Oral history interview with Oscar Goodman conducted by David Schwartz on January 05, 2009 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. In this interview, Goodman discusses initially meeting Jay Sarno and representing him as his lawyer. He remembers the allegations of organized crimes within Sarno’s properties, Las Vegas gaming at the time, and Sarno’s involvement with the development of Las Vegas. Lastly, Goodman talks about becoming Mayor of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with William Viera conducted by Ann Louise Pugh on an unknown day in October of 1971 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Viera discusses his work in real estate throughout Las Vegas, Nevada and describes the increase in value of homes, especially newer buildings. Viera later describes his thoughts on why the desert and other surrounding landscape areas would soon be developed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robin Greenspun conducted by Barbara Tabach on February 09, 2017 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Greenspun discusses her family background and growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. She talks about her early interest in the arts, working in television productions, and becoming a film director.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dorothy Thompson conducted by Patricia Moore on February 18, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Thompson discusses the growth of Las Vegas, Nevada. Thompson also describes her life as the wife of a railroad worker. She briefly discusses religion, specifically Mormonism.
Archival Collection
Interviewed by Monserrath Hernández, Rodrigo Vazquez, and Laurents Benitez-Bañuelos. A native of Jalisco, Mexico, moved to Las Vegas when he was about 20-year old in 1987. Attended CSN and UNLV. His history with Las Vegas is embedded in the 1980s Las Vegas gay scene and education for AIDS. He is and activist and the Executive Director of Aid for AIDS of Nevada. He and Theodore Small are the first same-sex marriage in Nevada.
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Oral history interview with Leo Dunbar conducted by Dennis McBride on June 16, 1986 for the Boulder City Library Oral History Project. In this interview, Dunbar gives a brief history of the Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau of Land Management) and the beginning of his life-long career with that agency, first working on two major projects in Colorado. He then discusses how The Six Companies won their bid to build the Hoover Dam, the establishment of the federal reservation that would house Boulder City, and the growth and development of both the city and the dam project.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ray Christian conducted by Russell Ellis on March 19, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Christian discusses race relations within schools, baseball teams, theatres, and Boy Scouts in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also talks about his custodial at the El Portal Theatre, the Las Vegas Westside neighborhood, and living through the Great Depression. Christian ends the interview discussing how white and black veterans helped improved race relations in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with James Matson conducted by Ken Rose on February 23, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Matson discusses his early life in Pensacola, Florida and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to work in resort and housing construction in 1952. Matson also discusses his family, his part-time work as a personal security guard, and the growth of Las Vegas. Lastly, he discusses African American racial discrimination and economic opportunities in Las Vegas in the 1950s to the 1980s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jack W. Cornell conducted by Richard Fesler on February 18, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Jack Cornell discusses historical buildings in Nevada, his experiences as an airplane mechanic for the Army Air Corps during World War II, the effects of the Great Depression, when he assisted an air escort for President Franklin Roosevelt, when he witnessed one of the atomic tests, and how the rural area in Manhattan, Nevada has changed over time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Rowena Gonzalez conducted by Michael Boyd on March 01, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Gonzalez first talks about her family background and residential history before discussing the way of life in Texas and eventual move to Las Vegas, Nevada. Several topics covered in the interview include Gonzalez’s recollections of the atomic testing, the building of the Boulder (Hoover) Dam, and Howard Hughes. The two also discuss tourism, the properties on the Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas, and early means of transportation.
Archival Collection