Oral history interview with Helen Yu conducted by Andrew Yu on December 1, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Helen Yu discusses her upbringing in Seoul, South Korea, her grandfather's immigration to the United States in the late 1970s, and her family's decision to follow him to Portland, Oregon in 1984. She shares her family's history and their experiences during the Korean War, including what life was like both in North and South Korea at that time. Helen Yu discusses her undergraduate education at the University of Oregon studying graphic design and her graduate education at Ewha Womans University College of Art and Design in South Korea. She shares her thoughts having both a Korean American and Asian American identity, her marriage and two wedding ceremonies to her Korean husband, and her family's move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2001. Helen Yu concludes with a discussion of her event planning work which led to her current role as the Operations Manager at the Emerald at Queensridge in Las Vegas.
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Oral history interview with Marvin Vallone conducted by Eileen Jonas on March 02, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Vallone discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada and his first occupations in gaming as a card dealer. Vallone also discusses the growth of gaming in Las Vegas, Nevada and the development of casinos throughout the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joan Johnson conducted by Kim Geary on March 25, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Johnson discusses her personal history and her reasons for originally moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. Johnson recalls early Las Vegas entertainment, as well as the development of businesses and their unions.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Steve Hobbs conducted by Howie Basuk on February 17, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Hobbs describes the different sports he was in and includes the various rewards and championships he accomplished. Hobbs also talks about becoming general manager of Olympian Incorporated.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Brad Nelson conducted by Stefani Evans on October 30, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Nelson recalls planning various parcels, the village of Silver Springs, the village of Fox Ridge, the Fountains, and the Green Valley Athletic Club. He discusses the Green Valley ethos of planning for a good quality of family life by making space for churches, schools, and parks; providing a variety of housing price points, public art, working with homeowners' associations, and Single Point Urban Interchanges (SPUIs).
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Graves conducted by Hank Baran on March 01, 1987 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Graves discusses the gaming industry, the women in gaming, hotels on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip, McCarran Airfield, and golfing in Southern Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Al Pehlke conducted by Pete Domphase on April 02, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Pehlke gives a recollection of his life in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pehlke also gives a detailed description of the above ground atomic bomb testing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Howard Warner conducted by Virginia Lacouture on July 04, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Warner discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada as a special agent with the intelligence division of the United States Department of the Treasury. Warner then describes the expansion of businesses as the population increased in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Darrin Bush conducted by Claytee D. White on June 30, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Bush discusses photographing Las Vegas, Nevada over a 25-year period for the Las Vegas News Bureau. He also talks about the importance of implosions, cruising Fremont Street, and growing up in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dennis Ritz conducted by Claytee D. White on September 29, 2017 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Ritz discusses his early life in rural Pennsylvania. He recalls his initial interest in entertainment, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1965, and becoming an entertainment director for hotels and casinos. Ritz talks about the influence of organized crime in Las Vegas, and the various shows he worked on.
Archival Collection