Oral history interviews with Ray Trousdale conducted by Chuck Williams on December 14, 2012 and July 31, 2013 for the Friends of Red Rock Canyon in Nevada Oral History Project. Trousdale begins the interview talking about his family and early life. He moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1940 and describes Las Vegas during the 1940s. Then, Trousdale speaks about meeting Buster Wilson and what he learned from him. He describes his time at Spring Mountain, Nevada and the history of the area. Lastly, he speaks about the Carole Lombard plane crash site.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Paul Norton conducted by Sergio Pellegrino on April 3, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project.
In this interview, Paul Norton discusses his life in Henderson, Nevada and Las Vegas, Nevada from 1952 onward. He shares details of his work at Basic Magnesium Inc. (BMI) and at mills around the Valley. Norton talks about his opposition of the MX missile, in contrast to his opinions about atomic testing in Nevada. He also discusses the businesses that operated from 1950 to 1980, how the Las Vegas Strip was constructed, details of Fremont Street and the I-15 freeway, and flooding that was particularly destructive in Henderson.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stanley Paher conducted by Javier Romero on March 04, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Paher describes his personal history in Las Vegas, Nevada and the layout of the city when its population was only eight thousand people. Paher describes the development of bigger casinos in Las Vegas and the evolution of the Strip. Paher also discusses his career as a writer and publisher, writing about the ghost towns of Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Barry Holt conducted by Lee LaVecchia on February 11, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Holt talks about the history of Southern Nevada. He specifically talks about the major changes in Southern Nevada since the 1930s, the Great Depression, and the changes in mode of transportation in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Holt speaks about the differences between growing up in Las Vegas in the fifties and sixties compared to how his children are growing up at the time of the interview. He also discusses education and the religious community in the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dolly Kelepecz conducted by Claytee D. White on April 29, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Kelepecz discusses her career as a ballet dancer, a performer in a circus, and a showgirl and dancer in Las Vegas, Nevada, especially in the Lido at the Stardust Hotel and Casino. She also discusses her time as a model, a pilates instructor, and running the Opus Dance ensemble. Kelepecz then discusses teaching a class at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert Skaggs conducted by Dr. David Emerson on May 06, 2006 for the UNLV @ Fifty Oral History Project. Skaggs discusses teaching engineering at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, starting in 1969. He also discusses being involved in getting accreditation with Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) Inc. for the engineering college, establishing a chapter of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, and building an engineering master's and a PhD program.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ron Textor conducted by Claytee D. White on July 24, 2007 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. In this interview Ron Textor describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1981, playing with the Norm Geller orchestra at the Sands, and playing with the Al Ramsey Orchestra at Caesars Palace. He also discusses being contracted with the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra and teaching mathematics at Clark High School for twenty years.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Brad Friedmutter conducted by David Schwartz on September 12, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Friedmutter shares how he develops his architectural projects, his philosophy of design, and the future of urban planning and casino design. He also recalls various owners and designers he has worked with: Henry Conversano, Homer Rissman, Roger Thomas, Donald Trump, Kenny Wynn, and Steve Wynn.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Acres conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on July 11, 2017, and September 28, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Acres discusses his progressive jackpot system for the Lady Luck Casino, which was also installed in the Aladdin, the Frontier, and the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, Nevada. Acres relates history of his work in engineering and manufacturing gaming technology and recalls how and why he sold his first company, Electronic Display Technology (EDT). Acres then discusses Acres 4.0, which develops artificial intelligence that creates customer experiences while reducing operational costs, and explains the Gen7 concept of planning solutions that will last for seven generations.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jinx Cochrell conducted by Delroy Shigematsu on March 20, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Cochrell discusses the United States Navy, airports, Howard Hughes, the entertainment industry, Mount Charleston, Boulder (Hoover) Dam, her career as a secretary at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the mob.
Archival Collection