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Louise Kirkwood oral history interview
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Abstract
Oral history interview with Louise Kirkwood conducted by Richard Probst on February 28, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Kirkwood discusses her life in Southern Nevada and her experience with navigating Las Vegas, Nevada as streets and buildings, home values, and living expenses changed over time. Kirkwood also discusses the energy crisis of the 1970s and the resulting gasoline rationing; the growth of the Strip, and pollution caused by atomic testing.
Archival Collection
Harry Block oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Harry Block conducted by Mark McLane on February 24, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Block discusses recreational activities, his experience during World War II, early businesses and casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Helldorado Parade, Block 16, atomic testing, changes in technology, and visiting Mount Charleston.
Archival Collection
Greta Peay oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Greta Peay conducted by Kali Woods on November 11, 2015 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Peay, a school administrator with the Clark County School District (CCSD) discusses Las Vegas education experiences in Nevada that are relevant to racial inequities across the country. Peay also comments on studies that show Nevada schools at the bottom of national rankings when comparing Black graduation rates, the school-to-prison pipeline, and low enrollment in college-prep courses for Black high-school students.
Archival Collection
Stephen Schneider oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Stephen Schneider conducted by Stefani Evans on October 10, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Schneider discusses his early life and English education. He recalls arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1967, being an English teacher at Bishop Gorman High School, and his early interest in real estate. Schneider talks about obtaining his real estate license and forming Berkshire Hathaway Americana Group Realtors. Lastly, Schneider discusses Special Improvement Districts.
Archival Collection
DeRuyter Butler oral history interview
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Oral history interview with DeRuyter O. Butler conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on September 15, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Butler begins with discussing his early life and joining Steve Wynn's Atlandia Design in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1982. He then talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1986. The interview focuses on the design and development of various Las Vegas casinos.
Archival Collection
David Rohn oral history interview
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Oral history interview with David Rohn conducted by David G. Schwartz on October 20, 2016 for the Slot Operations Oral History Project. Rohn discusses working in arcades and slots within properties such as Wildhorse Resort and Casino, and Midnight Rose Hotel and Casino. He then provides his philosophy on what he believes customers are looking for in casinos, and how slot operations have changed over time, particularly through ticket-in ticket-out and the use of free play.
Archival Collection
Joan Johnson oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Joan Johnson conducted by Kim Geary on March 25, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Johnson discusses her personal history and her reasons for originally moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. Johnson recalls early Las Vegas entertainment, as well as the development of businesses and their unions.
Archival Collection
Mary Hocker oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Mary Hocker conducted by Mary Fitzgerald on April 05, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Hocker talks about her life and nursing in Las Vegas, Nevada. She specifically talks about Cadet Nurse Corps, nursing education, and her job as a nurse jail matron.
Archival Collection
Melvin Carter oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Melvin Carter conducted by Claytee D. White on October 12, 2000 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: A Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Carter begins by describing his family history, his father's experience in World War II, and his parents meeting in Chicago, Illinois. Carter describes his family's move to Las Vegas, Nevada in the late 1950s. He goes on to describe businesses on the Westside, including the Cove and the Brown Derby. Digital audio available; no transcript available.
Archival Collection
Thomas Barbarite oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Thomas Barbarite conducted by Dennis Chamberland on March 03, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Barbarite discusses his time at the Four Queens Hotel and the Dunes Hotel as a dealer as well as his work as a pit boss at the Flamingo Hotel, the Aladdin Hotel, and Caesars Palace. Barbarite also discusses the involvement of the mob in Las Vegas, particularly the influence of Bugsy Siegel in the operation of various properties.
Archival Collection