Oral history interview with Herb McDonald conducted by Perry Kaufman on an unknown date in 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Herbert Cobb McDonald discusses his work as a managing director and chamber director at Las Vegas, Nevada hotels and casinos including the El Rancho Vegas and the Last Frontier Hotel. McDonald also discusses his experiences promoting tourism through conventions, the Las Vegas News Bureau, celebrity advertisements, and the first sporting events held in casinos.
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Gilbert Yarchever was one of nine siblings, born and bred in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He describes the way his mother?s family was granted the last name of ?Kurfeersf" by Emperor Franz Joseph (of Austria-Hungary), explains the Seder (the Jewish observation of the exodus of Hebrews from Egypt), and tells what it was like to survive the Depression. Gilbert describes the jobs he held after high school and the government examination he took that led to his lifetime of adventure and travel. He moved to Washington, D.C., in 1940 and kept himself busy working for the government and taking classes at George Washington University, as well as working part time at Hecht Department Store and as a freelance court reporter. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Gilbert was sent to Africa on a merchant ship, helped smuggle Jewish survivors into Jerusalem, and was assigned the task of negotiating with Arab sheikhs for laborers to build a road. In the years after that, he worked in Europe, Panama, Alaska, Japan, and Hawaii and describes many of the jobs he was responsible for and many of the individuals he met. He also married and had children, kept up with university classes whenever he could, and collected art objects and paintings. Following his retirement in 1977, Gilbert and his family came to Las Vegas and bought a condo in Regency Towers. He did some consulting work for a couple of years, and then he and his wife began traveling around the states and going abroad. He was involved with UNLV?s EXCEL program, the music department, and the Las Vegas Art Museum. (He and his second wife Edythe presented the first major exhibition on Holocaust art at the museum.) These days Gilbert often donates pieces from his art collection to churches, synagogues, and charitable organizations.
Gilbert Yarchever was in the Navy during World War II, helped smuggle Jewish refugees into Jerusalem, worked as a civil servant in many countries, and moved to Las Vegas in 1977. He helped found the EXCEL program at University of Nevada, Las Vegas and was an art collector with his wife, Edythe Katz-Yarchever.
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Oral history interview with Pamela Dallas conducted by Dennis McBride on February 07, 2004 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Dallas discusses working alongside gay activist Fred Schoonmaker and her involvement with Stonewall Park, an idea of a separated gay community during the 1980s. She talks about fundraising for Stonewall Park and the homophobia that the community of Silver Springs, Nevada had towards the construction of Stonewall Park.
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Oral history interview with James Cardle conducted by Dr. David Emerson on April 25, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview James Cardle speaks about how he came to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in August of 1985 and began teaching a class on wastewater treatment. He spoke about how he was a member of the curriculum committee, did research on the Yucca Mountain project, and also worked on setting up a master's program.
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Oral history interview with Donald C. Moyer conducted by Claytee D. White on April 17, 2007 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. In this interview Donald Moyer describes coming to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in 1965 to serve as the president for the university. He discusses getting regents, community members, and the faculty and student body to recognize the needs of the University. He also discusses trying to establish UNLV as a separate entity from the University of Nevada, Reno.
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Oral history interview with George Bogdanovich conducted by Gretchen Schroeder on September 08, 2009 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Bogdanovich discusses his parents immigrating from Europe to the United States and how they met. He describes the mining process for gypsum in Blue Diamond, Nevada, including transporting the mineral. Bogdanovich recalls the living conditions in Blue Diamond and how residents got their water and electricity.
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Oral history interview with Derrick Fronckowiak conducted by Patricia van Betten October 26, 2010 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Fronckowiak discusses living in Blue Diamond, Nevada and describes the house he grew up in at the village. He talks about the fire department in the community and other public buildings around the area. Lastly, Fronckowiak discusses the development of Blue Diamond and the preservation of the rural areas in Blue Diamond.
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Oral history interview with Irving Kirshbaum conducted by Cheryl Rogers on February 23, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Kirshbaum discusses the Riviera Hotel where he began working in 1955. He also talks about the landscape of the Las Vegas Strip in the 1950s, and the state of gambling, comps, customer service, and dealer training. Kirshabum discusses the treatment of minorities at the Riviera and in Las Vegas, Nevada generally.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Shirley Edmond conducted by Claytee D. White on June 24, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview Shirley Edmond talks about growing up in the Westside neighborhood of Las Vegas, Nevada as the daughter of a local preacher. She tells of the early community's shopping and neighborhood landmarks. Shirley also shares stories of her work at both the US Post Office and Matt Kelly Elementary School.
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Oral history interview with Reithal Urioste conducted by Mary K. Keiser on January 20, 2006 for the Living to Dance Oral History Project: Tapping in Las Vegas. In this interview, Urioste discusses her early life in Burbank, California and her career in dancing. She talks about the various dancing styles that she learned and her introduction to tap dancing. Urioste remembers touring around the world and performing at different hotels and casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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