Oral history interview with Elmer H. Nighswonger conducted by Larry Davis on April 02, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Nighswonger discusses the history of the Las Vegas Fire Department and describes his experiences as a firefighter. Nighswonger then discusses the El Rancho Casino fire, and the effect that it had on Las Vegas, Nevada.
Oral history interview with Alan Jarlson conducted by Perry Kaufman on June 04, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In his interview, Jarlson discusses the Las Vegas, Nevada newspaper industry and the significant people in the industry. He also discusses other significant people and events in Las Vegas, Nevada history.
Oral history interview with Henry Schutte conducted by an unknown collector on an unknown date in approximately the 1980s for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Schutte discusses working on trains since childhood and explains the type of maintenance he performed. Schutte then describes his career at the Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO).
Oral history interview with Jack Cherry conducted by Cheryl Mawhinney on March 20, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Jack Cherry, M.D. (b. 1897 in Little Rock, Arkansas) discusses about his experiences as a practicing physician in Southern Nevada. Dr. Cherry first discusses the steps he took to initiate the building of what would become the Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital, where he would later become the hospital administrator. The interview concludes with Cherry’s opinion on the modern practice of medicine.
Oral history interview with Julie McDonald conducted by Michael Richardson on March 14, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, McDonald describes life in Las Vegas, Nevada after moving there in 1956, as well as the city's layout. McDonald also passionately describes the complexities, perks, and pitfalls she faced while working as a card dealer in various casinos.
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.
Oral history interview with Carl Esteban conducted by William Bailey on December 2, 2022 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Esteban recalls growing up in Salinas, California in a predominantly Asian community before relocating with family to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2002. As a first generation Filipino America, Esteban's mother sacrificed her life in the Philippines to become the sole person in her family to immigrate to America. Esteban received his degree in Special Education and is currently pursuing to a master's degree in the same field. Esteban is currently a special education educator at the Yvonne Atkinson-Gates Center in North Las Vegas. Throughout the interview, Esteban discusses a wide range of topics spanning from his family migration story, his early childhood, his Filipino identity, Asian stereotypes as the model minority, and how his mentors helped shape him into the person he is today.
Oral history interview with Rita M. Zajac conducted by Edward Napierkowski on March 06, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Zajac discusses her recollection of Nevada politics during the 1960s.
On March 5, 1979, Danny Winegar interviewed Helen M. Clark (born 1921 in Memphis, Tennessee) about her experiences in Nevada. Clark first describes why she and her family moved to Las Vegas and then explains why she was homeschooled. She then talks about her secretarial work for a prominent real estate agent in Las Vegas and some of her work in that field. Clark also discusses the beginning of tract home building, gambling, and the building of Hoover Dam. She also mentions life during the Great Depression, prostitution in Block 16, and the Helldorado celebration. The interview concludes with Clark’s recollection of the first hotels and casinos that were built on the Strip, including those who built them and the mob influence over them, and a brief mentioning of her experience as a real estate agent.
Oral history interview with G.C. Ramsay conducted by Steven Fink on March 19, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Ramsay compares and contrasts 1950s Las Vegas, Nevada to 1980s Las Vegas.