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.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Phyllis Syzdek conducted by an unknown fifth grader on April 24, 2009 and is part of the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. Syzdek opens her interview by discussing her childhood during the Great Depression, and moving around the United States often as her father searched for work. She then talks about moving to a small farm town in Colorado for her high school years. Sydek then recalls December 07, 1941 and where she was when she found out about the Pearl Harbor bombing. She remembers that her town had a considerable Japanese American population but they were not sent to internment camps because of their farm work. She then describes how World War II affected her, how young people helped the war effort, and her sister's service in the United States Marine Corps. Syzdek then discusses what life was like in the 1940s, how much things cost during that time, and what she remembers from when she was in 5th grade. Lastly, Syzdek talks about her adult life and family.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Erick Spiess conducted by Thomas Barr on March 18, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Spiess discusses his personal history and how he came to Las Vegas, Nevada. Spiess describes how Las Vegas and its casinos have changed, construction projects he has worked on, and his interest in inventing. Spiess also discusses his career as the electrical inspector at the Nevada Test Site, how and why the nuclear tests were conducted, and the commercial applications of the tests. He goes on to talk about radiation and the effects of nuclear fallout.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jim Jones conducted by Patrick Carlton on October 28, 2002 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview, Jones discusses different points in his career. He begins by talking about his early years in elementary school and his later years while attending Las Vegas High School. Jones discusses being a Las Vegas, Nevada native and becoming a dentist after a few years of graduate school. He discusses the different wars that took place over the years, and talks about his time serving in the military during the Korean War. Some of his most memorable experiences mainly revolved around being a traveling dentist.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mike Markoff conducted by an unidentified collector on an unknown date in the 1970s for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Markoff discusses the Boulder (Hoover) Dam from a construction worker's perspective. Markoff then discusses the negative environmental effects that casinos and other buildings had on Las Vegas, Nevada. Markoff later discusses hunting around the Las Vegas, Nevada area.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ina Porter conducted by Claytee White on January 05, 2010 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park neighborhood oral history project. Porter recalls moving to the John S. Park Neighborhood in the 1940s. She describes how they helped build the Mormon Church and the importance of the Latter Day Saints Church to the John S. Park Neighborhood. Lastly, Porter discusses the changes in the John S. Park Neighborhood over fifty years.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mike Hines conducted by Perry Kaufman on an unknown date in 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Hines discusses his early life in Kewanna, Indiana; education, military service, and his eventual move to Las Vegas, Nevada to work as a city attorney. After passing the Nevada Bar Exam in 1950, Hines opened his law office located on the northeast corner Third Street and Fremont Street.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joey Trujillo conducted by David G. Schwartz on October 08, 2008 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. In this interview, Trujillo discusses his personal experience with Jay Sarno as his barber at Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls gambling with Sarno and tells anecdotes of their friendship. Lastly, Trujillo discusses the death of Sarno in 1984.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sonny Reizner conducted by Jack Painter on an unknown date between 1970 and 1985 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Reizner discusses his time working at the sports book for Castaways Hotel and Casino Bowling in Las Vegas, Nevada. Reizner goes into detail about writing and managing the sports books. Later, Reizner talks about sports betting, the process, and its growth. Finally, Reizner describes the culture of sports betting and the logistics of how to succeed in the field.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Steve Johnson conducted by Fred Reagan on March 20, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Johnson discusses his exposure to African American racial discrimination and segregation in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1950s to the 1970s. He discusses these experiences in markets, theaters, casinos, employment, and in common social interactions. Johnson also discusses the slow progression of social acceptance to racial integration and African Americans entering professional fields.
Archival Collection