Oral history interview with Charles Perri conducted by Edwin Smith on February 10, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Perri discusses moving to Nevada in 1948 from New York. Perri discusses his career selling shoes, working as a survey crew member on a race track, and later working for the Las Vegas Fire Department. Perri later discusses the earlier casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Rena Lees conducted by Bill Young on March 19, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Lees talks about her experience living in Las Vegas, Nevada from the 1930s to 1950s. She specifically talks about growing up in Las Vegas and the mob's influence throughout the city. She also discusses her family and her career working at Sunrise Hospital.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Laura Gunning conducted by Mike Martinez on March 5, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Gunning discusses her life in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gunning first talks about her family background, her church membership, education, and the minimum wage. She also talks about the Las Vegas Strip, the first businesses and markets in Las Vegas, change in climate, and family trips.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jeff McBride conducted by Claytee D. White on November 27, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, McBride discusses his early life and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1985. He talks about the benefits of magician performers in Las Vegas entertainment, prominent magicians in the city, and the importance of magic.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Shirley Sandin conducted by Janice Ledford on March 11, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sandin discusses her family ancestry and her employment opportunities. She later discusses a fireplug design contest.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Rita Deanin Abbey conducted by Claytee White on November 29, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. The artist and UNLV Emeritus Professor of Art discusses her early education and training in art that led her to work in sculpture, painting, stained glass, and other mediums. She also talks about her pieces created for the Jewish community in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Shirley Edmond conducted by Claytee D. White on June 24, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview Shirley Edmond talks about growing up in the Westside neighborhood of Las Vegas, Nevada as the daughter of a local preacher. She tells of the early community's shopping and neighborhood landmarks. Shirley also shares stories of her work at both the US Post Office and Matt Kelly Elementary School.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Thomas Barbarite conducted by Dennis Chamberland on March 03, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Barbarite discusses his time at the Four Queens Hotel and the Dunes Hotel as a dealer as well as his work as a pit boss at the Flamingo Hotel, the Aladdin Hotel, and Caesars Palace. Barbarite also discusses the involvement of the mob in Las Vegas, particularly the influence of Bugsy Siegel in the operation of various properties.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert Granger conducted by Conrad Langille on February 10, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. During the interview, Granger discusses the different addresses that he has occupied since moving to Southern Nevada in 1951. Granger also mentions his recreational activities, and personal family history.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Darrin Bush conducted by Claytee D. White on June 30, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Bush discusses photographing Las Vegas, Nevada over a 25-year period for the Las Vegas News Bureau. He also talks about the importance of implosions, cruising Fremont Street, and growing up in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection