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.
Oral history interview with Dr. Sandra Carmody conducted by Alyson Jones and Dottie Kulesza on August 3, 2001 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Carmody discusses her personal philosophy of education and how it transformed over the span of her career in education from the late 1960s to 2000. Though the bulk of her career was with the Clark County School District, she discusses general duties and responsibilities of school principals, challenges that administrators face, and her suggestions for successful principalship. She also discusses her family background, growing up in New York before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to receive teaching certification from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). She then discusses the process by which she began working with the Clark County School District following her certification from UNLV, and how she went from being a teacher to assuming the role of principal.
Oral history interview with Don Laughlin conducted by A. D. Hopkins on June 13, 1999 for the Las Vegas Review-Journal First 100 Oral History Project. In this interview, Laughlin discusses his early life in Minnesota, his start in gambling, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1952. Laughlin describes how he started his business including the process of obtaining licenses and buying property. Lastly, Laughlin talks about gaming competition in Arizona, his children, and his business' expansion.
Oral history interview with Mary R. Lyles conducted by Lisa Ellis on March 18, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Lyles discusses moving to Nevada from California in 1949 and experience of racial discrimination as an African American. Lyles also discusses her religious beliefs, her work as a maid and pantry waitress, and her experiences as a single mother raising eight children.
Oral history interview with LaVaun Hendrix conducted by Judy Laliberte on February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. The two discuss how Hendrix originally came to Nevada, her occupational history, and differences between the school system in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hendrix explains how a changing school system has affected her job as a teacher and her students. She goes on to talk about the above-ground atomic tests, Helldorado, changes to the desert, and Nevada during World War II.
Oral history interview with Carolyn Whaley conducted in 2005 by an unknown interviewer for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. Whaley discusses her early interest in music and her successful audition for the United States Air Force Women's Air Force (WAF) Band in 1959. She explains that the band was the only all-female band in the military between 1951 and 1961, and shared a number of stories about the function and activities of the band. Later, she discusses her civilian career as a music teacher in Barstow, California and decision to move to Las Vegas, Nevada after her retirement in 2000. She also remarks on the lack of interest that officials at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas showed in veterans.
Oral history interview with Saul Willis conducted by Claytee D. White on January 14, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Willis discusses his personal history and moving from Sondheimer, Louisiana to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1968. He talks about living in West Las Vegas, nightlife entertainment in the area, and community leaders at the time. He then recalls the increase of drug use in the Westside, being incarcerated for a year, and starting an automobile mechanic business. Lastly, Willis discusses his experience with the Las Vegas court system and the continued development of the Westside.
Oral history interview with Lorna Kesterson conducted by James M. Greene on October 18, 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Kesterson discusses her work in news editing as well as her original reasons for moving to Southern Nevada. She also discusses teenage social life of Boulder City, Nevada during the 1940s.
Oral history interview with Thomas Mulroy conducted by Richard Bidelman on March 16, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Mulroy discusses downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, local government, Old City Hall, Mormon Fort, citizen participation, and the construction of the Showboat Hotel and Casino.
Oral history interview with Barbara Givens conducted by Claytee D. White on October 05, 2005 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. Givens discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada from Reno, Nevada in 1952 and receiving a degree in teaching from what is now the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She also talks about teaching in two Las Vegas high schools and a class for new teachers at UNLV.