Oral history interview with Juanita Kilburg conducted by Vicente Camacho on March 07, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Kilburg discusses the Boulder (Hoover) Dam, McCarran International Airport, Nellis Air Force Base, living in Las Vegas, Nevada during the Great Depression, and casinos. The interview concludes with a discussion on her work with the American Legion service organization.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Muriel Parks conducted by Judy Drappo on February 26, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Parks discusses her personal history and the history of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Parks discusses her career working at UNLV as the Director of Admissions and Records, and how the university has changed over time. Parks also discusses the career of Maude Frazier and their personal relationship.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Cathrine Abrigo conducted by Cecilia Winchell and Stefani Evans on July 20, 2022 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Abrigo describes her early life in the Philippines, where she attended Catholic school and briefly studied medical technology in college. She describes immigrating to Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband and the difficulty of leaving her immediate family behind. She discusses working for the Cosmopolitan in 2011 and becoming deeply involved with the Culinary Workers Union Local 226. Throughout the interview, Abrigo talks about religion, food, and her activism with the Culinary Union.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mary R. Stout conducted by Greg Rowland on February 20, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Stout discusses her personal history and living in Boulder City, Nevada. Stout describes living in "Ragtown," a makeshift settlement for workers constructing Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) before Boulder City was established. She also describes her father's duties as a pipe fitter while working on the construction of Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) and how Boulder City has changed and evolved. Stout concludes by talking about nuclear weapons tests, her careers, and gambling in Boulder City.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marjorie Pierce conducted by Andres Moses on January 17, 2006 for the Living to Dance: Tapping in Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Pierce discusses her early life in Kansas City, Missouri and becoming a dancer at a young age. She talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1951, performing at the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino and the Dunes Hotel and Casino, and being cast in the musical
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Hal G. Curtis conducted by Bill Teepe on February 24, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Curtis talks first about his work on the Union Pacific Railroad before discussing changes and development in Las Vegas, Nevada, including development on the Strip and Downtown areas. He also talks about Block 16, the El Rancho Vegas fire, social clubs, and religion.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Terry Wood conducted by Gretchen Schraeder on November 14, 2006 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the interview, Wood describes her childhood in Dearborn, Michigan and the racial discrimination there. She describes meeting her husband and moving to Dallas, Texas for his job with General Dynamics. Wood describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada and her life working and living in the downtown area. She details the restaurants, shopping, and gaming in the area. She also provides accounts of attending shows and meeting famous entertainers primarily at the Flamingo Hotel & Casino.
Archival Collection
Archival Component
Oral history interview with Paulette Morris conducted by Claytee White on January 06, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Morris opens her interview by discussing traveling around the world as a child due to her father's career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Morris then talks about the school system in Morocco and how it gave her the opportunity to study ballet. She describes her audition process with the Paris, France based revue, the Folies Bergere. Morris discusses the Bluebell Girls, Margaret Kelly ("Madame Bluebell"), costumes, and the show schedule. Morris then recalls dancing in the Lido show at the Stardust Hotel and Casino, and her experiences in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1960s. She ends the interview discussing her return to school, her job in retail, and her final thoughts on her experiences with the Bluebell Girls.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Byron Underhill conducted by Joyce Moore on March 20, 2002 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Underhill discusses his father who owned multiple businesses in Las Vegas, Nevada. Underhill also discusses taking over one of those businesses, the bottling plant, serving in the United States Army, being a private pilot who worked with Search and Rescue, and playing in various bands.
Archival Collection