Oral history interview with Bruce Layne conducted by Claytee D. White on 2004 June 18, June 29, July 13, and July 20 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Bruce Layne discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1955 at ten years old, his two childhood friends Governor Bob Miller and Tito Tiberti, and becoming president of Layne and Associates, the largest insurance agency in Nevada. He then discusses the growth of Las Vegas, life in Las Vegas, having Parkinson's disease, running for lieutenant governor, and his insurance business.
Oral history interview with Alice Brumage conducted by Claytee D. White on January 30, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Brumage discusses her upbringing in Boulder City, Nevada and the construction of the Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam). She remembers her father’s involvement in the construction of the Dam, her parent’s membership in the Boulder City Rifle and Pistol Club, and the growth of Boulder City.
Oral history interview with Nancy Houssels conducted by Claytee D. White on March 19, 2014 for the West Charleston Neighborhoods--an Oral History Project of Ward 1. Houssels discusses going to school at Berkley University and the University of California Los Angeles, and then migrating to Las Vegas, Nevada. She discusses dancing at the Dunes Hotel and later at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino where she met her husband. She then discusses her part in starting the Nevada Dance Theatre and being a “prime mover” in the Smith Center for the Performing Arts.
Oral history interview with Walter V. Long conducted by Tracy Tillander on March 24, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Long discusses his experiences as a high school grammar teacher, assistant principal, and principal in Las Vegas, Nevada. Long also discusses his early life and teaching in Pioche, Nevada; Panaca, Nevada; and Tonopah, Nevada.
Oral history interview with Joe Burton conducted by Bob Barrera on March 11, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Burton discusses his frozen food manufacturing business’ procedures and practices, and how the equipment he used changed over the years. Burton also talks about how he felt about the Mafia running the casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. He also weighs in on the MX missiles being located in Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Robert Bugbee conducted by Karol Sorrells on July 08, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bugbee briefly discusses his role as part of the Savings and Loan Commission in Nevada, as well as his thoughts on the above-ground atomic testing. He then talks about gaming and mining, the development of the Las Vegas Strip, and some of the biggest floods storms in the city. He mentions some of the early important community figures and talks about how Las Vegas, Nevada has grown over time, specifically in education. Bugbee later talks about the Sheriff’s Jeep Posse and eventually his thoughts on racial issues and prejudice in Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Robert Bugbee conducted by John Lopez on March 16, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bugbee discusses his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1953 and how both the population and housing have changed since then. Bugbee additionally speaks about the changes in infrastructure, including the building of roads and increased air travel. Throughout the interview, he mentions some of the various specific housing tracts that were built throughout Las Vegas. Bugbee also mentions topics such as the building of Hoover Dam, the first popular casinos in town, the Carole Lombard crash, and the MGM Grand fire. The interview finalizes with Bugbee’s thoughts on the future of Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Hank Kovell conducted by Patrick F. Smith on September 26, 1973 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Kovell briefly discusses his life in Northern California before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in July 1956, where he would open and run a Las Vegas, Nevada advertisement agency, Kovell Inc., between 1964 and 1969. He then discusses his company's publications of political campaigns, Las Vegas casino publicity, and his work as a public relations director in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Oral history interview with Stan Irwin conducted by Cork Proctor on August 24, 2003 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. In this interview, Irwin talks about his early life performing comedy in nightclubs, hotels, and casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada, writing comedic material, his military service, starting a family, and racism in the Las vegas entertainment industry in the 1950s and 1960s. He also discusses his work as vice-president and executive producer for Sahara Nevada Corporation, bringing The Beatles to Las Vegas, Nevada when all other hotels refused to do so, and the band's appearance at the Las Vegas Convention Center. He continues talking about being a comedian, actor, and special materials writer and his life since retirement.
Oral history interview with Dean Pulsipher conducted by Dennis McBride on August 19, 1986 for the Boulder City Library Oral History Project. In this interview, Pulsipher discusses his early life in St. Thomas, Nevada and Bunkerville, Nevada. He remembers traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada as early as 1905, moving to Las Vegas in the early 1920s, and the significance of the railroad at the time. Pulsipher describes living through the prohibition era, paving the road from Las Vegas to Searchlight, Nevada, and the construction of the Hoover Dam.