Oral history interview with Richard D. Chase conducted by Helen Rondthaler on October 17, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Chase discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada from 1945, touching on topics such as the housing shortage during the 1940s, The Red Rooster swingers’ club, Billy Moore, Sam Larson, Ira Goldring, atomic bomb testing, and the Nevada environment. Chase discusses the importance of construction-based labor to the development of Southern Nevada. Chase also explains at length the impact of the Nevada Test Site on his construction company.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Norman Forsythe conducted by Bill Cunningham on March 04, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Forsythe discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada and joining the City of Las Vegas and Clark County Fire Departments. He also goes into detail about fighting the fire at the El Rancho Vegas in 1960 and his responsibilities as a battalion chief. The interview concludes with Forsythe talking briefly about his family’s recreational activities and his experience as a baseball coach.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Grant Sawyer conducted by Perry Kaufman on May 12, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sawyer discusses his campaign for Governor of Nevada and the differences between northern Nevada and southern Nevada social life. He then describes winning the election for Governor, the gaming industry, and explains why gaming was significant to his political career. Lastly, Sawyer discusses the Nevada Gaming Commission before and after he was Governor, and actions that he took against organized crime.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mike Markoff conducted by an unidentified collector on an unknown date in the 1970s for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Markoff discusses the Boulder (Hoover) Dam from a construction worker's perspective. Markoff then discusses the negative environmental effects that casinos and other buildings had on Las Vegas, Nevada. Markoff later discusses hunting around the Las Vegas, Nevada area.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alice Paiz conducted by Elizabeth Farmer on March 20, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Paiz describes her personal history and how she has seen Las Vegas, Nevada develop since moving there in 1952. Paiz discusses being a Boy Scouts Den Mother, entertainment in Las Vegas, and the Helldorado Festival. Paiz also discusses various reasons why women have more opportunities in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Roger Pettersson conducted by David G. Schwartz on February 24, 2017 for the Slot Operations Oral History Project. Petterson discusses his background and his experiences in multiple positions for slot management. Pettersson also discusses the various slot operations in casinos such as the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, and the Mirage Hotel and Casino. He then describes what makes a good slot manager, what customers are looking for in slot machines, and how the slot industry has changed over the years, particularly with the use of free play.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jesse Scott conducted by Claytee D. White on June 29, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Scott describes growing up in Louisiana and his initial involvement with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as vice president of the youth council. He recalls positions he held beginning in the 1970s with the Las Vegas NAACP branch as an executive director, executive director of the Equal Rights Commission, and later, president of the Las Vegas NAACP.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Esther Horner conducted by Maureen Brannon in approximately 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Horner discusses the inaugural Helldorado Parade, her family’s establishment of B & H Grocery in Las Vegas, Nevada, atomic tests, presidential visits, social clubs, and the tragic death of actress Carole Lombard in a plane crash in Nevada. Horner also offers insight into religious life, the red-light districts, including the infamous Block 16, racial segregation, and gambling in the early days in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Kilduff conducted by Stefani Evans on November 03, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Kilduff discusses his early life in New Jersey. He talks about his background in accounting, and his employment with Arthur Anderson LLC and Leisure Technology. Kilduff recalls arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1993, joining the Howard Hughes Corporation, and his role with American Nevada Company. Kilduff describes the development of Summerlin, Green Valley, Aliante, and infrastructure differences in those areas. Lastly, Kilduff discusses building Bishop Gorman High School.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Tamara Pickett conducted by Dennis McBride on November 01, 2002 and November 08, 2002 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. In these interviews, Pickett discusses her early life and the traumatizing experiences that occurred during her childhood. Pickett remembers serving in the United States Army, beginning her transition to Tamara, and completing a sexual reassignment surgery in 1999. Later, Pickett talks about her activism work in Las Vegas, Nevada, campaigning for improved health care for transgender veterans, and her involvement with the transgender community in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection