Oral history interview with Gene Hotchkiss conducted by Barbara Clark on June 27, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Hotchkiss discusses her experiences living in Las Vegas, Nevada since 1946. Hotchkiss discusses the hotel industry, explaining that most casinos had a Western theme before the Flamingo was built, which started a luxury resort trend. Hotchkiss goes on to describe the development of Las Vegas Strip hotels.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stanley Schwartz conducted by Carol Schwartz on March 01, 1980 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Schwartz discusses Las Vegas, Nevada early history, including businesses, Fremont Street and Downtown, Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Tamara Pickett conducted by Dennis McBride on November 01, 2002 and November 08, 2002 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. In these interviews, Pickett discusses her early life and the traumatizing experiences that occurred during her childhood. Pickett remembers serving in the United States Army, beginning her transition to Tamara, and completing a sexual reassignment surgery in 1999. Later, Pickett talks about her activism work in Las Vegas, Nevada, campaigning for improved health care for transgender veterans, and her involvement with the transgender community in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charles Deaner conducted by Claytee D. White on April 4, 2011 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Charles Deaner discusses coming to Las Vegas, Nevada to practice law in the 1950s. He also discusses stories of his first law practice and legal case, as well as his insights and descriptions of the many changes that have occurred over the decades that he has lived and worked in the Las Vegas community.
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Oral history interview with Lois Bell conducted by Sam Cusimano on unknown date for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bell discusses her time as a cocktail waitress in various casinos, including her experiences of waiting on various celebrities. Bell also describes the changes of the Las Vegas Strip, her account of witnessing atomic testing events, and her position at Roxie’s, a brothel that existed during the early days of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Eunice Claxton oral history interview conducted by Claytee White on June 4, 5, and 10, 2015 for African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Claxton discusses living in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada, attending the Westside School, working as shield in El Morocco nightclub, and memories of Jackson Street life.
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Oral history interview with Joey Trujillo conducted by David G. Schwartz on October 08, 2008 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. In this interview, Trujillo discusses his personal experience with Jay Sarno as his barber at Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls gambling with Sarno and tells anecdotes of their friendship. Lastly, Trujillo discusses the death of Sarno in 1984.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Chris Phipps conducted by Dennis McBride on November 16, 1998 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. Phipps talks about coming to terms being a gay man in California, being involved with the Apollo Spa and Health center, and becoming a lawyer.
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.
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Oral history interview with Verna Chadwick conducted by Keri Wright on February 24, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Chadwick first talks about her early life in Utah, and some of the activities in which she took part when first arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada. She then talks about her involvement in Cub Scouts, her church membership, political involvement, recreational activities, atomic testing, the first stores, casinos, and Las Vegas utilities during the 1950s, particularly water. The interview finalized with a discussion on social changes and the changes in prices of goods over the years.
Archival Collection