Oral history interview with Jack Bullock conducted by Julie Domonkos on March 15, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bullock talks about his occupations in the gaming industry, including being a dealer both in Las Vegas, Nevada and other cities. Bullock also describes how Las Vegas has changed over the years since the 1940s, including working in casinos prior to corporations entering the gaming industry, and the changes in the entertainment industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Pocock conducted by Jeffrey J. Wild on March 08, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Pocock describes his history as an Irish immigrant, his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1950, and life in the city during the 1950s. He discusses housing availability in Las Vegas and the development of the city, including the construction of casinos which he claims encouraged the growth of Las Vegas. He talks about working in a casino that eventually became the Sands Hotel and Casino, organized crime in Las Vegas, and the future of the city. Pocock concludes by discussing how Las Vegas and the quality of its customer service in casinos has changed, his recreational activities, and nuclear weapons testing.
Archival Collection
Archival Component
Oral history interview with Clarence Ray conducted by Eleanor L. Walker in 1991 for the African American in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Ray provides details of his ancestry and upbringing, his education, and race relations in the western United States before 1930. He then moves on to his first visit to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1922, and his movements before settling permanently in the 1940s. He explains that the main source of employment for the relatively small Black population during the 1920s and early 1930s was the railroad, but a number were also in business. Mr. Ray provides thumbnail sketches of many of the early residents, and is particularly informative about "Mammy" Pinkston, Mary Nettles, the Stevens family, and the Ensley family. Systemic racial discrimination against Blacks developed in southern Nevada during the 1930s, and Mr. Ray provides some useful details on this along with his discussion of his career in gaming and his social and political activities.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Su Kim conducted by Ashley Brooke Fuentes on November 21, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
In this interview, Su Kim discusses her family and life in Seoul, Korea. She talks about immigrating alone to the United States to study in Provo, Utah and later transferring to the College of Southern Nevada. Su Kim talks about her immigration experience, the culture shock of coming to America, and the discrimination and racism she has seen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Su shares how she met her husband, details of her employment as an office manager, and her plans to pursue a degree in hospitality from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Amy Ayoub conducted by Claytee D. White on September 18, 2023 and May 30, 2024 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Ayoub describes growing up in Cuba and Las Vegas, Nevada, and attending a high school in Caliente for troubled teenaged girls. When Ayoub took charge of her life in the late 1970s, she got a position at the Holiday Casino working for Claudine Williams. She recalls watching Williams work, getting to know everyone in Nevada's leadership positions, and later volunteering for numerous political campaigns. Ayoub details her various careers including the Nevada Athletic Commission, advocating for AB67, political fundraising, and eventually public speaking coach. Digital audio available; no transcript available.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Christine Barrett conducted by Claytee D. White on March 19, 2021 for African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project.
Christine Barrett talks of her educational background and previous employment history that led her from California to Massachusetts, Virginia, and California again before her final move to Las Vegas. She has worked in management positions related to Las Vegas Valley water use for 38 years, and in the past decade has begun working for the Clark County School District in various professional capacities.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Roy Brown conducted by John Grygo on March 05, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Brown discusses his personal history and living in Las Vegas, Nevada since 1954. He recalls moving to West Las Vegas and attending segregated schools at the time. Brown then talks about the positive influence that church and spirituality have on the Westside community. He describes his employment at the Stardust Hotel and Casino and working with the Culinary Workers Union after beginning his new employment at the MGM Grand Hotel. Lastly, Brown discusses changes in African American churches and describes how the newer generations have influenced change within the church.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Fluff LeCoque conducted by Joyce Marshall on May 05, 1997 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. LeCoque discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada’s entertainment industry. LeCoque recalls her dance experience in Las Vegas including work at the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino, and performing as a principal dancer for Arden-Fletcher Productions at the Desert Inn. LeCoque retired from dancing in 1970 but recalls being lured out of retirement by Donn Arden to become company manager of Jubilee at the new MGM Grand Hotel (later renamed Bally's). Finally, she talks about the economic, social, and political changes that occurred in Las Vegas after World War II.
Archival Collection