Oral history interview with George Levine conducted by Cynthia Cicero on February 11, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
George discusses moving to Las Vegas and working as a waiter in the Copa Room at the Sands Hotel. He talks about working for Jack Entratter and Howard Hughes and describes the working conditions of his various positions in the Copa Room, including maître d. George also shares stories of different entertainers that would frequent the establishment.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Richard Ham conducted by Dennis McBride on January 18, 2002 for the Las Vegas Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Ham discusses the assault of Nevada Supreme Court Justice Frank McNamee in 1965. Ham describes being accused by McNamee of being a communist, McNamee's sexuality, and how McNamee was able to succeed politically despite being a gay man. He continues, discussing the history of the trial following McNamee's assault, and also describes other aspects of Nevada's political history during that time. Ham concludes by discussing being gay and some of his sexual experiences with men.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sherrill L. Ware conducted by Lawrence R. Gross on March 18, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Ware begins by discussing his service in the United States Navy stationed at Lake Mead before working as a gun manufacturer in Henderson, Nevada. He describes his experience with firearms, including participating in shooting competitions and hunting. Ware talks about life in Las Vegas, Nevada, how the city changed over time, and his career as an operating engineer. Ware also talks about labor unions and the difficulties they face from the companies they worked within, as well as mining in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jennilee Thayer conducted by Claytee D. White on August 12, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Thayer discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1936 when it was still a mining town. She describes early Henderson, Nevada, attending Basic High School, and recalls her father’s employment at the Basic Magnesium Plant. Lastly, Thayer discusses her employment in show production, atomic bomb testing, and changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ruby Duncan conducted by Claytee D. White on February 13, 2007 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Duncan discusses growing up and working in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also discusses how she became the leader of the Las Vegas Welfare Rights Movement by protesting the way Nevada cared for its poor families. Duncan then discusses instituting the first library on the Westside, lobbying the legislature, and traveling the world on behalf of women's rights.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jack Binion conducted by David Schwartz on October 17, 2008 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Binion discusses his early life and growing up as the son of the gaming operator, Benny Binion. He talks about working with Joe Brown at the Horseshoe Casino, the opening of the Golden Nugget, and casino surveillance. Lastly, Binion describes downtown Las Vegas, Nevada during 1960s and its popularity at the time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Yocheved Mintz conducted by Barbara Tabach on March 11, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Rabbi Mintz discusses arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1997 with her husband, the founder of Cenegenics. She also talks about becoming a spiritual leader of what is now known as Congregation P'nai Tikvah in 2005.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Nanyu Tomiyasu conducted by Suzanne Yamazaki in November 2000 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Nanyu Tomiyasu discusses his life in Las Vegas, Nevada as a landscape contractor, his Japanese heritage, and the lives of his parents Yonema and Toyono. Tomiyasu talks about his father's farming expertise, techniques, experimentation, and his reputation within the Las Vegas community. Yonema Tomiyasu's crop timetables have been shared with other farmers in both Los Angeles, California and Las Vegas, Nevada to improve yields and combat the harsh weather conditions and alkaline water of the area. Tomiyasu recalls working on his father's farm and how his childhood was shaped by this work.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jocelyn Cortez conducted by Nathalie Martinez on May 18, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Cortez discusses her family history in El Salvador and her parents' emigration to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1980. She talks about the challenge of adjusting to city life, growing up on the Eastside of Las Vegas, and her educational experience. Cortez describes her involvement in the Student Organization of Latinos (SOL), and attending law school at the University of Arizona. Later, Cortez discusses the challenges of being an immigration attorney, and being elected president of the Latino Bar Association. Lastly, Cortez talks about changes in Las Vegas and the Latinx community.
Archival Collection