Oral history interview with Benny Binion conducted by an unknown interviewer circa 1975 to 1977. In this interview, Binion discusses his arrival to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1946 and his involvement with the town in the early 1950s. He discusses what motivated him to move, his involvement with the Las Vegas Club, and his decision to build The Westerner and eventually Binion’s Horseshoe on Fremont Street. He also describes what gaming was like in Las Vegas when he first arrived, and his interactions with other casinos such as the Flamingo, Eldorado Club, and Hotel Apache in 1951.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Linda Van Tuyl conducted by Ruth Brainard on February 22, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Van Tuyl discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1948 to work as a nurse and describes nursing practices during that time. Later, Van Tuyl discusses the integration of accessibility accommodations for people with disabilities throughout Las Vegas. Van Tuyl later shares her thoughts on Medicare and other forms of health insurance.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Edyth Hess Hoban conducted by Jane E. Olive on March 11, 2000 and May 23, 2000 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Hoban discusses her early life in Scotland, South Dakota. She remembers the 1918 Influenza pandemic, her early interest in music, and becoming the band leader for the all-women orchestra, The Sophisticates. Hoban talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1942, competing and winning in golf tournaments, and changes in Las Vegas golf courses.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with James Down, Jr. conducted by Perry Kaufman on April 07, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Down, Jr. discusses working at the
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Karin Sporn conducted by Claytee D. White on May 25, 2023 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Karin Sporn grew up in Germany when her father was a member of Hitler's army. As a young woman, she converted to Judaism, and she shares how it was a difficult path. Much of her study and sacred rituals were done in Israel, and she shares that many signs along the way gave her encouragement, and she learned from others around her in Israel who shared their stories with Sporn. Eventually, her travel business brought her to Las Vegas, Nevada. After selling her and her husband's business, Sporn discusses how she was then free to volunteer for Jewish and civic organizations, and the leisure to sculp and to write her memoir, Just Peek Over the Fence.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Rose and Mark Oatis conducted by Claytee D. White, Anna Frederick, and Remy Chwae on June 10, 2017 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Rose and Mark discuss their upbringings and early interest in art. Mark talks about the significance of sign and signboards, sign design, and the founding of the Letterheads. He talks about sign painting in Las Vegas, Nevada, education on sign painting, and modern graphic design. Lastly, Rose and Mark discuss the regional styles of sign painting in various cities of the country.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jeanne Maxwell Williams conducted by Claytee White on July 07, 2016 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Williams discusses working for Summa Corporation as the coordinator of women's events and being a Las Vegas, Nevada artist. She also discusses her three marriages, the last one being to Jack Kent Cooke, former owner of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joyce Marshall-Moore conducted by Emily Powers on March 25, 2008 for the Heart to Heart Oral History Project. Marshall-Moore discusses the career of her mother, Agnes Rasmussen Marshall, who worked as a nurse at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital, Las Vegas Hospital, and Vegas Valley Convalescent Hospital in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Judy and Anthony Purcell conducted by their daughter, Trina Purcell, on March 15, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Judy and Anthony Purcell describe how Las Vegas, Nevada has changed and grown since moving there in 1959. Main topics of discussion include shows and entertainment, safety in Las Vegas, and the couple's life.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Allard Roen conducted by David G. Schwartz on October 31, 2003 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Roen talks about the history of the Desert Inn Hotel, the Desert Inn Country Club, and the Desert Inn Golf Course and Tournament of Champions. He shares numerous stories and anecdotes about Las Vegas, Nevada casino-hotel figures, including Cecil Simmons, Morris "Moe" Dalitz, Wilbur Clark, and Howard Hughes. He also talks about the formation of the Nevada Resort Association, property development, and negotiating with labor unions and construction companies, including his 1960 work with the NAACP's James McMillan to eliminate racial segregation at the Desert Inn and Stardust hotels.
Archival Collection