Oral history interview with Nicole Cristina Espinosa conducted by Yancy Bayoro on November 17, 2022 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Espinosa recalls growing up in Vallejo, California as a first-generation Filipino-American. Because their parents had converted to Mormonism while still in the Philippines, Espinosa grew up surrounded by the Latter-day Saints (LDS) community, attending church every Sunday and going off to camp regularly. In their LDS community, the Espinosa family was often the only non-White family, while among the other Filipinos at school being the only Mormon among Catholics, creating a tension in their identity. Nevertheless, Espinosa had a large extended family nearby and fondly remembers spending time with them as a teenager. They talk about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in high school because of the low cost of living and job opportunities. After graduating high school, Espinosa worked a number of jobs from TSA at the airport to retail at Urban Outfitters. Epinosa discusses their parent's experience with assimilation and the parts of Filipino culture that were left behind. Throughout the rest of the interview, Espinosa talks about a range of other topics such as public transportation, finding good food, and their AAPI identity.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joseph Kine conducted by James Greene on December 19, 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. This interview covers the early days of Boulder City, Nevada from the perspective of an old-timer. Mrs. Kine is also present during the interview. They discuss education, home, and family life, in Boulder City.
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From the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas; OH-00944. On April 4, 1976, Gordon Brusso interviewed Floyd L. Jenne (born 1915). The interview discussed Boulder City McGill, as well as Nevada history.
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Oral history interview with Georgia Adras (b. 1916) conducted by Robin L. Hayes on March 02, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Adras relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada from Farmington, Utah in 1936. This interview covers education, religion, ad raising a family in Nevada. During the interview Adras also discusses the building of the Boulder Dam, road conditions, grocery shopping in the early days, and the Strip.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Hobert D. Blair conducted by Arnel Wilks on March 10, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Blair discusses Boulder City, Nevada in the early days, as well as, Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1930s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Steve Wynn conducted by David Schwartz on December 8, 2006 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. In this interview, Wynn discusses his relationship with Jay Sarno and Sarno's development of the Atlanta Cabana Motel in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as the early days of of Caesars Palace and Circus Circus in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Oral history interview with George Lee conducted by Stefani Evans and Su Kim Chung on February 29, 2024 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Lee describes his four decades of experience as a Las Vegas blackjack dealer (36 at the Four Queens Casino), after leaving behind a career in dance. Lee was selected to originate the role of "Tea" in a 1954 New York City Ballet stage production of The Nutcracker. He also danced in South Pacific at the Thunderbird, and with Carol Channing's revue at The Riviera, and a traveling production of Disney on Parade. After dancing in Alcazar de Paris at the Desert Inn Hotel in 1980, he quit dancing and went to dealer school. He worked swing shift at the Four Queens Hotel, and attended ballet classes at UNLV during the day. Lee, now 89, still works five days a week at the Four Queens. In this interview, Lee talks about ballet, typecasting, discipline, and being "ten times better." He discusses becoming a U.S. citizen in 1959 and changing his surname from Li to Lee.
Archival Collection