Oral history interview with Norman Wood conducted by Karen Amell on March 01, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In his interview, Wood discusses his work with the Nevada Department of Wildlife and his interests in biology.
Oral history interview with Rodney A. Colton conducted by Richard Colton on October 01, 1973 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Colton discusses general history of Southern Nevada and Las Vegas, Nevada from his arrival in 1918.
Oral history interview with Marion Paris Lamb conducted by Frances Kristich on June 21, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Lamb discusses raising her kids in Alamo, Nevada and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1919.
Oral history interview with Tanya Olson conducted by Claytee D. White on July 6, 2018 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Olson recalss beginning October 2, 2017 to photograph scenes surrounding the aftermath of the shooting at the Route 91 Country Music Festival. Her efforts culminated in a film that highlights the Healing Garden, a memorial established after the shooting. It was dedicated on the first Friday of October 2017. Her 6-minute film, Forever In Our Hearts, is described as "Citizens unite to provide kindness and salve the wounds caused by the October 1, 2017 massacre during a Las Vegas country concert." The film was shown at the Nevada Women's Film Festival in 2018. Olson discusses beginning her latest endeavor, matriculating at the American Film Institute, a lifelong dream that she is pursuing after 23 years in the military, a film degree from University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and completing her film project on one of the worst massacres in American history.
Three decades prior to this interview, Chris Guinchigliani moved to Las Vegas and began teaching at the Clark County School District. Seeing Las Vegas as a place of personal opportunity, she involved herself first in the teachers union; eventually serving as president of the Nevada State Education Association from 1987 through 1991. She shares some of her political experiences being elected to the Nevada State Assembly for 16 years and then became a Clark County Commissioner. Chris and her husband Gary Gray (above left) are longtime residents of the John S. Park Neighborhood and Chris was among those who originated the idea to getting a historical designation for the community. She highlights the process and obstacles within the community as people developed an understanding about what preservation really meant. She touches upon a broad range of topics that living in the neighborhood: Manhattanization, increased traffic, crime, lack of amenities such as a grocery store, the
Tim Harney begins his reminiscences with an overview of his Irish-Catholic upbringing in Duluth, Minnesota. He recalls being smitten with the sunny west and moving to Las Vegas in 1965 to take a teaching position at Rancho High School. By 1973, the Harney family was calling the John S. Park Neighborhood home. He describes the attraction to the green trees and sprawling lawns and to affordable home prices. It was a close knit neighborhood where everyone had the same gardener, knew the local policeman by name, and where his daughters worked at the Luv-It Frozen Custard shop. Around 1987, Tim decided to move out of the John S. Park Neighborhood. He sensed a change—having been broken into by the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang, watching drifters and homeless people sleeping in the yard, and seizing an opportunity to move to a new development. Nevertheless, Tim notes hopes for the neighborhood and reminds us that "It takes a village."
Oral history interview with Keith West conducted by David L. Snyder on March 12, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, West discusses the lumber industry in Southern Nevada. West also discusses Las Vegas, Nevada business, and residents, including Ed Von Tobel.