Oral history interview with Betty Ham Dokter conducted by Roger Jablonski on February 27, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Dokter describes church activity and the first casino properties that were built. She later talks about presidential visits, economic changes in Nevada, and the construction of Hoover Dam. The latter part of the interview covers the topics of racial minorities, as well as social and environmental changes.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stanley Weiner conducted by Kyle Wolff on March 12, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Weiner talks about his father's employment, his own series of jobs, and living in different parts of Las Vegas, Nevada. He also talks about population growth, education opportunities in town, transportation, and recreation.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Zoe Allison conducted by Debra Ruth on February 21, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Allison discusses her career with Central Telephone Company, working at the Sahara Hotel as a switchboard operator, and owning a dress shop on Fremont Street. She also talks about notable locations such as Craig Road Speedway, Silver Slipper Race Track, Nellis Air Base and Mount Charleston, and the politics of prostitution in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Donna Rodriguez conducted by Justin Burrows on November 24, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Rodriguez discusses her personal history and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1993. She describes her first impressions of the city, her employment at McCarran International Airport, and working as a security dispatcher for casinos. Rodriguez then talks about the development of security surveillance at casinos, discrimination towards African American gamblers, and recalls the training she received. Later, Rodriguez discusses her church involvement, teaching at her church's Sunday school, and shares how she managed to raise her children on her own. Lastly, she talks about the role that politics had on minority communities, the importance of education, and changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with William Brymer conducted by Rob Mullaney on March 09, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Brymer explains how he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada for the gaming attractions and eventually married and had two children. Brymer talks about working as a craps dealer at the Frontier Club in Downtown Las Vegas, the Last Frontier on the Las Vegas Strip, and later a pit boss at the Sahara. Brymer also discusses a visit by Lyndon B. Johnson, the early atomic testing, the importance of religion in his life, changes in climate, the development of the Strip, the existence and decline of agriculture, and some of the entertainers who performed on the Strip.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Florence Frost conducted by Barbara Tabach on February 10, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview Frost talks about her parents and early life, her marriage and coming to Las Vegas, Nevada in the early 1960s, and her husband's work as an interior designer. Then she discusses her work with the Temple Beth Sholom and involvement with the board, as well as many of the Jewish-owned businesses in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frank Schreck conducted by Claytee D. White on April 10, 2007 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Frank Schreck discusses his upbringing in Henderson, Nevada in the 1940s, his education at Yale University and University of California Berkeley School of Law in the 1960s, and his return to Las Vegas, Nevada after graduation. Schreck shares stories of growing up conservative and becoming more liberal after attending college, including attending antiwar demonstrations. He talks about helping locals with welfare rights, standing up to housing discrimination against people of color, and his experiences working pro bono cases within the Las Vegas community. Schreck recalls the influence Mike O'Callaghan had on his life, both as an educator encouraging Schreck to become a lawyer and later as a mentor appointing him to the Nevada Gaming Commission. Finally, Schreck talks about his professional career as a corporate gaming lawyer and activism efforts within Henderson and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with James Walker conducted by Larmaya Kilgore on November 14, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Walker discusses his personal history and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1940s. He talks about his employment at the Fremont Hotel in 1966 and working on the Las Vegas Strip the following year. Walker recalls the African American experience working on casino floors, facing discrimination, and the process of integration in schools. He then describes the jobs given to African Americans at the casinos, being unable to live in certain areas of the city, and the increase of African American workers in construction. Lastly, Walker discusses his ownership of the Moulin Rouge Hotel and Casino, casino licensing, and the increase of businesses in West Las Vegas.
Archival Collection