Oral history interview with Craig F. Swallow conducted by Christine E. Johnson on February 29, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Swallow discusses his personal history growing up in Boulder City, Nevada. Swallow describes life in Boulder City, his education, and important figures in the city. Swallow also discusses his time in the U.S. Army before eventually moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to start his career as a teacher. He goes on to talk about the school system in Las Vegas, how Boulder City has changed, the effects of the Mormon church on education, and race relations.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lois Bell conducted by Sam Cusimano on unknown date for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bell discusses her time as a cocktail waitress in various casinos, including her experiences of waiting on various celebrities. Bell also describes the changes of the Las Vegas Strip, her account of witnessing atomic testing events, and her position at Roxie’s, a brothel that existed during the early days of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bob Coffin conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on August 08, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Coffin discusses his early life in Anaheim, California, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1951. He describes living near the Huntridge Theater, housing in that area, and working for his father’s business, Western Petroleum Distributors. Coffin talks about his initial interests in local politics, becoming a political campaign manager in the 1970s, and running for City Councilman. Lastly, Coffin discusses the construction of the Fremont Street Experience, and the issue of homelessness in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Rowena Gonzalez conducted by Michael Boyd on March 01, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Gonzalez first talks about her family background and residential history before discussing the way of life in Texas and eventual move to Las Vegas, Nevada. Several topics covered in the interview include Gonzalez’s recollections of the atomic testing, the building of the Boulder (Hoover) Dam, and Howard Hughes. The two also discuss tourism, the properties on the Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas, and early means of transportation.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Debbie Conway conducted by Claytee White on March 03, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview Debbie Conway speaks about how in 2007 she was the first African American to be elected as the County Recorder in Clark County and in the State of Nevada. She also talked about how she has held various other roles such as Clark County’s Business Development Manager, co-founder of the Summer Business Institute, and producer/host of an economics talk show on KCEP radio.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jennilee Thayer conducted by Claytee D. White on August 12, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Thayer discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1936 when it was still a mining town. She describes early Henderson, Nevada, attending Basic High School, and recalls her father’s employment at the Basic Magnesium Plant. Lastly, Thayer discusses her employment in show production, atomic bomb testing, and changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert W. Maichle conducted by Jeff van Ee on April 17, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
In this interview, Robert Maichle shares details of his childhood growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada, the openness of the valley before major city development, and the animals and flora that inhabited the region. He talks briefly about his education at Nevada Southern University (now the University of Nevada, Las Vegas) in the early 1960s and his accolades and environmental engagements in Las Vegas serving the Resource Advisory Council to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Southern Nevada Conservation Council, and the Nevada Wildlife Federation, among other organizations. Maichle discusses how he helped draft the first map outlining public lands for sale, his involvement in establishing wilderness protection for Las Vegas lands, and his work to keep the MX Missile System out of the state of Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Matt Gregory conducted by Joyce Marshall on May 07, 1996 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In this interview, Gregory discusses his early life and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1953. He remembers working in public relations for the Showboat Hotel and Casino and becoming a personal manager, agent and producer. Gregory talks about representing lounge acts, recruiting young artists, and producing large shows in smaller venues. Lastly, Gregory discusses producing a fashion show for the Lion's Club Convention held in Las Vegas and producing the network television game show,
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Polly F. Lilly conducted by Connie L. Patterson on March 26, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project. In this interview, Lilly discusses a range of topics, from building a Catholic church in early Las Vegas, Nevada, to the nearby nuclear weapons tests. She also describes witnessing a confrontation between Senator Joseph McCarthy and Hank Greenspun on stage at the now demolished War Memorial Building in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Pocock conducted by Jeffrey J. Wild on March 08, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Pocock describes his history as an Irish immigrant, his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1950, and life in the city during the 1950s. He discusses housing availability in Las Vegas and the development of the city, including the construction of casinos which he claims encouraged the growth of Las Vegas. He talks about working in a casino that eventually became the Sands Hotel and Casino, organized crime in Las Vegas, and the future of the city. Pocock concludes by discussing how Las Vegas and the quality of its customer service in casinos has changed, his recreational activities, and nuclear weapons testing.
Archival Collection