Oral history interview with Hildred Meidell conducted by Greg Abbott on February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Meidell covers a range of topics about living in Las Vegas, Nevada, from her and her husband’s time as tourists in the city and their subsequent retirement to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, California. Meidell describes the Las Vegas Strip, the interstate and highway conditions between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, as well as their numerous visits to Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam). Moreover, she speaks about the changing layout of the city, the increase in shopping centers and department stores, and the clothing stores inside of hotels. Lastly, Meidell talks about the prominence of churches in local communities, the atomic testing program and the structural damages these tests caused in her neighborhood, and the influence of the railroad and passenger train on the town.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Gilbert Yarchever conducted by Claytee White on April 03, 2006 and April 07, 2006 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Yarchever opens his interview by discussing his childhood in Pennsylvania and what growing up during the Depression was like. He then describes looking for employment and the discrimination he experienced for being Jewish. Yarchever then recalls his move to Washington, D.C. in December of 1939 and the atmosphere of the city at the brink of World War II. He describes his arrival in North Africa and how he helped smuggle Jews out of Eastern Europe and into Jerusalem for safety during the war. Yarchever talks about his Army service and his rescue from a sinking boat in the Suez Canal. Yarchever ends his interview with a discussion on why he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and his involvement in the local community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Cristina Alano conducted by Cecilia Winchell and Stefani Evans on September 9, 2022 for the Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Alano recalls a happy childhood in Pampanga, Philippines. After attending college for a banking and finance degree, she briefly worked at a bank before marrying her husband and immigrating to the United States. She would go on to move to Colorado where she lived for seven years, and finally moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2003. Alano recalls her first jobs in Las Vegas, including Walmart, SEI Electronics, a cashier at the Riviera, and finally the airport where works as a supervisor at Hudson as well as an assistant manager at Brighton. She discusses what she has done at each job and how she ended up getting involved with the Culinary Union in 2016. Since joining the union, she has done everything from being a shop steward to canvassing, most recently flying down to Georgia to help campaign for Senator Warnock. Throughout the rest of the interview, she discusses everything from food, to festivals, and her family.
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Oral history interview with Andrew Brewer conducted by Claytee D. White on July 1, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Brewer's interview starts with him discussing tenure as National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) President beginning in January 2008. He also gives details about the fund raisers that allowed the NAACP to benefit students with grants, support voter outreach and a prison ministry, and provide guidance for those suffering discrimination.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stanley Schwartz conducted by Carol Schwartz on March 01, 1980 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Schwartz discusses Las Vegas, Nevada early history, including businesses, Fremont Street and Downtown, Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Brief interview with Hank Greenspun by student Tony Bleeker. Greenspun speaks about changes in southern Nevada over the years, including politics, gaming and the economy. He mentions the role of the newspaper industry to provide "balance" in society.
No release form is on file for this interview. The interview is accessible onsite only, and researchers must seek permission from the interviewee or heirs for quotation, reproduction, or publication. Please contact special.collections@unlv.edu for further information.
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Oral history interview with Betsy Rhodes conducted by Melinda McGeorge Thompson on February 24, 2011 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
Betsy Rhodes shares a brief personal history before discussing her move to Las Vegas with her husband Leonard in 1958. She talks about her husband's dental profession, her children, and life in the early 1960s in Las Vegas. Rhodes shares details of her volunteering work with the Junior League and Assistance League of Las Vegas, detailing the groups' evolving missions, member counts, and trials faced to raise funds.
Archival Collection
Materials (1949-1994) contain interviews conducted by Willard, memo books, invitations, skits and routines, and drafts of a television special concept titled Las Vegas Dreams.
Archival Component
On February 28th, 1977, collector Clyde C. Caldwell interviewed Patrick P. Keenan (born January 24th, 1905 in New York) at his house in Henderson, Nevada. Mr. Keenan discusses Las Vegas and Henderson in the 1950s. He also speaks about working on the Strip and the changes he has seen in Las Vegas over time.
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Oral history interview with Howard Cannon conducted by K.J. Evans on September 28, 1998 for the Las Vegas Review-Journal First 100 Oral History Project. Cannon discusses his political involvement and working for the Las Vegas City Attorney’s Office. He then talks about his service in the Air National Guard during World War II and creating Nellis Air Force Base. Cannon also mentions his interactions with presidents, his thoughts on the Vietnam War, his support for civil rights, and his stance as a lawmaker.
Archival Collection