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 interview with Roy Student conducted by Claytee D. White on July 6, 2018 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
Roy Student discusses his career as a gaming and hospitality executive in Las Vegas, his work as a consultant and speaker for the international casino and gaming industry, and his past experiences working in Las Vegas casinos.
Subjects discussed include: Control Credit; Todd Early; Cohen; Howard Hughes; Dunes Hotel and Casino; Silver Slipper Gambling Hall and Saloon; General Instruments; junkets
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frank Suda conducted by Eileen Green on March 03, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Suda describes life in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1942, where he was sent for military training during World War II. He discusses the history of the Las Vegas Flexible Gunnery School which was located in what became Indian Springs, Nevada, and the establishment of Nellis Air Force Base. He talks about recreational activities in Las Vegas, including listing different entertainers and casinos that were present at the time.
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 Lomie Heard conducted by Stephen M. Singer on February 09, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Heard discusses education over the span of thirty years, and includes an overview on the building of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She also discusses Nellis Air Force Base, jet airplanes at Nellis, military families, and the Nevada Test Site.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Henry Shepherd conducted by Claytee D. White on October 22, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Shepherd discusses being an African-American bartender on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip, hired as a result of the 1971 consent decree. He also recalls memories of Jackson Street, the homes in North Las Vegas, and the hotels in downtown Las Vegas and on the Strip.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Michael Drakulich conducted by Jane Finfrock on May 8, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Drakulich discusses his career after graduating college and holding several teaching and coaching positions at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, including professor, golf coach, and athletic director. He also discusses the growth of the university, important figures in sports coaching at the university, and the growth of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Therese Thomas conducted by Dennis McBride on March 13, 1995 for the Boulder City Library Oral History Project. In the interview, Thomas discusses her early life in Thistle, Utah before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in approximately 1931, where her father worked on the Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) construction. Thomas then talks about her early schooling in Boulder City, Nevada, her experiences as a swing and dance band musician, Block 16 in the Clark Las Vegas Townsite, and her memories of Las Vegas hotels and casinos. Other subjects Thomas covers include Las Vegas entertainers, entertainment venues, and women in the music industry during the 1930s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Antioco Carrillo conducted by Rodrigo Vazquez and Monserrath Hernández on June 27, 2019 and July 11, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Carrillo discusses his early life in Jalisco, Mexico. He talks about attending an all-boys school, the braceros program, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1987. Carrillo describes the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Las Vegas, being executive director of Aid for AIDS Nevada (AFAN), and the disproportionate infection rate of Hispanics and African Americans. Carrillo talks about advocating for same sex marriage, his involvement with lawsuits that involve defining marriage in Nevada, and being the first same-sex marriage in Nevada. Lastly, Carrillo discusses the struggles to achieve equality, and living in a heterosexual society.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ann Snavely conducted by Claytee D. White on January 08, 2015 for the West Charleston Neighborhoods: an Oral History Project of Ward 1. In this interview, Snavely discusses her upbringing in Pennsylvania and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1960s. She talks about living in Glen Heather Estates and moving to the Scotch 80s neighborhood. Lastly, Snavely describes community events in the Scotch 80s, changes in the West Charleston area, and the construction of the Smith Center for the Performing Arts.
Archival Collection