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Dwight Chambers oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Dwight Chambers conducted by Janet Ann Jack on February 26, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Chambers discusses working in numerous Las Vegas, Nevada’s hotel-casinos including Caesar’s Palace, hotel administrations’ connections with the mafia, and plans for expanding the Landmark Hotel.
Archival Collection
Walker Young oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Walker Young conducted by Elton Garrett on June 23, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Virginia "Teddy" Fenton, Hal Erickson, Martha Garrett, and Jane Young also briefly participate in the interview. They answer a few questions about their experience working on the project and working with Young. Young primarily discusses the design and construction of the Boulder (Hoover) Dam. He details surveying possible dam sites and describes his interactions with members of the project team.
Archival Collection
Jerry Roth oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Jerry Roth conducted by Claytee D. White on June 29, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Roth begins by describing his early life and education, then explains how he began his later career in commercial real estate. He details his work as a commercial realtor, preparing lots for shopping centers and grocery stores in California and later in Las Vegas, Nevada. Roth then discusses his work as a boxing judge, judging multiple title fights in Las Vegas and around the world. Roth describes some of the fights he has judged, such as Oscar De La Hoya versus Félix Trinidad and Mike Tyson versus Evander Holyfield.
Archival Collection
Sara Ortiz oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Sarah Ortiz conducted by Rodrigo Vazquez on December 20, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Ortiz discusses being born and raised in Austin, Texas and spending the majority of her life there before attending the Columbia Publishing Course in Manhattan, New York. Ortiz describes her family's many moves throughout the city of Austin and the changes that have since happened in the city. Ortiz recounts her trajectory in the publishing industry, which led her from Manhattan back to Austin, and eventually to Las Vegas, Nevada. Ortiz is currently the program and festival director for The Believer magazine and the Black Mountain Institute. She writes about what she and her colleagues hope to achieve with the magazine and annual festival, and about the changes that she hopes to see for Las Vegas' publishing and literacy industry.
Archival Collection
Lawrence Nelson oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Lawrence Nelson conducted by John Turner on February 22, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Nelson discusses the history of early Las Vegas, Nevada. He talks about the Old Mormon Fort, the importance of railroads in Las Vegas, and the construction of the Boulder (Hoover) Dam.
Archival Collection
Abe Schiller oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Abe Schiller conducted by Perry Kaufman on April 25, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Schiller discusses the history of the Las Vegas Strip. He also discusses his career as the head of publicity for the Flamingo Las Vegas. Lastly, Schiller discusses working with various stars and entertainers in order to draw business to the hotel.
Archival Collection
Kenny Kerr oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Kenny Kerr conducted by Dennis McBride on May 29, 2001 and May 30, 2001 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. Kerr discusses his childhood and the beginning of the female character, Kenny Kerr. Kerr also talks about the shows
Archival Collection
Harry Myers oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Harry Myers conducted by Dan D’Amico on February 26, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Myers discusses arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1942 to work at the Basic Magnesium Plant. Myers then discusses the increase in gambling and development of casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. Myers later describes the social changes throughout Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
James Hogan oral history interview
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Oral history interview with James Hogan conducted by Patty L. Baratti on March 11, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Hogan talks about his time working with the telephone company in Arizona and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. He discusses his time working on grazing rights and cattle ranching in Nevada and how planning went to ensure that farms were able to have land to graze their animals. He speaks about dealing with farmers, corporations, and the government and the frustrations he had to deal with before there were set laws about grazing. He also discusses the change from mainly family farms in Nevada to corporations owning much of the farmland.
Archival Collection
Robert Kneoki oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Robert Kneoki conducted by Dave Harelik on March 14, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Kneoki discusses growth, crime, and religion in Nevada. He also talks about the silver mines, MX missiles, and transient people.
Archival Collection