Oral history interview with Toni Clark conducted by Joanne L. Goodwin on July 02, 1996 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Clark opens her interview describing her childhood in Seattle, Washington. Clark then discusses moving to San Diego, California in 1941 and becoming a waitress at the Monte Carlo bar and restaurant. Clark then discusses how war rationing affected daily life and the nightclub industry. Clark then talks about marrying Wilbur Clark, moving with him to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1944, and the history of the El Rancho Vegas. Clark discusses the opening of the Monte Carlo Club, living in Las Vegas in the 1950s, and the opening of the Desert Inn Hotel. Clark goes on to describe the management of the Desert Inn, the food, and lounges. Clark then mentions the celebrities she has met and entertained, and the opening of the Flamingo Hotel.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ruth Hazard conducted by Jerry L. Erb on March 10, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. At the time of the interview, Ruth had lived in Nevada for over forty years. Ruth discusses living and working in Las Vegas and Carson City, Nevada. She also covers various subjects including: the atomic tests and the growth of the hotel industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charles Salton conducted by George Green on April 23, 1976 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Salton discusses the early history of Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, prohibition, politics, the El Rancho Hotel, and events he experienced while living in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Perry Dickerson conducted by Bryce Gracie on February 21, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Dickerson discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada from his perspective. In particular, he discusses telephone companies’ improvements, McCarren Airport growth, boat races at Lake Mead, Golden Nugget Hotel, Greyhound Depot bus station, the plane crash near Sloan Highway, Nellis Air Force Base, Lorenzi Park, Old Salt Lake Highway, Downtown Las Vegas, and Stardust Raceway.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Miriam Belmont conducted by Laurie Brower on March 08, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. During the interview Belmont discusses her move to Las Vegas, Nevada, various occupations, education, addresses, church involvement, Hoover Dam, famous people, atomic testing, Old Ranch Country Club in Southern California, and the ways in which Las Vegas had changed since she first arrived.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jon Cobain conducted by Claytee D. White on March 4, 2022 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Cobain describes his childhood growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada and living in a trailer while his father built the family's home. Cobain is the first graduate from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), as he walked across the stage first, thus becoming the first to receive a degree from UNLV. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in business, Cobain attended Northwestern for graduate school. He discusses time spent working in Venezuela, and the value of learning other cultures and building international relationships. At the time of the interview, Cobain is matching gifts to the Jon Cobain Lee Business School at UNLV up to $2.3 million to help first-generation scholars. Other subjects discussed include the Nevada Test Site, Frank Sinatra, and Hoover Dam.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jeffrey Coller conducted by Claytee D. White on July 25, 2017 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Coller discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls attending Bishop Gorman High School, becoming an emancipated minor, and his employment at the El Cortez Hotel and Casino. Coller talks about joining the United States Marine Corps, relocating to Reno, Nevada, and his experience in the hospitality industry. Coller describes the various jobs he had at Harrah’s Reno, advancing up to assistant hotel manager, and his career shift to real estate development. Later, Coller discusses his work in production housing, building communities, and returning to Las Vegas in 1992. Lastly, Coller talks about the growth of his real estate business and getting involved in real estate syndication.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ellen Knowlton conducted by Claytee D. White on August 13, 2018 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Knowlton discusses her family background and her career in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). She talks about criminal investigations she has been involved with, bank robberies, and the rise of white-collar crimes. Knowlton recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, her involvement with the opening of the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement (known as the Mob Museum), and ensuring accuracy on the role of law enforcement with the handling of organized crime. Lastly, Knowlton discusses the future of the museum.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Milton Schwartz conducted by Claytee D. White on May 03, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Schwartz discusses working at the Flamingo Hotel right after World War II, starting Valley Hospital and owning many other businesses. He also talks about having a Hebrew academy named after him in Israel, and owning the Yellow-Checker-Star Cab Company. Other topics Schwartz discusses includes being active in the Republican Party and bringing the first medical helicopters to Nevada with a few partners.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Judith Hickman conducted by Shirley Emerson on July 16, 2014 for the West Charleston Neighborhoods: an Oral History Project of Ward 1. In this interview, Hickman discusses her early life and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1956. She recalls integration, civil rights for African Americans, and the growth of the city. Hickman talks about her experience living in the West Charleston area, and African Americans deciding to move to other parts of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection