Oral history interview with Barbara Mowry conducted by Jon Sedlacek on February 16, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Mowry describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada from California in 1949 to get a divorce, before remarrying and entering into the restaurant business with her new husband. Mowry discusses buying an established restaurant, the Villa Venice, with her husband, and the eventual fire that would destroy the restaurant in 1952. Mowry describes running the restaurant, the different kinds of recreation in Las Vegas during the 1950s, and how Las Vegas has changed since she moved there. Mowry also discusses the prejudice against African Americans in Las Vegas, and how her husband would have to let in African American performers such as Sammy Davis Jr. or Pearl Bailey through the back door of their restaurant.
Oral history interview with Mary Habbart conducted by David R. Patt on March 07, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. This interview offers an overview of life in Las Vegas, Nevada in the early days, which included: atomic testing, floods, prostitution on Block 16, early Fremont Street and Duck Creek. Also discussed during this interview: Sunset Park, The Roosevelts, Bugsy Siegel, local government and the Hoover Dam.
Oral history interview with John Cahlan conducted by James Weslowski on April 10, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Cahlan discusses his memory of the beginning of Nellis Air Force Base, originally named the Las Vegas Aerial Gunnery School for the Army Air Corps. He also discusses the role of the city commissioners in establishing Nellis as a permanent airbase, as well as the role of Western Air Express, a commercial air company which eventually became Western Airlines.
Oral history interview with Jocelyn Oats conducted by Claytee D. White and John Grygo on November 30, 2012 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Oats discusses her family background and living in Las Vegas, Nevada since the mid 1950s. She describes the city at the time, the Baptist church community, and the church's influence on African Americans in West Las Vegas. Later, Oats talks about the issue of drugs in the Westside community and how it has affected members in her family. Lastly, Oats describes the African American experience in Las Vegas throughout her life.
Oral history interview with Junell Bowman conducted by Anna Huddleston on March 09, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Bowman begins by describing her early history as a singer in California, performing on the radio, different orchestras, and nightclubs before marrying her husband and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1958. Bowman discusses becoming a sketch artist after managing an unsuccessful business, doing portraits and caricatures of people in the casinos, at conventions, and on the Las Vegas Strip. She talks about the celebrities and entertainers she met and did caricatures for while working at casinos like the Stardust and Riviera, and the amount of work that went into being a professional sketch artist.
Oral history interview with Patricia Marchese conducted by A. D. Hopkins on July 02, 1999 for the Las Vegas Review-Journal First 100 Oral History Project. In the interview, Marchese discusses her parents and her early life in Tampa Bay, Florida, her husband and children, and arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1972. She talks about her work in serigraphy (screen printing) with the United States Bureau of Reclamation while in Las Vegas. Marchese also recalls her work with the City of Las Vegas and Clark County developing art and cultural programs including Jazz Month and the Las Vegas Junior Symphony. Other subjects Marchese covers include art exhibits, performing arts, and the growth of the Las Vegas art community.
Oral history interview with Dorothy Kelsey conducted by James M. Greene on January 20, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. This interview covers the early days of Nelson, Searchlight, and Las Vegas, Nevada, as Kelsey offers an in-depth personal narrative on the life of a local. The interview concludes with a discussion on hotels and casinos.
Oral history interview with Velma Haselton conducted by Catherine Bellver on September 13, 2001 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Haselton opens her interview describing her childhood and schooling. Haselton then discusses finishing her accounting degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Hasleton talks about her three marriages, her husbands' jobs and her experiences in the various marriages. Haselton goes on to discuss moving back and forth from Nevada to California for her career in accounting. Haselton ends her interview describing why she finally settled in Las Vegas, Nevada, and her work as a CPA at the Kafoury Accounting firm.
Oral history interview with Ruth Sweet conducted by Bennie Baucham on February 07, 1977 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Sweet discusses her first experience with racism in Las Vegas, Nevada, and describes racism practiced by sanitarians. Sweet also discusses discrimination in housing and describes how job opportunities for African Americans have improved.
Oral history interview with Daniel Romano conducted by Claytee D. White on December 10, 2018 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Romano discusses his early life Walnut, California. He talks about his father’s water ski business, moving to Boulder City, Nevada, and attending dinner shows in Las Vegas. Romano recalls his involvement with The Neon Museum, copyright issues with the signs, and the growth of the museum. Lastly, Romano discusses the history behind one of his homes.