Oral history interview with Arthur D. Schlauder conducted by Geneva Beasley on June 30, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Schlauder discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1946. Schlauder also discusses his career with Las Vegas Machine, a machine shop and steel fabrication company. Schlauder later discusses being a member of social clubs such as the Purchasing Agents Association and the Kiwanis Club. Lastly, Schlauder discusses the change and growth of the Las Vegas Strip as well as the city overall.
Oral history interview with William Star conducted by Tony Morneau on September 15, 1973 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Star discusses moving from Brooklyn, New York to Henderson, Nevada in 1955. In 1959, Star moved from Henderson to Las Vegas, Nevada to run a family-owned pawn shop. Star goes into detail about atomic bomb testing, the growth of Las Vegas, and gambling.
Oral history interview with Talia Levanon conducted by Barbara Tabach on January 21, 2019 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Levanon discusses her role as the Director of Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC), an organization that provides trauma care and counseling in Israel and around the world. She recalls that three weeks after the 1 October shooting, she and a team from ITC arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada to offer training and support and worked closely with Las Vegas Metro Police Department. Digital audio available.
Oral history interview with Charles Silvestri conducted by Claytee D. White on December 31, 2012 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Silvestri begins by discussing his family history and his personal history in the United States Army during the 1950s. He describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1957 after leaving the army, working as a casino dealer at The Mint Hotel and Casino and California Club while attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, called Nevada Southern University at the time. Silvestri then describes attending the University of Nevada, Reno to finish his degree and moving back to Las Vegas to begin his career as a teacher. Lastly, he talks about life in Las Vegas, entertainment in the city, race relations in Las Vegas during the 1960s, and the middle school that was named in his honor.
Oral history interviews with Melvin Green conducted by Robin Fults on November 28 and December 1, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Green talks about growing up in Bonita, Louisiana and his education through college. He then talks about working for an architectural firm in Connecticut before being recruited to join a firm in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1986. He relates numerous stories about his childhood, discusses problems with discrimination and segregation in the South, and an example of discrimination from a Las Vegas furniture store in the late 1980s. He expands on his views of religion, spirituality, and politics, the importance of travel, of hard work, and commitment. He also gives examples of architectural projects that he has created.
Oral history interview with Thomas McDonald conducted by Ted Papatheodorou on July 05, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, McDonald describes his experiences running a newspaper and a restaurant in Chicago, Illinois before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to work as a manager at the Stardust Hotel and Casino. McDonald shares several short anecdotes, such as being thrown off of a freight train in 1915 in early Las Vegas, or serving then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson at his restaurant in Chicago.
Oral history interview with Linda Vasquez conducted by Patricia van Betten on February 18, 2005 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. Vasquez discusses her childhood in Norwich, Connecticut and her first trip to Blue Diamond, Nevada in 1966 as a high school graduation gift. She describes the early Blue Diamond community, and her eventual move to Nevada around 1975. She details her husband Simon Vasquez's childhood in Blue Diamond, from his education at the first school in Blue Diamond to his commute to Las Vegas High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. She then discusses her husband's roles at the Blue Diamond Mine, from the time he was eighteen years old until his death. Vasquez then details the health care in Blue Diamond, as well as the schools, the post service, and the telephone and electricity services.
Oral history interview with Mario Berlanga Jr. conducted by Claytee D. White on July 26, 2017 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Berlanga discusses his upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada and growing up in the Westside community. He discusses his experience working at supermarkets, becoming a supermarket owner, and establishing his business, Mario’s Westside Market. Berlanga talks about supporting the children of the community, working with the local police, and the growth of his business. Lastly, Berlanga discusses the redevelopment of the Westside neighborhood.
Oral history interview with Rowena Gonzalez conducted by Michael Boyd on March 01, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Gonzalez first talks about her family background and residential history before discussing the way of life in Texas and eventual move to Las Vegas, Nevada. Several topics covered in the interview include Gonzalez’s recollections of the atomic testing, the building of the Boulder (Hoover) Dam, and Howard Hughes. The two also discuss tourism, the properties on the Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas, and early means of transportation.
Oral history interview with Alfred Guzman conducted by Barbara Guzman on March 01, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Guzman first talks about his occupational history, including his career in public relations for the Sands Hotel and Casino. He then talks about Las Vegas, Nevada, including social changes, changes in the gaming industry, and mob influence in the casinos. He also talks about Reno, Nevada, how his job affects the public, and the MX Missile system.