Oral history interview with Betsy Rhodes conducted by Melinda McGeorge Thompson on February 24, 2011 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
Betsy Rhodes shares a brief personal history before discussing her move to Las Vegas with her husband Leonard in 1958. She talks about her husband's dental profession, her children, and life in the early 1960s in Las Vegas. Rhodes shares details of her volunteering work with the Junior League and Assistance League of Las Vegas, detailing the groups' evolving missions, member counts, and trials faced to raise funds.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stanley Weiner conducted by Kyle Wolff on March 12, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Weiner talks about his father's employment, his own series of jobs, and living in different parts of Las Vegas, Nevada. He also talks about population growth, education opportunities in town, transportation, and recreation.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frank Cuti conducted by Hans Kohls on February 25, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Frank Cuti discusses his experiences in the gaming industry in Nevada, such as his work as a floor man and a dealer in properties such as the Frontier Club during the 1940s. He then describes the changes in casinos like the El Rancho Hotel, Club Bingo, and the Flamingo Hotel. Other topics discussed include the nature of competition between properties, cheaters, the mob, the involvement of unions, and Howard Hughes’ influence on the development of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joe Carlson conducted by Allen Carlson on October 11, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Joe Carlson talks about how his family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1921 so that his father could work on the railroad. Joe discusses education, occupations, family life, and the social, economic and environmental changes of early Las Vegas. Joe also mentions presidential visits, the crash of Carole Lombard’s plane, early atomic tests, the old Mesquite forests, Fremont Street and the building of Boulder (Hoover) Dam.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Larry Ruvo conducted by David G. Schwartz on January 27, 2009 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. Ruvo begins by discussing his position as a front desk clerk at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1970s. Ruvo then describes how Jay Sarno changed the casino industry by designing Caesar’s Palace with a single theme. Ruvo then chronicles how gaming gradually was legalized in more areas throughout the world and how Sarno capitalized on making Caesar’s Palace an iconic casino which made people want to travel to Las Vegas. Lastly, Ruvo discusses Sarno’s focus on offering both gaming and entertainment options for guests at Caesar's Palace.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ralph L. Canfield conducted by Mariann McDuffee on March 21, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Canfield discusses different housing developments in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Las Vegas Strip hotels and casinos, Lake Mead, Nevada’s environmental quality; prostitution, and atomic testing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Eleanor Walker conducted by Claytee D. White on June 03, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Eleanor Walker discusses serving as President of the Las Vegas, Nevada Chapter of the NAACP in the early 1970s and holding several jobs throughout her lifetime, being among the first black individuals to hold a position in many of the companies for which she worked. She also talks about how she was a pioneer as a black woman in the Las Vegas community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sarah Serna conducted by Dennis McBride on December 04, 1998 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. Serna opens her interview by discussing her move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1993, and her first assignment as a Methodist minister to a small congregation in North Las Vegas. Serna then explains how she became involved in LGBT social justice issues after witnessing expressions of homophobia and prejudice within her church. She discusses her involvement with the Las Vegas LGBT community and the development of a pastoral care outreach program, the development of the World AIDS Day prayer vigil, and the foundation of the Community Counseling Center, later renamed Lighthouse Ministry. Serna then talks about her decision to transition from the Methodist Church to the Episcopalian Church and becoming the first Episcopalian priest in Las Vegas to bless same-sex marriages. She also discusses the development of a transitional housing program, changes in the LGBT community in Las Vegas, and many individuals involved in LGBT social justice programs in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Myron E. Leavitt conducted by Thomas Neill on March 14, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Leavitt discusses his childhood in Las Vegas, Nevada during 1930s. He describes recreational activities during the time, his education, his law practice, and his eventual position as Justice of the Peace between 1960 to 1962. Leavitt then discusses issues and events occurring during his life including city navigation, the Las Vegas creek, employment, the arrival of Howard Hughes, the economy, atomic testing, and World War II.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Pacheco conducted by Laurents Bañuelos-Benitez on June 24, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Pacheco discusses his upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada and his family’s origins in Mexico and California. He describes why his parents moved to Las Vegas, residential segregation in the city, and his experiences attending Rancho High School. Pacheco then recalls joining the Latin Chamber of Commerce in the early 1970s. He talks about his sign making business, Pons Sign Company, and describes making a sign for the Venetian Restaurant and other local businesses. Later, Pacheco discusses the history of the Arts District, his contributions in the construction of The Healing Garden, and changes in the Las Vegas art scene. He talks about the future of the Latinx community in Las Vegas, Downtown Las Vegas developments, and local artistic talents. Lastly, Pacheco explains what it means to be a Las Vegas native.
Archival Collection