On March 6, 1981, Laronda D. Tinsley interviewed Gwendolyn Weekes Rahner (born August 14th, 1923 in Atlantic City, New Jersey) at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada. In this interview, Mrs. Rahner discusses working in politics and registering people to vote in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also discusses living in West Las Vegas and her experiences there.
On February 28, 1980, Paul Gentle interviewed Luella Knuckles (b. 1910 in Impolla, Texas) about life as an African-American in Las Vegas, Nevada. Knuckles talks to Gentle about the conditions that African-Americans lived in and the discrimination they faced when first arriving to the city. Knuckles, in particular, spends a portion of the interview discussing the segregated layout of Las Vegas and the jobs and opportunities that were available for the black community in a segregated town. Moreover, she provides anecdotes about her deceased husband’s employment, their experience buying and repairing a property by themselves, and the changes in attitudes as the city desegregated. The conversation later focuses on the Church’s place in the African-American community, education and participation in church activities, and Knuckle’s personal love for books and Bible study.
In 1964, the year that Vincent Kethen was born, desegregation of Las Vegas schools began. Like many African-American children living in the Las Vegas Westside neighborhood, Vincent was bused out of his neighborhood in third grade to attend a white school. In his case, this meant attending John S. Park Elementary and later other predominantly white schools. He talks about these experiences. John S. Park was a neighborhood of manicured lawns, while the school bus and the classroom were places fraught with fisticuffs. The experience of growing up during that era are recalled. Vincent provides a sense of that it was like to reside in his home neighborhood and the onslaught of the drug culture altered gang-lead neighborhoods. Being bused had positive results he explains, such as athletics, which served as an equalizer. For Vincent, a solid upbringing, which included love of church and the chance to attend college, encouraged him to make good decisions about his future. He received a four-year degree and he returned to Las Vegas to "give back." For over a decade and a half, her has coached young basketball players and helped them see their options for a brighter future than they might otherwise have seen.
Bud Weil worked as a disc jockey in Mexico after serving in the military during World War II. In 1947, he moved to Las Vegas to work at KLAS but after two days he was job hunting. His search landed him at KENO, a radio station owned by Max and Laura Belle Kelch. His was an interview show that afforded him entree to stars performing in town. The list of his favorite interviews includes Sophie Tucker, Sammy Davis, Jack Benny, The Mills Brother, Rosemary Clooney, Leno Home, Joey Lewis and many others. In 1955, he became restless, left the career in broadcasting, and joined Max Kelch as a partner in a new venture for Las Vegas - Musak. This enterprise took him to the doors of every business in town and shortly, he knew everybody. He uses that knowledge in this interview to talk about all aspects of life as the town grew over the years. Today he is a senior statesman of our town, enjoying everything about Las Vegas except the traffic.
Starts with a KVBC Channel 3 opening followed by "A Chorus Line" advertisement, and gold watch advertisement. Next segment starts with a packaged opening for KVBC Channel 3, a news story on the proposed national gas tax, a story on the secret Area 10 military base near Tonopah, Nevada, a woman who was hit by a street light, followed by more commercials by Nevada Savings, the Holiday Casino's gaming, entertainment, and buffet offers. The next segment starts with an economic study story. Anchor Gwen Castaldi introduces a story on Vegas World, Stupak and the new show "Outrageous Vegas," which was performed in a room used during the day as the casino's race and sports book. The commercial set following includes pieces on the Inperial Palace Auto Show, a spot for the Associated Podiatry Group, and a Chevron credit card commercial. The sports segment features stories on football coach John Robinson leaving USC, boxing in Las Vegas, the UNLV Running Rebels featuring Sidney Green, the NFL, Steve Garvey, a construction update on Cashman Field, skiing report, and a fishing report. Commercials in the next segment feature ads by the Las Vegas Sun, Stanwell Mortgage, and Fairway Chevrolet. The weather segment is followed by commercials by Royal Transmission, and the Las Vegas Hilton presents the Moulin Rouge du Paris production show. The show continues with a travel segment featuring b-roll from McCarran International Airport before ending. The tape continues with more news segments and a replay of the earlier show including the Stupak interview. Different segments and commercials include, Follies Bregere at the Tropicana, Gordon's Jewlers, Mineral Bank, news segments, American Denture Service, the announcement of the "Las Vegas Stars" as the new name for the AAA baseball team, NBA coverage, Las Vegas Dodge, Vons, Tom Jones at Caesars Palace, Nevada State Bank, and La Mesa RV. The tape continues with News 13 newscast. Stories include the shooting of Metro officer James McClarren and the preliminary hearing of his alleged shooter, 15-year-old Hector Vento, various other court cases, a story on rent increases at Bonanza Village, coverage of COMDEX Computer Convention, a story in the Gaurdian Angles security group pulling back services on the Las Vegas Strip, and a story on a cheating ring centered around Vegas World. The segment discusses Vegas World cooperation, security upgrades including cameras and video recorders, Metro's anti-cheating detail headed by Sgt. Dennis Caputo, and various cheating scams. The sports segment features a story on the UNLV Rebels football team and sophomore quarterback Randall Cunningham. Includes Channel 8's wrap up of the cheating scams at Vegas World as reported by Steve Shorr. Original media VHS, color, aspect ratio 4 x 3, frame size 720 x 486.
Archival Collection
Bob Stupak Professional Papers
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Collection Number: MS-01016 Collection Name: Bob Stupak Professional Papers Box/Folder: Digital File 00, Box 40