Oral history interview with Oliver Crickman conducted by William Hawley on March 03, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Crickman discusses his upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada and his gradual move from the position of cook’s helper to executive chef at the Royal Inn. Crickman goes into detail about the operation of Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Las Vegas restaurants, the demographics of cooks, and how the hospitality and housing industries have changed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jack Herst conducted by Suzan DiFederico on March 01, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Herst talks about the population growth in Nevada and emphasizes the significant changes that Las Vegas, Nevada has experienced from its origins as a small town. Herst also discusses his personal family history, his Jewish identity, community affiliations, and his career as a card dealer and broker at different casinos.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jesse Scott conducted by Claytee D. White on June 29, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Scott describes growing up in Louisiana and his initial involvement with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as vice president of the youth council. He recalls positions he held beginning in the 1970s with the Las Vegas NAACP branch as an executive director, executive director of the Equal Rights Commission, and later, president of the Las Vegas NAACP.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Roosevelt Toston conducted by Claytee D. White on July 11, 2006 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Toston discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1950s and his various careers at the Test Site, Bell Telephone of Nevada, as a television anchorman and cameraman, and the Convention and Visitors Authority to bring conventions to Las Vegas. He also talks about ways African American entrepreneurs might get involved in the convention business.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Chris Guinchigliani conducted by Suzanne Becker on July 20, 2007 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park Neighborhood Oral History Project. Guinchigliani discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1980s and teaching at a middle school. She also discusses involving herself in the teachers’ union as well as serving in various leadership positions.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jimmy Wike conducted by David Schwartz on June 02, 2015 for the Table Games Management Oral History Project. Wike discusses his career as a card dealer and pit manager at casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada including the Las Vegas Club, Fremont Hotel and Casino, Stardust, MGM Grand, Landmark, Bally’s, Hilton, and Caesars Palace. Wike then recalls stories of card dealing in the 1970s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charles F. Razmic conducted by Michael Braddy on March 12, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Razmic discusses moving from West Homestead, Pennsylvania to Las Vegas, Nevada in July of 1954 for a teaching assignment at Basic High School. He discusses the changes in Las Vegas such as the growth of hotels and casinos as well as the increasing population and employment opportunities. Lastly, Razmic discusses football.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Harry M. Reid conducted by Nancy Worthen on March 09, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Reid discusses his personal family history and the history of Searchlight, Nevada. Reid mainly focuses on mining and its relation to Searchlight. Reid also talks about the Nellis family and William Nellis, a fighter pilot. Nellis Air Force Base was renamed in his honor in 1950.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Florence Smith conducted by her grandson, Sam Smith, on March 19, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Smith discusses the police department for Las Vegas, Nevada and crime in the city. She describes employment levels, the ease and difficulty of finding work, and where someone can find jobs. Smith talks about raising her children and federal government ownership of land in Nevada.
Archival Collection