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Transcript of interview with Evelyn Miller McDonald by Maylene C. Cabatingan, February 26 & 27, 1980
Date
Archival Collection
Description
On February 26, and 27, 1980, Maylene C. Cabatingan interviewed Evelyn Miller McDonald (born 1905 in Alderson, West Virginia) about her life in Las Vegas, Nevada. Also present during the interview is Maylene’s step-father (name unknown) who occasionally participates in the conversation. At the time of the interview, McDonald had lived in Nevada for over seventy-two years and described early Las Vegas as a small-town railroad community with few amenities. McDonald discusses her occupational history, and how her father started the first car garage in Las Vegas. She goes on to talk about the impact of the Great Depression on Las Vegas and how Hoover Dam’s construction reduced the severity of the financial depression in comparison to other cities. She then recites the hotels that were built and the appeal that Vegas had to tourists and divorcees. McDonald later discusses how prostitution was accepted by the community, and recalls a story about how local businessmen rallied together to ensure that a minister would preach the funeral for a young woman who had died, despite being a prostitute. McDonald concludes her interview with a brief discussion of her goals in life and her pride in her daughters.
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Reverend Marion D. Bennett, Sr. oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with Reverend Marion Bennett conducted by Claytee D. White on January 12, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the interview, Reverend Bennett gave his account of what Las Vegas, Nevada was like during the 1950s and 1960s. He talks about the Westside of Las Vegas during integration and speaks candidly about the racial tension that the community endured. Throughout the interview he spoke about well known early Las Vegans like Ruby Duncan, Mahlon Brown, Jack Anderson, and Dave Hoggard.
Archival Collection
Lloyd Bell oral history interview
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Abstract
Oral history interview with Lloyd Bell (born 1925 in Los Angeles) conducted by Joseph Butner on September 18, 1973 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Lloyd discusses the challenges of policing Las Vegas, Nevada where the population includes both permanent residents and tourists, and he mentions the issue of drug and narcotics addiction in the city as it relates to crime. Lloyd then talks about the development and growth of Las Vegas, as well as the environmental and social changes in the city. The interview then shifts to a discussion on the significance of legal gambling in Las Vegas, which then moves to a related discussion on the existence of organized crime in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Ruth Fyfe, K. Oscar Knudson, and Fern Olive oral history interview
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Abstract
Oral history interview with Ruth Fyfe, K. Oscar Knudson, and Fern Olive oral conducted by Susan Kendall on March 22, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. The three interviewees discuss their early experiences teaching in Las Vegas, Nevada elementary schools beginning between 1924 and 1926. Topics the interviewees discuss include interstate school sports events, physical education for girls, sports for girls, teacher shortages, and school overcrowding. They also discuss illegal gambling in Las Vegas, Nevada prior to 1931, as well as Fremont Street casino and bar development in relation to the Las Vegas Grammar School (currently known as the Historic Fifth Street School) and the Las Vegas High School (currently known as Las Vegas Academy of the Arts) after Nevada legalized gambling.
Archival Collection