Oral history interview with Cork Proctor conducted by Claytee D. White on February 3, 2006 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Proctor discusses his upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1940s and 1950s. He tells several anecdotes of his life, such as the time he stole a car in the Huntridge Theater parking lot or his time working as a gravedigger, and describes popular establishments and entertainment venues in Las Vegas. Proctor then talks about his career in show business as a comedian and radio host, race relations in Las Vegas, and meeting his wife. He also discusses how Las Vegas has developed socially and expanded, how he expects it to evolve in the future, and other experiences from entertainment gigs.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Norman Forsyth conducted by Steve Flinte on March 19, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Forsythe discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada and his time as a firefighter with the Las Vegas Fire Department and the Clark County Fire Department, where he eventually became a battalion chief. Forsythe also talks about the history and development of Las Vegas, the prices of land, some notable fires, including the El Rancho Vegas fire, and what he recalls about the aboveground atomic testing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dr. John P. Watkins conducted by Claytee D. White on April 29, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Dr. Watkins talks about his schooling, his medical career, and medicine and medical practitioners in Las Vegas, Nevada from the mid-1950s. He recalls how he met his wife, Frances (née) O’Rourke, and the Las Vegas places he, Frances, and their sons John and Brian lived. In particular, he describes their Desert Inn Country Club neighbors and neighborhood, where he and his family lived for fourteen years. He then discusses Las Vegas as a gateway to outdoor activities.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gene Collins conducted by Claytee D. White on July 16, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Collins discusses the job market in Las Vegas, Nevada and delineates his work experience and career as culinary employee, operation engineer, and finally as electrician at the Nevada Test Site. He then talks about becoming a Nevada State Assemblyman and helping to bring diversification, jobs, and businesses to the black community. Collins details the accomplishments of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) during those years and discusses the means by which they were met, including marches and protests.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Greg McCurdy conducted by Claytee D. White on March 7, 2013 and August 21, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. McCurdy discusses growing up in the early Westside neighborhood as a boy and his work as a police officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD). He then talks about retiring after 30 years of service and his following career overseeing the Homeland Security and Law Enforcement Investigations Group at the LVMPD.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mahlon Brown conducted by Claytee D. White on December 16, 2003 and January 13, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Brown discusses his career as a policeman in Washington, D.C., during the 1960s, an attorney in Las Vegas, Nevada along with Jack Anderson in the Las Vegas Welfare Rights Movement, and as a Justice of the Peace.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Harold C. Flint conducted by Patricia McFadden on February 15, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Flint discusses unions in the casinos, prostitution, minority groups’ populations, the Nevada Atomic Test Site, education, and entertainers’ residencies.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Neil H. Holmes conducted by James Greene on January 14, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Holmes discusses the Boulder City, Nevada education system, family life, employment opportunities, housing, and the building of Boulder (Hoover) Dam.
Archival Collection
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