Oral history interview with Daniel Atti conducted by Don Buttle on March 19, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Atti discusses the growth of Las Vegas, Nevada, casino developments, and hotel operations. He also talks about Las Vegas’ entertainment and vacationing culture.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with David Mills conducted by Risa Rosenstein on March 07, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Mills discusses the gaming industry in Las Vegas, Nevada and recalls the growth of gambling throughout the city. Mills then explains the origins of slot machines and the increase in number of slot machines inside casinos in Las Vegas. Lastly, Mills describes the technological advancement of slot machines.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Susan Cowan conducted by Andres Moses on January 31, 2006 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Susan Cowan discusses growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, and always enjoying tap dancing. She then discusses working as a secretary at the University of Colorado-Boulder and becoming the lead administrator for the chemistry department there. She also discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband and getting involved with the local tap dancing community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carmon Meswarb conducted by Judy Hammer on April 15, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Meswarb discusses working various odd jobs while playing trombone in a casino relief band. Meswarb describes the nightlife atmosphere, the history of entertainment in Las Vegas, Nevada, and playing for various celebrities. Most notably, Meswarb discusses playing for Elvis Presley.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with LaShannon Lewis conducted by Claytee D. White on March 22, 2019 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Lewis discusses her early life in Las Vegas, Nevada and growing up in the Westside. She talks about moving out of the Westside neighborhood, attending a sixth grade center, and the geographical division of the community. Lewis remembers her employment as a social worker for Clark County, and the redevelopment of the Westside.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ron M. Portaro conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on July 27, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Portaro speaks about Built-Rite Construction, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1993, and meeting notable Las Vegas men such as Pastor Paul Goulet Arnie Adamsen, and Charlie Kajkowski. Potaro also discusses how these experiences enabled him to benefit his church, his family, and his adopted community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Steve Bailey conducted by Dennis Berry on March 20, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bailey talks about his education, the
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bob Michael conducted by Jeff Van Ee on April 17, 2010 for UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection.
In this interview, Bob Michael talks about growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada, memories from his childhood, and details of the changing Nevada landscape. Michael shares his expertise in environmentalism and the history of land protection in the state. He discusses areas of the state he feels should be left untouched by humans, his thoughts on protecting lands as National Recreation Areas (NRAs) including the Spring Mountains, and wilderness acts that have been passed and changed throughout the 1900s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Barr Smith conducted by Melvin Smail on February 22, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Smith discusses his personal history and the history of Las Vegas, Nevada. Smith discusses working at the Basic Magnesium plant, playing high stakes poker games with prominent gamblers like "Nick the Greek," and the casinos built on the early Las Vegas Strip. Smith also describes how Las Vegas has changed, the different forms of gambling and gaming available in the city, and life in 1940s Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alton H. Peterson conducted by Jay Brewer on October 08, 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Peterson discusses the history and expansion of Boulder City, Nevada, Henderson, Nevada, and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection