Oral history interview with Mike Smith conducted by Claytee D. White on August 17, 2018 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Smith discusses his early life in Santa Clara, California and his early interest in art. He describes the first drawings he did, drawing political cartoons, and drawing about controversial ideas. Smith remembers moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1983 and becoming the cartoonist for the
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Oral history interview with Jim Bonaventure conducted by Claytee D. White on September 09, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Bonaventure discusses the Culinary Union Local 226, the value of workers academy, failure of African-American integration on the Las Vegas Strip, and general life in the city of Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Oral history interview with Patsy Leavitt conducted by Elizabeth Neumann on March 17, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Leavitt discusses her maternal grandmother, who brought her mother and uncle to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1931, and explains how her grandmother opened a boardinghouse that she ran until her death in 1948. She then discusses her father's family, who arrived in Las Vegas in the late 1920s and established a sand and gravel business. She discusses her education and marriage, and reflects on Las Vegas in the 1950s.
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Oral history interview with Louise Kirkwood conducted by Richard Probst on February 28, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Kirkwood discusses her life in Southern Nevada and her experience with navigating Las Vegas, Nevada as streets and buildings, home values, and living expenses changed over time. Kirkwood also discusses the energy crisis of the 1970s and the resulting gasoline rationing; the growth of the Strip, and pollution caused by atomic testing.
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Oral history interview with Elaina Blake conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on September 19, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Blake discusses being the first woman elected to head the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. She also discusses serving as vice chairman and chairman of the Clark County Planning Commission. Blake then talks about her involvement with the United Way, saving the YMCA from closure, and the Focus School Project in 1989. She then discusses working with major local builders such as Pageantry Homes, Heers Brothers, and Christopher Homes. Blake lastly discusses creating Blake and Associates and becoming became a real estate developer.
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Oral history interview with Lon Bronson conducted by Barbara Tabach on May 23, 2018 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Bronson discusses his early life in Keene, New Hampshire, and his initial interest in music. Bronson talks about arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1985, the musical scene in the city at the time, and the musician’s union strike of 1989. He describes when casino shows switched from live musicians to prerecorded music, and the shortage of jobs for musicians after that decision. Lastly, Bronson discusses the current entertainment scene in Las Vegas.
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Oral history interview with Ricardo Jimenez conducted by Andres Moses on September 18, 2005 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Jimenez discusses his personal history growing up in Los Angeles, California. He recalls visiting Las Vegas, Nevada in 1972 and describes the Las Vegas Strip at the time. Jimenez discusses his move to Las Vegas and living on the East Side during the late 1970s. Lastly, Jimenez recalls his education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, starting his own business, and entering the landscaping industry.
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Oral history interview with Patricia Marchese conducted by A. D. Hopkins on July 02, 1999 for the Las Vegas Review-Journal First 100 Oral History Project. In the interview, Marchese discusses her parents and her early life in Tampa Bay, Florida, her husband and children, and arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1972. She talks about her work in serigraphy (screen printing) with the United States Bureau of Reclamation while in Las Vegas. Marchese also recalls her work with the City of Las Vegas and Clark County developing art and cultural programs including Jazz Month and the Las Vegas Junior Symphony. Other subjects Marchese covers include art exhibits, performing arts, and the growth of the Las Vegas art community.
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Oral history interview with Christine Szukala conducted by Bridgette Foote on November 12, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Christine shares her family history and the story of her Thai mother and American Air Force father who met in Thailand and married before moving to the United States in 1970. She talks about her upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada near Nellis Air Force base with her six siblings. Christine discusses her beliefs of how her newly immigrated mother adapted to American life, including altering her recipes to fit her husband's taste and reducing her visits to nearby Buddhist temples.
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Oral history interview with Gloria Deaton conducted by B.W. Deaton on March 01, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Deaton discusses Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas, Nevada, the gaming and tourism industry, women in the gaming industry, and her job as a "Lady Pit Boss" at casinos like Gold Strike Inn (now Terrible’s Hotel and Casino).
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