Oral history interview with Pete Menefee conducted by Su Kim Chung on April 14, 2016 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Menefee begins the interview by talking about his childhood in San Diego, California, where he took dancing classes starting at the age of ten. He discusses working as a dancer on shows starring Dick Van Dyke, Terry Gar, Goldie Hawn, and Elvis. Menefee recalls working in shows and musicals including Bye Bye Birdie, Fair Lady, and Viva Las Vegas. He describes his evolution as a costume designer and stage designer from his childhood creating miniature stages of Disney shows to creating costumes for shows on the Las Vegas Strip, Nevada. He also talks about surviving the MGM Grand fire in 1980.
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Oral history interview with Heather Victorson conducted by Nancy Hardy on June 26, 2003 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Victorson discusses her early life in Nairobi, Kenya and London, England. She remembers being enrolled into the Royal Ballet School, and her experience dancing in show productions for the Royal Ballet Company. Victorson talks about winning a dancing audition that required her to move to Las Vegas, Nevada, dancing in the
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Oral history interview with Adele Baratz conducted by Steve McClenachen on March 3 and 4, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Adele Baratz discussed general topics in Nevada's history, including early Las Vegas (1950 to 1979) life as well as life during World War II. Baratz also discussed changes throughout history including nursing, medicine, medical advancements, taxes, highways, politics and hospitals in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Oral history interview with John Cahlan conducted by Lester Wisbrod on February 18, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Cahlan discusses his experiences in journalism, including his work as an editor for the Review Journal. He provides details on some of the major events covered by the newspaper and his work in establishing Nellis Air Force Base. Cahlan also describes some of the social changes over time, including the growth of air travel for tourism and gambling.
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Oral history interview with Guy Roark conducted by Patricia Elliott on March 10, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Roark discusses changes in Las Vegas, Nevada, specifically the expansion of downtown Las Vegas. Roark then describes the above ground atomic tests and recalls the magnitude of a particular explosion. Lastly, Roark discusses his visits to northern Nevada and describes the nightlife in Reno, Nevada.
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Oral history interview with Dee Hicks conducted by Emily Powers on May 4, 2008 for the Heart to Heart Oral History Project. Hicks discusses working as a nurse and an administrator at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also discusses her volunteer work on issues relating to nursing.
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Oral history interview with Mei Yang conducted by Jourdin Wilson on November 10, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) professor and graduate coordinator Mei Yang talks about her family and childhood in Shanxi Province, southwestern China. She shares her educational background pursuing her bachelor's and master's degrees in China before immigrating to the United States to earn her PhD in Computer Science from the University of Texas, Dallas. Mei Yang talks about her move to Las Vegas, Nevada, her work and professorship at UNLV, and her thoughts on pursuing a STEM (science technology engineering math) career as a woman. She shares how she raises her daughters in the United States away from her husband overseas, the Chinese community within Las Vegas, and traditions she celebrates.
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Oral history interview with Katherine McKee conducted by Claytee D. White on September 3, 2016 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In her interview McKee discusses her career dancing at the Mint, The Silver Slipper's Minsky's Burlesque, and the Dune's Viva Les Girls. She also discusses her performances on the road with Les Girls Montreal road show as well and her experience as Sammy Davis' "road wife."
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Oral history interview with Donald Beagle conducted by Michael Clibon in 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. During this oral history interview, Beagle discusses his upbringing in Wyoming, being stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, and working for J.A Tiberti Construction Company. Mr. Beagle’s wife, Mrs. Beagle is also present during the interview, and adds her input on the topic of raising a family in Nevada.
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Oral history interview with David Welles conducted by Patrick Carlton on March 27, 2002 for the Las Vegas Rotary Club Oral History Project. In this interview, Welles first relates his family background and the circumstances that led to the family settling in Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1940s. He relates numerous anecdotes about growing up and attending school, and then explains how a back problem ended his chances for a career in the Navy and led him to consider less physically demanding fields. He took jobs surveying and drafting, which led to his decision to study architectural engineering, taking his degree at the University of Oklahoma. Meeting and marrying while he was in Oklahoma, the couple returned to Las Vegas, where he took multiple jobs at different architectural and engineering firms, gaining experience toward licensure as an architect. By the early 1970s, he had established his own firm with a partner, gaining a state contract to build elementary schools. Welles then speaks at length about partnering with the Daly Group to design and build the UNLV Lied Library and ends the interview with another extended discussion of his long-time involvement in the Rotary Club.
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