Oral history interview with Ida Perkins conducted by Alexa Sweeny on November 25, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Perkins discusses her personal history growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. Perkins talks about recreational activities she participated in, being involved in church, and living in the Windsor Park housing area in North Las Vegas. She then recalls her educational experience in Las Vegas, being involved in school sports, and West Las Vegas housing. Later, Perkins describes businesses on the Westside, attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and playing on the women’s basketball team, the Lady Rebels. Lastly, Perkins discusses her contributions in forming the Foxy Ladies Organization, and also changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Rodel Fuentes conducted by Tracy Fuentes on December 4, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Rodel Fuentes tells stories of his upbringing in Manila, Philippines, where he was raised in a shared family home amongst his parents, siblings, aunts, and uncles. He talks about his parents' immigration to the United States and how he later joined them in Los Angeles, California where he met and married his wife. Rodel Fuentes shares the couple's decision to move to Las Vegas, Nevada, his work at Dunn Edwards paint company, and how he became a licensed general contractor and real estate agent where he now owns his own company. Rodel Fuentes discusses his thoughts on Las Vegas' diversity, affordability, restaurants, and Asian community. He also talks about experiencing anti-Asian hate, worsened by misconceptions and discrimination that came from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Allycia B. Murphy conducted by Stefani Evans on June 30, 2023 for Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, attorney Allycia B. Murphy shares how she learned recently who her biological father was and how it has changed her life. She talks about connecting with half-siblings, her biological father, and learning about her father's Samoan, Japanese, and German family history. Murphy discusses growing up in southeast North Carolina, being enrolled with her mother's family as Lumbee Tribal Citizens, and learning to code switch. She talks about playing sports in middle and high school, majoring in African American studies at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and attending law school at North Carolina Central University. She recalls becoming a prosecutor with the North Carolina First Prosecutorial District, and meeting her husband. Murphy discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2017, getting married, and the loss of her first child, and subsequent children since her first pregnancy. She closes her interview discussing being hired by the City of Las Vegas as a Deputy City Attorney, Office of the City Attorney, Criminal Division, a position she continues to hold at the time of the interview.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Corinne Sidney conducted by Cynthia Cicero and Dedee Nave on December 13, 2013 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
Corinne Sidney shares the details of her early career, her move to Las Vegas, and her relationship with Jack Entratter. She talks about becoming a Copa Girl at the Sands Hotel and what life was like after Jack's death in 1971. Corinne shares stories of entertainers she knew, including Frank Sinatra and Antonio Morelli, but the focus of the discussion is about Jack, their "on-again-off-again" relationship, and his talent and influence in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with David Pearl conducted by Joseph A. Hawk on March 14, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Pearl begins by describing life in Las Vegas, Nevada and how it has changed since the 1940s. Pearl discusses his history organizing community sports events, as well as organizing a game with the national Russian basketball team and other exhibition events for American sports teams. He then talks about his career as the executive director of the Runnin' Rebels Club at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and how he raised money for the athletics department. Pearl also talks about his other jobs, his interest in athletics, being a referee for boxing matches, and the Helldorado Parades.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Nery Martinez conducted by Laurents Bañuelos-Benitez on December 06, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Martinez discusses his upbringing in Zacatecoluca, La Paz, El Salvador. He describes growing up around organized crime, the Salvadoran Civil War, and the hardship that came with earning an education. Martinez talks about his immigration story to the United States, and his first impressions of Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls training to be a bartender, becoming a member of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, and the aid that the Union provides for the immigrant community. Later, Martinez discusses his experience applying for a Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and the Salvadoran community in Las Vegas. Lastly, Martinez talks about starting a family in Las Vegas, and sharing his Salvadoran culture with his children.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Evel Knievel conducted by David G. Schwartz on May 17, 2007 for the Remembering Jay Sarno Oral History Project. In this interview, Knievel discusses his personal relationship with Jay Sarno. He talks about Sarno’s career in gaming and the business ventures that he was involved with in Las Vegas, Nevada. Knievel recalls anecdotes of their friendship, and the opening of Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino, and Circus Circus Hotel and Casino. Lastly, he recalls stories of gambling with Sarno at his casinos.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Manuel Banuelos conducted by Rodrigo Vazquez, Barbara Tabach, Laurents Banuelos-Benitez, and Nathalie Martinez on October 5, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Manuel Banuelos discusses his childhood and early life in Zacatecas, Mexico, where he was born. He discusses immigration and his experiences with it. He recalls his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1985 and discusses his experiences working in the restaurant and hospitality industry, mostly discussing the places he worked such as the El Cortez Hotel & Casino and Las Palmas. Manuel Banuelos recalls the jobs he had working at the border between California and Nevada as well. He also discusses his family and his experiences as a father. Interview is conducted in Spanish.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Margaret Duncan conducted by Mustafa Adamu on March 15, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Duncan discusses discrimination on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip and the first black entertainers on the Strip like Sammy Davis Jr. She also talks about the opening of the Sands Hotel, the Hoover (Boulder) Dam, Howard Hughes, atomic testing, and gambling.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Haines conducted by Thomas S. Hager on March 25, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Haines discusses moving to Reno, Nevada in 1931 and later to Tonopah, Nevada to be a card dealer. He describes building the Town Hall Casino, and explains how local troops stationed in Tonopah were the customer base until the bombings in Japan during the end of WWII. Lastly, Haines discusses his employment at the Frontier Club, mobster Bugsy Siegel, and how the mob influenced the gaming industry.
Archival Collection