a constable for the North Las Vegas Township, and his religious affiliations.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Helen Winthrop conducted by Ron Valles on February 20, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Winthrop discusses her personal history and living in Las Vegas, Nevada. Winthrop describes her family, education, and marriage to her husband. She also describes her recreational activities and places she has traveled with her family. Winthrop explains the differences between the Las Vegas Strip and the rest of the city, as well as how Las Vegas is developing and changing. She goes on to discuss irrigation and agriculture in Las Vegas, the effects of nuclear testing in Nevada, and nuclear power. Winthrop concludes the interview by expressing her opinions on future development of the city and what environmental protections she thinks should be implemented.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charles Silvestri conducted by Claytee D. White on December 31, 2012 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Silvestri begins by discussing his family history and his personal history in the United States Army during the 1950s. He describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1957 after leaving the army, working as a casino dealer at The Mint Hotel and Casino and California Club while attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, called Nevada Southern University at the time. Silvestri then describes attending the University of Nevada, Reno to finish his degree and moving back to Las Vegas to begin his career as a teacher. Lastly, he talks about life in Las Vegas, entertainment in the city, race relations in Las Vegas during the 1960s, and the middle school that was named in his honor.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Steve Johnson conducted by Fred Reagan on March 20, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Johnson discusses his exposure to African American racial discrimination and segregation in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1950s to the 1970s. He discusses these experiences in markets, theaters, casinos, employment, and in common social interactions. Johnson also discusses the slow progression of social acceptance to racial integration and African Americans entering professional fields.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Patricia Brinton, Margaret Carnell, and Sharon Von Tobel Schmitt conducted by Lois Goodall on April 30, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview Brinton, Carnell, and Schmitt discuss their grandparents, Ed Von Tobel Sr. and Mary Hameril. They also discuss their own parents, growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Von Tobel lumberyard, Helldorado Days, and how Las Vegas has grown.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Helen E. La Plant conducted by Claytee D. White on October 08, 2003 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. La Plant begins by discussing her early life in Minneapolis, Minnesota during the 1920s and 1930s and joining the United States Army at the age of twenty-one. La Plant then describes serving in Okinawa, Japan after World War II as a photographer for the Signal Corps. La Plant describes her return from Japan and decision to attend photography school in New York City, New York. La Plant then chronicles her experiences moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the late 1950s to work at the Nevada Test Site as a photographer. She then recounts the shift from aboveground atomic testing to underground testing and her role as head of the photography department at the Nevada Test Site. Lastly, La Plant talks about entertainment during the 1960s in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Roosevelt Toston conducted by Claytee D. White on July 11, 2006 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Toston discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1950s and his various careers at the Test Site, Bell Telephone of Nevada, as a television anchorman and cameraman, and the Convention and Visitors Authority to bring conventions to Las Vegas. He also talks about ways African American entrepreneurs might get involved in the convention business.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Irving Kirshbaum conducted by Cheryl Rogers on February 23, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Kirshbaum discusses the Riviera Hotel where he began working in 1955. He also talks about the landscape of the Las Vegas Strip in the 1950s, and the state of gambling, comps, customer service, and dealer training. Kirshabum discusses the treatment of minorities at the Riviera and in Las Vegas, Nevada generally.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Rosa Lee Brewer, Maxine Westby, and Angelia Carter conducted by Claytee D. White on April 17, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Brewer discusses her early life in Birmingham, Alabama and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1957. Brewer and Westby remember living in the Westside, J Street and Jackson Street businesses, and the issue of homelessness in that area. Later, Brewer, Westby, and Carter discuss the schools on the Westside and school integration. Lastly, Brewer, Westby, and Carter discuss changes in the Westside.
Archival Collection