Oral history interview with Allen Fritzsche conducted by Joyce Moore on February 12, 2008 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Fritzsche begins by discussing his time in the United States Air Force, his interest in electronics, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1964 after being employed by EG & G, Inc. He describes his job duties measuring radiation levels at the Nevada Test Site, as well as at other test sites and nuclear power plants around the country and the world. Fritzsche talks about the effects of radiation and nuclear fallout, nuclear weapons tests, and life in Las Vegas during the 1960s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gail Hambley conducted by Mike Hinton on February 25, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Hambley reflects upon her upbringing in early Las Vegas, Nevada. She discusses her schooling at Las Vegas High School with wooden desks and no air conditioning, memories at the Stewart Ranch and Hoover Dam, and her job with the Nevada Test Site.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Emily Ku conducted by Jerwin Tiu, Cecilia Winchell, and Stefani Evans on December 16, 2022 for Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Ku decribes growing up in a Mandarin-speaking household and celebrating traditional Chinese holidays. Ku recalls her education at the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied political economy of industrial societies and became involved with the United States Department of Commerce during an internship. She recounts moving around several times before settling down in Las Vegas, Nevada, doing remote work as a market analyst before ending up working on the Commission for Minority Affairs. She talks about her experiences there, as well as her current position with the City of Las Vegas as a management analyst. Ku also talks about some of her community involvement, thoughts on personal identity, her favorite foods, and what she hopes to see from the AAPI community in the coming years.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alan Clancy conducted by Su Kim Chung on February 12, 2015 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview Alan Clancy discusses his childhood in Australia, performing all over the world starting at the age of 17, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada at 21 because he got a contract to dance. Clancy also discusses the celebrities he has performed for, the showgirls he has worked with, gay life in Las Vegas, opening a vintage store with his partner, and his life and career in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lee Washington conducted by Aleya Ford Wheaton on November 30, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Washington discusses his personal history, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1963, and his initial reactions to the city. He talks about his employment at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino as well as joining the Culinary Workers Union in 1974. Washington then describes church activity that he and his family were involved in at Most High Church and his church's significance to the West Las Vegas community. Lastly, he talks about the development and growth of businesses on the Westside.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dinah Calhoon conducted by Margaret Neel on October 27, 1971 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Calhoon first discusses the various schools that she attended and the recreational activities and social clubs in which she belonged. Calhoon then discusses the different occupations she has had and the various parts of town in which she and her family lived. The interview later includes Calhoon’s thoughts on how she believes Southern Nevada should develop socially and recreationally, and it concludes with her recounting some of her earliest memories of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Roy Waite conducted by Dale Haley in approximately 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Waite begins by discussing his athleticism, being a part of the first basketball team in Las Vegas, Nevada, and his general store in Bunkerville, Nevada. Waite lists the different social organizations and boards he was affiliated with, describes the arrival of the railroads, and the ranch he used to own near Bunkerville. He talks about the construction of Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) and how Southern Nevada has changed socially and environmentally. Waite also discusses smelting lead for bullets and relocating Native American remains away from a grave site that would be submerged by Lake Mead.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Mando Rueda conducted by David Schwartz on September 02, 2003, September 04, 2003, September 09, 2003, September 12, 2003, September 25, 2003, October 02, 2003, October 09, 2003, October 23, 2003, and November 20, 2003 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In these interviews, Rueda discusses his career in the gaming industry. He talks about serving in the United States military during the 1950s and becoming a slot machine repair manager for Harrah’s properties in Reno, Nevada and in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Rueda recalls his relationship with Bill Harrah, being promoted to shift manager in 1970, and the methods of surveillance used before security cameras. Later, Rueda discusses the impact on casino operations after the passing of Bill Harrah in 1978, and becoming director of gaming. He remembers obtaining a gaming license to operate in New Jersey, and the opening of Harrah’s Marina in Atlantic City. Lastly, Rueda talks about the gaming industry in Las Vegas, Nevada and compares casino operations from the 1970s to the late 1990s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dorothy Eisenberg conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on March 08, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Eisenberg starts this interview by discussing her personal history and growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She describes living through World War II, arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1964, and the Jewish community that she was involved with at Temple Beth Sholom. Lastly, Eisenberg talks about being a founding member of the League of Women Voters in Las Vegas and racial integration in Clark County schools. Digital audio and transcript available.
Archival Collection