Oral history interview with Edward Tabor conducted by Mary Livingston on March 12, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Tabor discusses arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1941 at the Las Vegas Army Air Corps Gunnery School (Nellis Air Force Base) where he did administrative work. Tabor then discusses his work in television, sales, and recalls the growth of gambling throughout Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Qiong X. Liu conducted by Claytee D. White on June 08, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Liu discusses her upbringing in Beijing, China and later Shanghai, China. She recalls receiving a full scholarship to attend the University of Arizona, her initial reactions to arriving to the United States, and moving to North Las Vegas, Nevada in 1999. Liu talks about the Apex Industrial Park in North Las Vegas, population growth, and the increase of homes being built in the area. She explains the importance in diversifying the North Las Vegas economy and supporting local businesses. Lastly, Liu lists financial challenges that North Las Vegas has faced and her work as City Manager for North Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tad Porter conducted by Joseph H. Cutchin III on October 17, 1972 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Porter discusses his early life and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1939. He remembers the Carole Lombard plane crash accident, the construction of Hoover Dam, and social changes in Las Vegas since the 1940s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Irene Doty conducted by Jackie Ogden on March 20, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Doty discusses the first casino properties and restaurants in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also describes her experiences as a justice of the peace, living conditions during World War II, her experiences in Goodsprings, Nevada, and being a juror in several murder trials.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with James Prather conducted by Bruce Finkelstein on March 09, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Prather discusses his childhood and personal history in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prather discusses his education, recreational activities he did as a child, and how Las Vegas has changed. Prather describes the swampy marshlands he used to play in near Las Vegas, viewing nuclear weapons tests and the nuclear fallout safety drills they would perform in school, and witnessing a plane crash in the North Las Vegas, Nevada area. Prather also discusses the arrival of Howard Hughes in Las Vegas and the effect he had on the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Quincella Rivers conducted by Claytee D. White on November 20, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Quincella Rivers began by talking about where she grew up, her family life and history with the arts, and her childhood. She recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1979 to finish college at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and talks about different jobs and organizations she has participated in. Rivers serves as co-chair of the Youth in Arts for Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, President of the Las Vegas Society, Inc., Advisory Board of Forgotten Song Foundation, and sings with Sweet Adeline International. She talks about the histories of some of the organizations, how she helped out in each of them, what their goals were, and what they did for the community. Lastly, she talks about racism in Las Vegas in the past and her personal experience with racism and segregation.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gus Mancuso conducted by Lisa Gioia-Acres on September 27, 2008 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. Jazz musician Gus Mancuso (Ronald Bernard Mancuso) discusses his career playing trombone and double bass in various musical groups and serving in the Army band as a piano player. He also talks about moving to Las Vegas in 1955, playing in bands at various casinos, touring Europe with Sarah Vaughan and teaching in the music department at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert Foster conducted by Kelley Tuchman on March 02, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Foster first talks about his background in the military and his eventual teaching experience in special education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Foster then discusses helping the development of the special education field in Clark County and throughout the country, including the legislation and training toward the education program itself. Foster ends the interview by recalling his personal experiences and importance of helping the mentally and physically disabled.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ruth Gust conducted by Rebecca Bonenfant on March 10, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Gust discusses about her life in Nevada. Gust first talks about her original move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1947 and some of the first businesses that existed at the time. In this brief interview, she also talks about the first casinos, the culinary union, her employment as a server, and Mount Charleston.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stanley Hyman conducted by Eleanor G. Doble on March 10, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Hyman discusses population growth in Las Vegas, Nevada and its transition into a metropolitan city. Hyman also discusses the kind of influence that Howard Hughes had in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hyman later discusses the first major convention held at the convention hall in Las Vegas, Nevada and his business in home insurance.
Archival Collection