Oral history interview with Chris Bianchi conducted by David Schwartz on April 14, 2015 for the Table Games Management Oral History Project. In this interview, Bianchi discusses his career as a pit boss and his overall career in gaming. Bianchi then discusses the procedures that a pit master must follow, and how strictly these procedures were enforced. Lastly, Bianchi discusses how to motivate players, the positive aspects of being a card dealer, including different competitions that he worked.
Oral history interview with Elliott Schecter conducted by David Schwartz on May 27, 2015 for the Table Games Management Oral History Project. In this interview, Schecter discusses his career as a card dealer at various casinos, including Seminole Hollywood, Downstream Casino Resort, Snoqualmie Casino, Reno Hilton, and the Palms in Las Vegas. Schecter also discusses card dealing in cruise ships, including Discovery cruises, the Palm Beach Princess, and the Palm Beach Kennel Club.
Oral history interview with Don Payne conducted by Mara E. Vernon on March 19, 1997 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Payne discusses his career with the Las Vegas News Bureau. He talks about his role as Head of the Bureau and his work in promoting Las Vegas through media outlets. Payne remembers the Bureau’s partnership with the Union Pacific Railroad and the beginning of corporate ownership in Las Vegas hotels and casinos.
Oral history interview with Linda Hartley conducted by Pauline Marchese on March 10, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. During the interview, the two discuss Hartley’s personal history, such as schools that she had attended and her recollection of local recreational activities. The two go on to talk about changes in crime, the environment, and briefly discuss a variety of issues at the time, including: segregated schools, prostitution, and effects of the Nevada Test Site.
Oral history interview with Gene Leavitt conducted by his son, Monte Leavitt, on February 28, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Mr. Leavitt talks about his career as a truck and bus driver. He also talks about the life in Southern Nevada, the soldiers stationed here, and gambling. Leavitt also briefly discusses doing drilling work on the Boulder (Hoover) Dam.
Oral history interview with Rena Lees conducted by Bill Young on March 19, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Lees talks about her experience living in Las Vegas, Nevada from the 1930s to 1950s. She specifically talks about growing up in Las Vegas and the mob's influence throughout the city. She also discusses her family and her career working at Sunrise Hospital.
Oral history interview with Ralph Denton conducted by K.J. Evans on January 10, 2000 for the Las Vegas Review-Journal First 100 Oral History Project. Denton first talks about his personal friendship with Governor Grant Sawyer, their education in law school, and his eventual work on campaigning for Sawyer after he became governor. Denton then speaks about working as Sawyer’s adviser. Toward the end of the interview, Denton describes his work on improving civil rights and some of the challenges that came with that.
Oral history interview with Robert Bugbee conducted by John Lopez on March 16, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bugbee discusses his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1953 and how both the population and housing have changed since then. Bugbee additionally speaks about the changes in infrastructure, including the building of roads and increased air travel. Throughout the interview, he mentions some of the various specific housing tracts that were built throughout Las Vegas. Bugbee also mentions topics such as the building of Hoover Dam, the first popular casinos in town, the Carole Lombard crash, and the MGM Grand fire. The interview finalizes with Bugbee’s thoughts on the future of Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Janis Walker conducted by Claytee D. White on July 03, 2006 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Walker discusses her career as an African American showgirl in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1970s and 1980s. Walker describes dancing in the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino productions of Hallelujah Hollywood and Jubilee!, and what the life of a showgirl was like. She also talks about the company manager at the MGM, "Fluff" LeCoque, her own children, her work at the time of the interview, and how entertainment in Las Vegas has changed.
Oral history interview with Carol Frey conducted by Claytee D. White on March 30, 2018 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Carol Frey discusses her work as a volunteer for the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) of Southern Nevada. She specifically talks about the October 1, 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada and her volunteer efforts at one of the hospitals, where she provided support for survivors of the shooting, answering any questions they had, calling family members, arranging transport of loved ones to Las Vegas, and any other assistance that was needed, either emotional or practical. Throughout the interview, Frey discusses the moments that have stuck with her, including the gestures of gratitude the TIP volunteers had received from United Health Care employees and Sandy Hook High School students.