Oral history interview with Richard Plaster conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on March 21, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Plaster discusses his early life in Santa Monica, California, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1973. He recalls his early interests in real estate, forming his company Signature Homes, and the first home building projects he was involved in. Lastly, Plaster describes land acquisition during the late 1970s, building mass housing, and his role as President of the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association (SNHBA).
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Kilduff conducted by Stefani Evans on November 03, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Kilduff discusses his early life in New Jersey. He talks about his background in accounting, and his employment with Arthur Anderson LLC and Leisure Technology. Kilduff recalls arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1993, joining the Howard Hughes Corporation, and his role with American Nevada Company. Kilduff describes the development of Summerlin, Green Valley, Aliante, and infrastructure differences in those areas. Lastly, Kilduff discusses building Bishop Gorman High School.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lon Bronson conducted by Barbara Tabach on May 23, 2018 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Bronson discusses his early life in Keene, New Hampshire, and his initial interest in music. Bronson talks about arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1985, the musical scene in the city at the time, and the musician’s union strike of 1989. He describes when casino shows switched from live musicians to prerecorded music, and the shortage of jobs for musicians after that decision. Lastly, Bronson discusses the current entertainment scene in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Michael Howe conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on July 05, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Howe discusses his upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada and growing up in the Huntridge neighborhood. He talks about joining the Las Vegas Department of Planning in 2007, projects he has been a part of, and involving the community when development planning. Howe describes the master planning for Downtown area of Las Vegas, public-private partnerships, and the idea of sustainability in public spaces. Lastly, Howe discusses the importance of developing transportation accommodations in the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Walter V. Long conducted by Brenda Baechle on February 19, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Long discusses his arrival to Las Vegas, Nevada from Tonopah, Nevada in 1930. Long also discusses his experiences as a teacher and principal in various Las Vegas schools. Other subjects Long discusses include his education, the Boulder (Hoover) Dam's construction, laws for obtaining a teaching certificate during the 1930s, his experiences with Las Vegas High School, and his early life in Tonopah.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Steve Evans conducted by Claytee D. White on June 15, 2010 for the Voices of the Historic John S. Park neighborhood Oral History Project. In this interview Steve Evans discusses living in Henderson, Nevada and owning a home previously owned by Las Vegas assembly person Flora Dugan, who was a mentor of his. He then talks about his efforts to recover information about his John S. Park home. He also talks about the thriving commerce of Fremont Street shifting to Maryland Parkway, the beginning of the Arts District, and the impact of events on the John S. Park neighborhood sense of community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Perazzo conducted by Claytee D. White on June 16, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Perazzo discusses his upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada. He talks about attending Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California to obtain a degree mathematics and computer science. Perazzo then recalls his father's work in architecture and his father's employment at the Nevada Test Site. Later, Perazzo discusses becoming a card dealer at the El Cortez Hotel and Casino and describes the challenges in working at casinos. Lastly, Perazzo talks about the development of Fremont Street.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ron Lurie conducted by Barbara Tabach on June 05, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Lurie discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada, attending Las Vegas High School, and working for his father in a grocery store. He also talks about his time in politics, campaigning for office, and changes he made while in office as mayor and in the city council. Lurie then talks about crime, Jewish business leaders, and law enforcement of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Max Velasquez conducted by Janice F. Hurtubise on March 08, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Velasquez discusses his personal history as a construction worker in Las Vegas, Nevada. He describes the construction projects he worked on and the differences between 1950s construction and construction at the current time. Velasquez goes on to discuss the government regulations workers had to follow, how water pipelines were laid, and the types of equipment used in construction. Lastly, Velasquez talks about the bidding process for contractors and environmental changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mara Vlaovich conducted by her grandson, Michael J. Vlaovich, on February 23, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Vlaovich discusses immigrating to Goldfield, Nevada in 1910 from the former Yugoslavia. Vlaovich describes life in Goldfield during the early twentieth century, as well as what the working conditions were like for miners. She talks about witnessing a major flood in Goldfield, which swept away houses and animals, as well as what childbirth was like in the rural town. Lastly, Vlaovich discusses moving to Tonopah, Nevada in 1918 and life there.
Archival Collection