Oral history interview with Aubrey “Bud” Weil conducted by Claytee White on December 09, 2003 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Weil discusses working as a disc jockey and radio broadcaster at the KENO radio station in Las Vegas, Nevada and the stars he interviewed on his show.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Lee Plotkin conducted by Dennis McBride on August 02, 10, and 16; and October 04, 2006 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. In these interviews, Plotkin talks about his reaction to Lieutenant Governor of Nevada Myron E. Leavitt's claim that attending the Nevada Gay Rodeo violated Nevada's sodomy laws in the early 1980s. Plotkin recalls his childhood, coming out during high school, his early involvement with the Las Vegas, Nevada gay community, and his memories of Lieutenant Governor Leavitt and Leavitt's family. Plotkin also discusses the development and activities of LGBTQ organizations and demonstrations, including Golden Rainbow and Gay Pride. Lastly, he talks about the repeal of Nevada's sodomy laws in 1993, the defeat of Nevada Citizens' Alliance's anti-gay initiative petition Minority Status and Child Protection Act of 1994, and the growth of the Las Vegas LGBTQ community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charlotte Pittman conducted by Vanessa Concepcion, Cecilia Winchell, and Stefani Evans on November 29, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Charlotte discuses her heritage and family's histories as well as her childhood growing up in Manila, Philippines with her cousins and Lola (paternal grandmother). She talks about immigrating to the United States and growing up in Pueblo, Colorado before attending the Air Force Academy to become a pilot and moving to Las Vegas with her husband. Charlotte also shares memories from her time serving in the Air Force, her plans to retire in the near future, and her current activities with her family.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Fluff LeCoque conducted by Joyce Marshall on May 05, 1992 and May 21, 1992 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In these interviews, LeCoque discusses her early life in Montana and her career as a dancer. She talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1947, singing at the Last Frontier Hotel with the Chuck Gould Orchestra, and traveling around the world in a dance troupe. LeCoque remembers performing at the Moulin Rouge in Los Angeles, California and working with Donn Arden. Later, LeCoque recalls dancing in
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Peter Guzman conducted by Barbara Tabach on November 12, 2020 for The Great Pause: Las Vegas Chronicles of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Peter Guzman is President of the Latin Chamber of Commerce in Las Vegas. He recounts his personal and family history as well as the impacts of COVID-19 on the Latinx business community. Subjects discussed include: mask distribution; financial guidance for small Latinx businesses; silver linings during the pandemic
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Karen Grant conducted by Leslie Brinks on November 29, 2003 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Grant reflects upon her experience as a teacher and school administrator in the Pacific Northwest. She discusses challenges with changing curricula and school safety, and provides her opinion on changing student values and contemporary trends within public schools.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jack W. Cornell conducted by Richard Fesler on February 18, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Jack Cornell discusses historical buildings in Nevada, his experiences as an airplane mechanic for the Army Air Corps during World War II, the effects of the Great Depression, when he assisted an air escort for President Franklin Roosevelt, when he witnessed one of the atomic tests, and how the rural area in Manhattan, Nevada has changed over time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ruthe Deskin conducted by Anthony Ferri on April 17, 2000 for the Communication and Community in Las Vegas research study. In this interview, Deskin talks about her upbringing in Yerington, Nevada, her degree in journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), and her permanent move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1945. She discusses her early jobs working for KENO and KLAS radio stations as an advertising and continuity editor, her public relations work for the Last Frontier Hotel, and then starting what would become her life work with Hank Greenspun's Las Vegas Sun newspaper in 1954. Later, she talks about her column "Memo to Hank" and Greenspun's "Where I Stand" column, about how Las Vegas changed over her fifty year tenure at the newspaper, politicians, racial inequality, and highlights of her career.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Evan Blythin conducted by Patricia van Betten on September 26, 2006 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. Blythin opens his interview by discussing his early life on an Arizona ranch and his decision as a young adult to pursue higher education, which led to his PhD in philosophy and communications. He then talks about his move to Nevada in the late 1960s to teach communications at Nevada Southern University, now the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and his work to develop the communications department at the university. Later in the interview, he discusses his family's move to Blue Diamond Village from Las Vegas, Nevada, and the community's transition after the Blue Diamond Mine ceded control of the village to the inhabitants. He also talks about his work with the Blue Diamond Recreation Association and his artwork.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lidia Bonilla conducted by Maribel Estrada Calderón, Laurents Bañuelos-Benitez, and Barbara Tabach on February 19, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Bonilla begins the interview by discussing her and her family's early life in Panama. Bonilla shares her feelings on the United States' involvement in Panamanian politics as she grew up. She moved to the United States in 1976 and immigrated after her marriage to a United States citizen. While married, she traveled with her husband to his various military postings, including Spain. Bonilla discusses her experiences as the spouse of a military member and her experiences raising children in a military household. In 1991, she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where she began work for the Luxor Hotel and Casino. She discusses founding the Comunidad Panameña Las Vegas, a cultural group for Panamanians in Las Vegas, as well as her other civic engagements.
Archival Collection