Oral history interview with Mike Velardo conducted by his son, William Velardo, on March 15, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Velardo discusses his career in the gaming industry in Las Vegas, Nevada. Velardo describes the history of casinos and gambling in Las Vegas, including how those industries have changed since he first moved to the city in 1957. He goes on to discuss the cost of entertainment, cheating in casino games, and the benefits of the design of the Caesars Palace pit, where Velardo is a casino manager.
Oral history interview with Nery Martinez conducted by Laurents Bañuelos-Benitez on December 06, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Martinez discusses his upbringing in Zacatecoluca, La Paz, El Salvador. He describes growing up around organized crime, the Salvadoran Civil War, and the hardship that came with earning an education. Martinez talks about his immigration story to the United States, and his first impressions of Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls training to be a bartender, becoming a member of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, and the aid that the Union provides for the immigrant community. Later, Martinez discusses his experience applying for a Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and the Salvadoran community in Las Vegas. Lastly, Martinez talks about starting a family in Las Vegas, and sharing his Salvadoran culture with his children.
Oral history interview with Mary Leo conducted by Rafael Reyes-Spindola on February 27, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Mary Susanne Kaime Leo moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1952. In the interview, Leo discusses community interactions during her childhood, as well as her employment with the Tropicana Las Vegas and the Riviera Hotel & Casino in the restaurant and sales departments. She also discusses the lifestyles of showgirls she interacted with.
Oral history interview with Ellen Cosgrove conducted by Claytee D. White on August 19, 2019 for the UNLV School of Medicine Oral History Project. Ellen Cosgrove discusses her early family life and education, continuing to her higher education, where she graduated with a master's in Russian history and later entered Hahnemann Medical College where she specialized in internal medicine. She then describes her family life and her husband, Jefferey Fahly. Cosgrove goes on to talk about different communities in New Mexico welcoming people with different ethnic backgrounds, and how she participated in various organizations that helped improve the health of the community and solve issues that prevented patients from receiving care. In 2014, she was hired by Barbara Atkinson to build a medical school at UNLV. Lastly, Cosgrove discusses the UNLV School of Medicine educational program, which is based in bioethics, community engagement, wellness, and problem-based learning.
Oral history interview with Evan Blythin conducted by Patricia van Betten on September 26, 2006 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. Blythin opens his interview by discussing his early life on an Arizona ranch and his decision as a young adult to pursue higher education, which led to his PhD in philosophy and communications. He then talks about his move to Nevada in the late 1960s to teach communications at Nevada Southern University, now the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and his work to develop the communications department at the university. Later in the interview, he discusses his family's move to Blue Diamond Village from Las Vegas, Nevada, and the community's transition after the Blue Diamond Mine ceded control of the village to the inhabitants. He also talks about his work with the Blue Diamond Recreation Association and his artwork.
Oral history interview with Donna Robinson conducted by Barbara Tabach on December 20, 2019 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. Robinson begins by talking about her family and childhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She talks about her family life and how she started working at the American Red Cross as a Disaster Program Specialist. Robinson describes her first disaster situation she worked through, later disaster situations, and the different training that is required in order to handle certain situations. Robinson then begins to talk about October 1, 2017, and how she tried to help as many people as possible that night. Then she talks about the long-term effects of the shooting and how it impacted the survivors and the community. She discusses the mental health aspect of the services Red Cross had and how it still continues to serve the community today.
Oral history interview with Manley Sorensen conducted by Michael Kelser on March 02, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sorensen discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada. Sorensen discusses how Las Vegas has changed since 1936, including how the casinos in the city have changed and the disappearance of water springs around Las Vegas. Sorensen also discusses the El Rancho Hotel fire, prospecting for recreation, environmental changes, nuclear weapons tests, and flooding in Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with John Haines conducted by Thomas S. Hager on March 25, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Haines discusses moving to Reno, Nevada in 1931 and later to Tonopah, Nevada to be a card dealer. He describes building the Town Hall Casino, and explains how local troops stationed in Tonopah were the customer base until the bombings in Japan during the end of WWII. Lastly, Haines discusses his employment at the Frontier Club, mobster Bugsy Siegel, and how the mob influenced the gaming industry.
Oral history interview with George Durkin conducted by Claytee D. White on July 26, 2024 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Durkin describes his childhood in Schenectady, New York, where he first became interested in music. After college, Durkin enrolled in a master's program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and worked at Strip locations behind some of the great entertainers in the industry. While at UNLV, he studied with composer, arranger, and musician Don Hannah, and became a life-long friend of his son, Paul Hannah. Durkin explains that while he currently works in real estate, he still plays in shows when possible and is a regular percussionist for the Las Vegas Philharmonic. Over the years, Durkin played for many entertainers in Las Vegas, including Robert Goulet, Dorothy Hamill, Julio Iglesias, Dionne Warwick, Liberace, Joan Rivers, Sammy Davis, George Burns, and many more. Digital audio available; no transcript available.
Oral history interview with Joy Boggs conducted by Claytee D. White on February 18, 2021 for African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project.
Joy Boggs talks of her work with the University of Nevada Las Vegas' College of Fine Arts as the Business Manager and her time serving as the Public Scholar in Residence for the Marjorie Barrick Art Museum's annual Womxn of Color Arts Festival.
She also briefly discusses her educational and family background as well as her personal philosophies.