Oral history interview with Wayne Tanaka conducted by Ayrton Yamaguchi, Vanessa Concepcion, Kristel Peralta, Cecilia Winchell, and Stefani Evans on March 12, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Wayne shares his family's heritage and history as Japanese Hawaiians and discusses his father's internment during World War II. He shares his background growing up in Lahaina, Maui, Hawai'i and how he came to live in Las Vegas. Wayne discusses his career as an educator for the Clark County School District and talks about his life in Las Vegas with his wife and daughters. Subjects discussed include: Las Vegas Buddhist Sangha; Executive Order 9066; Sunset High School; Boulder Dam Area Council.
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Oral history interview with Emma Oliver conducted by Jan Marshall on March 19, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Oliver discusses her personal history and the history of Las Vegas, Nevada. Oliver discusses how Las Vegas has changed, casinos in Las Vegas, the Mormon Church, and the race riots at a shopping center in North Las Vegas in 1968. Oliver also discusses race relations between white and African American children in schools.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Catherine Perroitti conducted by Steven Labonte on February 27, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Perroitti describes her personal history in Las Vegas, Nevada and how the city has changed over time. Perroitti describes her perception of the increase in crime and drugs present in the city over time. Perroitti discusses her work on the Senior Citizens' Advisory Board in Las Vegas and the importance of older generations, as well as her career as a registered nurse. Perroitti also discusses veterans legislation and the needs of veterans after they returned home from deployment.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Edith Leavitt conducted by Enrico Mecina on February 07, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Leavitt talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada from St. George, Utah for a teaching position in August of 1945. She discusses the history of the school district and racial integration of the school system.
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Oral history interview with Cheryl Gardner conducted by Tina Weiss on March 23, 2005 for the UNLV Women's Studies Veteran Oral History Project. The interview covers Gardner's service in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
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Oral history interview with Christina Gentile conducted by David Schwartz on May 01, 2015 for the Table Games Management Oral History Project. In this interview, Gentile discusses her career as a card dealer at the Hotel Nevada, King 8 Hotel, Wild Wild West Hotel and Casino, Boulder Station, Red Rock, and Wynn Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Clifford Conedy conducted by David Schwartz on June 02, 2015 for the Table Games Management Oral History Project. In this interview, Conedy discusses his career working at casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada including Circus Circus, Stardust, Mint, El Rancho, Fremont Hotel, MGM Grand, Flamingo, and Caesars Palace.
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Oral history interview with Gerald Yurek conducted by Kellie Yurek on March 09, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Yurek discusses his start and experiences in the illegal gaming scene in Kentucky. He recalls witnessing fixed games and prostitution. Yurek then explains his move into the legal gambling industry in Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1960s.
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Oral history interview with Marilyn B. Brockett conducted by Jay Brewer on April 25, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Brockett moved to Nevada in 1932. During this interview Brockett discusses social changes and the growth of Boulder City, Nevada from 1932 to 1975.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Hank Gordon conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on October 26, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Gordon discusses the first shopping center that he built in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1988. He also talks about the issues with building commercial and retail in Las Vegas. He then talks about his term on the Las Vegas City Planning Commission.
Archival Collection