Oral history interview with Flora Hannig-Kellar conducted by Michael D. Taylor on March 27, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Hannig-Kellar discusses family life, social, and recreational activities. She also shares some of the poetry she wrote about Nevada and her family, specifically her children and grandchildren.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Peter La Porta conducted by William Davy Weller Sr. February 28, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, La Porta discusses his birth at St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Henderson, Nevada and his office, the La Porta Insurance Agency in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also talks about his early memories of Henderson, gambling, celebrities in Las Vegas, and his religious preferences.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jan Van Tuyl conducted by D.R. Brainard on March 21, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Van Tuyl discusses his personal history, specifically his educational background and growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. Van Tuyl talks about his military service in the United States Air Force and his transition to education. Later, Van Tuyl discusses coaching a gymnastics team, the Las Vegas Comets.
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Oral history interview with Heidi Sarno Straus conducted by David Schwartz on October 03, 2008 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Interview. In this interview, Straus discusses her upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada and her experience as the daughter of Jay Sarno. She remembers living at the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino, Tanya the Elephant performances, and the Flying Cavarettas trapeze acts. Straus describes her father’s relationship with Steve Wynn and Oscar Goodman, and his vision for the future of Las Vegas hotel and casinos.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gene Greenberg conducted by Barbara Tabach on February 12, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Gene Greenberg discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, working in television ad sales, and becoming executive vice president and general manager of KVBC-TV. He also talks about his ties to the Jewish community, his parents being holocaust survivors, and about his family life.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Donald Edward Borsack conducted by Stephen Compan on March 02, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. During this interview Borsack discusses the growth of Nevada, and sports and recreation in the early days, including Nevada’s first professional baseball team.
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Oral history interview with Roberta Kane conducted by Barbara Tabach on September 6, 2017 and May 22, 2018 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Kane explains how she was the first born Jewish baby in Las Vegas, Nevada and her parents’ deep involvement with the Jewish community of the 1930s. She then talks about the formalization that occurred in the Jewish community with the building of Temple Beth Sholom. In a second session, Kane recalls the Wildcat Lair, a gathering spot of students from Las Vegas High School in the 1950s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Claude Trenier conducted by Claytee White on February 13, 1997 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN). Trenier discusses joining a band at the age of twenty two in 1941 and traveling around the country. Trenier describes working in Las Vegas, Nevada; Miami, Florida; and New York City, New York. Trenier also discusses the racism he saw as an African American performer, recalling that racial discrimination was especially fervent in Las Vegas. Trenier describes how many African American musicians and performers were allowed to perform in casinos, but not reside or lounge on the properties. Trenier also discusses the Moulin Rouge and his thoughts about its sudden closure in 1955. Finally, Trenier talks about his interactions with other entertainers at the time like Duke Ellington and Nat Cole King.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Junior Fonotisatele conducted by Cecilia Winchell and Stefani Evans on November 10, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. Junior discusses his Samoan background and the importance of strong family values. He talks about his early years in Utah and California before moving to Las Vegas where he attended and graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Junior shares his employment history as a bodyguard for Floyd Mayweather, an entrepreneur of a clothing brand, and an investor into a range of ventures including security, solar energy, and mental health. He concludes with a discussion of Samoan cultural celebrations, his religion, and the significance of his tattoos.
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Oral history interview with Linda and Ross Fitzpatrick conducted by Claytee D. White on October 10, 2015 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Linda and Ross discuss their personal histories and how they eventually met. They describe where Walking Box Ranch is located and recall their interest in the area near Searchlight, Nevada. Later, the two recall their decisions on what to preserve at Walking Box Ranch after buying the property. Lastly, Ross discusses being appointed by the Canadian Prime Minister to the Canadian Federal Senate in 1998.
Archival Collection