Oral history interview with Roger Pettersson conducted by David G. Schwartz on February 24, 2017 for the Slot Operations Oral History Project. Petterson discusses his background and his experiences in multiple positions for slot management. Pettersson also discusses the various slot operations in casinos such as the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, and the Mirage Hotel and Casino. He then describes what makes a good slot manager, what customers are looking for in slot machines, and how the slot industry has changed over the years, particularly with the use of free play.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Glenn Sayles conducted by John Vanden Heuvel on March 20, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sayles discusses moving from New York state to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1950. Sayles discusses his experience working for the Las Vegas Police Department and an investigator for the Nevada Real Estate Division. Lastly, Sayles discusses the process and legal aspects of working in real estate.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bill Zender conducted by David G. Schwartz on May 27, 2015 for the Table Games Management Oral History Project. Zender recalls his career dealing cards and working as a pit boss in Las Vegas, Nevada including time at casinos such as the El Cortez, Bally's, Desert Inn, and Aladdin. He also discusses working for the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the books he has written on how to deter cheating at card games.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Monica Gresser conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on September 20, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Gresser discusses her upbringing in El Campo, Texas and her initial interests in architecture. She recalls attending Texas Tech University and the University of Houston, designing sustainable buildings, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2001. Gresser talks about gentrification in the Las Vegas downtown area, low-income communities, and the environmental conditions in disadvantaged areas. Later, Gresser describes her focus on developing transitional housing for military veterans and unhoused individuals, hostile architecture, and the issue of poverty across the United States.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jinx Cochrell conducted by Delroy Shigematsu on March 20, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Cochrell discusses the United States Navy, airports, Howard Hughes, the entertainment industry, Mount Charleston, Boulder (Hoover) Dam, her career as a secretary at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the mob.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Norman Forsyth conducted by Steve Flinte on March 19, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Forsythe discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada and his time as a firefighter with the Las Vegas Fire Department and the Clark County Fire Department, where he eventually became a battalion chief. Forsythe also talks about the history and development of Las Vegas, the prices of land, some notable fires, including the El Rancho Vegas fire, and what he recalls about the aboveground atomic testing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Grant Sawyer conducted by Perry Kaufman on May 12, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sawyer discusses his campaign for Governor of Nevada and the differences between northern Nevada and southern Nevada social life. He then describes winning the election for Governor, the gaming industry, and explains why gaming was significant to his political career. Lastly, Sawyer discusses the Nevada Gaming Commission before and after he was Governor, and actions that he took against organized crime.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with David Pearl conducted by Cameron Holloway on February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Pearl recalls his first impressions of Las Vegas, Nevada when arriving in 1949. Pearl then discusses the environmental and social changes in Las Vegas. Pearl later describes his work as a boxing referee and recalls stories of some of the matches that he refereed. Lastly, Pearl discusses the Athletic Department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and talks about the growth of athletics at UNLV.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Christian Chan conducted by Cecilia Winchell, Jerwin Tiu, and Stefani Evans on May 06, 2022 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Chan begins by describing her childhood in Hong Kong and later moving to San Francisco, California with her family, then to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1965. She recalls attending Sunrise Acres and Roy Martin Middle School before graduating from Valley High School as valedictorian. In college, Chan attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and graduated with a degree in engineering. After college, she found work in the Las Vegas Valley Water District and became the first woman engineer. During her five years there, she excountered subtle sexism for the first time. Chan continues the interview by describing her work while she lived in California, as well as her years internationally living in the Philippines as well as Ecuador. Throughout the interview, Chan touches on topics ranging from identity, to her impressions of the different generations, discrimination, and the growth of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Roosevelt Toston conducted by Claytee D. White on July 11, 2006 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Toston discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1950s and his various careers at the Test Site, Bell Telephone of Nevada, as a television anchorman and cameraman, and the Convention and Visitors Authority to bring conventions to Las Vegas. He also talks about ways African American entrepreneurs might get involved in the convention business.
Archival Collection