Oral history interview with Maureen Preuit conducted by Michael Johnson on March 03, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Preuit discusses her experiences in Las Vegas, Nevada. She talks about her experience working as a bar owner and bartender, places she resided in Las Vegas, and environmental changes that has happened during the 1960s and 1970s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Harry M. Reid conducted by Nancy Worthen on March 09, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Reid discusses his personal family history and the history of Searchlight, Nevada. Reid mainly focuses on mining and its relation to Searchlight. Reid also talks about the Nellis family and William Nellis, a fighter pilot. Nellis Air Force Base was renamed in his honor in 1950.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mildred Bardy conducted by Deborah Grant on March 11, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview Bardy discusses the famous celebrities who would come to purchase clothing at the specialty clothing department store where she worked, as well as the costumes that were made there for the Helldorado Parade. Bardy also discuss some of the changes in Las Vegas over time, particularly the changes in fashion styles.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with David Rohn conducted by David G. Schwartz on October 20, 2016 for the Slot Operations Oral History Project. Rohn discusses working in arcades and slots within properties such as Wildhorse Resort and Casino, and Midnight Rose Hotel and Casino. He then provides his philosophy on what he believes customers are looking for in casinos, and how slot operations have changed over time, particularly through ticket-in ticket-out and the use of free play.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jean Bennett conducted by Claytee D. White on July 8, 2008 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. Bennett discusses how she went to California from Missouri to pursue her dreams of being a singer. She also discusses her career working for Buck Ram, who wrote, produced and arranged for the Platters, the Drifters, and many more singing groups of early rock-and-roll and rhythm-and-blues genres.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with George E. Franklin conducted by Diane Hunsley on March 08, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Franklin discusses his personal history in Nevada, atomic testing, Howard Hughes, and his law experience.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Keith Brantley conducted by Denise Beverstein on October 15, 2015 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Brantley discusses his personal history and his experiences growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. He talks about attending Bonanza High School, being involved in school sports, and establishing The Poet’s Corner, a monthly poetry forum, in the late 1990s. Brantley describes what The Poet’s Corner provided for the community, the history of racism in Las Vegas, and discusses the African American experience as the city changed. Lastly, Brantley recites one of his poems,
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Myrtle Hancock conducted by Russell Oakes on February 26, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Hancock discusses her occupational experience as a wardrobe dresser in the entertainment industry in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also discusses family life, life on a ranch, Downtown Las Vegas, Helldorado, and Nevada’s hot weather.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Edgar Fountain conducted by Julia Bragg on February 26, 1973 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Fountain discusses his career, the Boulder (Hoover) Dam, and the Democratic Party.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with George Kavanaugh conducted by Iolanthe Bruton on February 25, 1973 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Kavanaugh discusses arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada and taking part in politics and gambling. Kavanaugh later talks about the Magnesium Plant in Henderson, Nevada as well as the atomic bomb testing.
Archival Collection