Oral history interview with Alice Key conducted by Claytee D. White on August 16, 2007 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Key talks about her birth in Kentucky, upbringing in Riverside, California, high school graduation in 1928 and enrollment at UCLA. She describes at length her entry into the entertainment business as a dancer in 1929, her work and travels with dance companies, and her decision to retire in 1937. She continues discussing the roots of her political activism in Los Angeles, her journalism career, her work to end restrictive covenants, racism in Hollywood hiring, and poor representation for Black dancers in the industry. She then explains what prompted her move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1954 and describes the levels of racism and inequality in Las Vegas during this period. She remarks on many notable Las Vegas leaders, including Dr. Charles West, Dr. James McMillan, Mabel Hoggard, Woodrow Wilson, and others. She also discusses the role of the NAACP, her work as a deputy registrar of voters, and creating the first all-Black television show in the country: Talk of the Town.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bryan Chan conducted by Vanessa Concepcion, Cecilia Winchell, and Stefani Evans on October 18, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Bryan Chan discusses his life growing up in California, his family's migration stories to the United States, and his education. He discusses his appearance on a reality television show which led to becoming a singer for boy band LMNT. Bryan talks about his entertainment career, including his move to Las Vegas to sing and host for the Chippendales show at the Rio Hotel and Casino. He also shares insight into his family's traditions and his favorite foods that his father and grandmother cooked.
Subjects discussed include: chain migration; Chippendales; giglife; virtual events; traditional foods.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bob Arum conducted by Barbara Tabach on October 20, 2016 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Arum talks about growing up Orthodox in New York City and how through his career as a promoter for boxers he developed personal relationships with people such as Muhammed Ali and George Foreman.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Kevin Chung conducted by Cecelia Winchell, Stefani Evans, and Jerwin Tiu on December 18, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Kevin Chung discusses his upbringing in Southern Vietnam and how he and his family were forced to leave the country during the Vietnam War. Chung talks about his family's migration to Minnesota and how they adapted to American culture. He shares his educational background, his professional pursuits as a teacher, and the reasons he and his wife decided to move to Las Vegas. Chung reflects on the importance of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) in education with an emphasis on the arts and shares his teaching philosophy. He also gives details of his family's lives and talks about the importance of bringing together his Vietnamese and American cultures to connect the different generations of his family.
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Oral history interview with Nancy Craft conducted by Claytee White on July 28, 2015 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Craft discusses high school in the mid-1950s as a member of the famed marching and dancing group, the Rhythmettes (founded by Evelyn Stuckey) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Minnie Logsdon conducted by Eugene George on March 08, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Logsdon talks about the early history of Las Vegas, Nevada. She specifically talks about the railroad towns, and the construction of the Boulder (Hoover) Dam.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Wanda Mann conducted by Gordon Reno on February 03, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Mann talks about Southern Nevada history, beginning in 1943. She specifically talks about the city's development in early Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection