Oral history interview with Emilio Muscelli conducted by Claytee D. White on November 25, 2008 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Muscelli discusses his life in Italy, coming to America in 1948, and working at the Copacabana nightclub in New York. He also discusses his boss there, Jack Entratter, who brought him to Las Vegas, Nevada when he opened the Sands Hotel and Casino in 1952. Muscelli then discusses working as a maitre d' for many years at the Sands and becoming friends with Bobby Darren, Cary Grant, and many other celebrities.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stuart Mason conducted by Claytee White on November 09, 2006 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Mason discusses his company, Taylor Construction, and gives an overview of the hotels the company has built and background information about them. He then describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to build Caesars Palace in 1964 and how the Civil Rights Movement impacted the construction scene. He then talks about old and new building projects, and the differences between being his own boss and working for someone else.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ernest Oon conducted by Cecilia Winchell, Stefani Evans, and Jerwin Tiu on February 16, 2023 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Oon recalls his childhood in Singapore, where his father worked on the Health and Sports Council for the Singaporean Government and his mother worked as a television assistant producer. Growing up, Oon recalls being very active, participating in everything from soccer to Tae Kwon Do. In an effort to continue his education without being being interrupted by Singapore's civil service program, Oon applied to college in the United States and ended up attending California State University. Although he was on the medicine track in Singapore, he switched to finance. After a series of jobs within credit banking, he is now a chief credit officer for Bank of Nevada. Throughout the interview, Oon reflects on the changes in his life living in different places, the street food from Singapore, and his unique tennis game.
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Archival Component
Oral history interview with Rayshawn Williams conducted by Barbara Tabach on November 11, 2021 for the Veterans Oral History Project of Southern Nevada.
Native Las Vegan Rayshawn Williams discusses his service in the United States Marine Corps and his tours as a field radio operator in Iraq. He also shares stories of being in boot camp during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Rayshawn talks about his graduate studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and his university employment through the TRIO Training Institute programs (Talent Search, Upward Bound, and Student Support Service).
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tim Albertson conducted by Suzanne Becker on June 15, 2007 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park Neighborhood Oral History Project. Tim Albertson discussed how he moved into the John S. Park Neighborhood in 2005. He also talked about when his family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1978, including how his mother located her accounting business in the John S. Park area. He recalled when they would shop, go to doctor appointments, and paint houses in that neighborhood when he was in middle school.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charles Roland conducted by Claytee D. White on August 16, 2012 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Roland begins by describing why his family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1952 and attending Las Vegas High School. He discusses the African American community in Las Vegas, working in a restaurant called Sill's Drive-In, and his father, who opened the Hamburger Heaven restaurants. Roland also discusses race relations in Las Vegas prior to integration, the Binion family, and how Las Vegas has changed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gene Collins conducted by Claytee D. White on July 16, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Collins discusses the job market in Las Vegas, Nevada and delineates his work experience and career as culinary employee, operation engineer, and finally as electrician at the Nevada Test Site. He then talks about becoming a Nevada State Assemblyman and helping to bring diversification, jobs, and businesses to the black community. Collins details the accomplishments of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) during those years and discusses the means by which they were met, including marches and protests.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jim Bilbray conducted by Jeff van Ee on March 26, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Bilbray first outlines his life from high school, to enlistment in the Army Reserve, attending American University, and working for Nevada Senator Howard Cannon. He then speaks of the different political philosophies in Northern Nevada versus Southern Nevada, the thinking in the mining industry, Sagebrush Rebellion, federal ownership of 86% of Nevada, the doughnut hole around the valley, Bureau of Land Management, hearings on environmental matters, taxation, and grazing laws.
Archival Collection