Oral history interview with Lubertha Johnson conducted by Larry Buckner on February 10, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Lubertha Johnson discusses her family background, work experience, civic activity, and philosophy. She talks about discrimination in the workplace for Black people, segregation in Las Vegas, Nevada, and her forty year membership in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples (NAACP). She also discusses the historic Westside neighborhood and its schools, the prejudice Black performers faced in the 1950s and 1960s, and how she feels disappointed in President Jimmy Carter.
Archival Collection
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.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Byron Underhill conducted by Joyce Moore on March 20, 2002 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Underhill discusses his father who owned multiple businesses in Las Vegas, Nevada. Underhill also discusses taking over one of those businesses, the bottling plant, serving in the United States Army, being a private pilot who worked with Search and Rescue, and playing in various bands.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jack Cathcart conducted by Debbie Pfefferkorn on March 01, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Cathcart’s interview focuses on the transformations in the entertainment industry in Las Vegas, Nevada during World War II. He discusses the varying entertainment in hotel lounges, different dance styles, and the changes in customer service within these hotels.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carl Mortensen conducted by Carloyn Grattan on March 03, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Mortensen discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1951. Mortensen discusses the Boulder (Hoover) Dam as well as the growth of Las Vegas. Mortensen also discusses atomic testing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Colleen Gregory conducted by Tim Waters on April 6, 1976 and April 7, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Gregory first talks about her move to Las Vegas, Nevada; her early education, school activities, and her college education. She also talks about the first banks, Helldorado, the atomic testing, and environmental changes. Other topics covered include Howard Hughes, Western-style influences, the first properties on the Strip, World War II, racial prejudice, and changes she has noticed during her career in banking.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Phillip L. Cook conducted by Richard Strahan on March 3, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Cook first talks about his parents' move to Nevada and discusses how the school system has changed over time. He then describes the first businesses that opened up in the Downtown and Strip areas of Las Vegas, Nevada before discussing prostitution, Block 16, and recreational activities available to youth. Cook also talks about the first television sets and telephone systems made available, and he moves on to talk about the prices of things such as movies and haircuts when he was younger. The interview then moves to discussions on the Old Ranch, racial discrimination, school integration, the crime rate, and the school system in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carolyn Goodman conducted by David Schwartz on January 21, 2009 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. In this interview, Goodman talks about her friendships with Nate Jacobson, Jerry Zarowitz, and Elliot Price. She describes the business relationship that they had with Jay Sarno, the increase of casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1960s, and their contributions to the development of the Las Vegas Strip.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Herb Tobman conducted by Deborah Fischer on March 13, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Herb Tobman talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada while working for Standard Oil as a tire, battery and accessory salesman, then working for the Moulin Rouge as the general manager in 1955. He gives a description of the hotels on Las Vegas Boulevard and downtown. Tobman then discusses the types of gambling that were popular. He also talks about the accommodations, transportation, entertainment, and the economy.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sammie Armstrong conducted by Claytee D. White on March 08, 2017 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Armstrong discusses his early life in Camden, Arkansas and growing up working on a farm. He recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1963, and describes the Westside at that time. Armstrong talks about the businesses on Jackson Street, churches on the Westside, and integration in Las Vegas. Later, Armstrong discusses co-founding a transportation business in the early 1980s, Ray & Ross Transport, and providing transportation for Nevada Test Site employees. Lastly, Armstrong talks about growing his business into one of the largest bus companies in Nevada.
Archival Collection