On February 26, and 27, 1980, Maylene C. Cabatingan interviewed Evelyn Miller McDonald (born 1905 in Alderson, West Virginia) about her life in Las Vegas, Nevada. Also present during the interview is Maylene’s step-father (name unknown) who occasionally participates in the conversation. At the time of the interview, McDonald had lived in Nevada for over seventy-two years and described early Las Vegas as a small-town railroad community with few amenities. McDonald discusses her occupational history, and how her father started the first car garage in Las Vegas. She goes on to talk about the impact of the Great Depression on Las Vegas and how Hoover Dam’s construction reduced the severity of the financial depression in comparison to other cities. She then recites the hotels that were built and the appeal that Vegas had to tourists and divorcees. McDonald later discusses how prostitution was accepted by the community, and recalls a story about how local businessmen rallied together to ensure that a minister would preach the funeral for a young woman who had died, despite being a prostitute. McDonald concludes her interview with a brief discussion of her goals in life and her pride in her daughters.

On March 14, 1981, Michael Richardson interviewed Julie McDonald (b. 1945 in Torrance, California) about her childhood and life in Las Vegas, Nevada. McDonald shares her first impressions of Las Vegas, her schooling and the location of residential areas. Throughout the interview, McDonald also goes into detail concerning her occupations at the Guild Theatre, her secretarial work at Nellis Air Force Base, her singing career and being a “21” dealer. McDonald discusses the changes in the gaming industry, particularly the incorporation of women dealers, the use of the silver dollar and the requirements for dealers. McDonald ends by discussing housing, major happenings within Las Vegas, recreation as a kid and mass media in early Las Vegas.

Temple Beth Sholom organized and led a bus tour of parts of Las Vegas that are significant in local Jewish history. Stops on the tour included Woodlawn Cemetery and the former Temple Beth Sholom campus on Oakey Boulevard. Narrator Arlene Blut gives the overview of the Jewish community, and Rabbi Felipe Goodman talks to tour participants at the cemetery. Former Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman speaks at the old synagogue along with Josh Abbey, whose mother created the stained glass windows at the temple.

Newsletter from Congregation Ner Tamid, October 1991