Oral history interview with Agnes Gauger conducted by Coleen Mancini on February 24, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Gauger discusses significant changes and growth in Southern Nevada, including gambling and other industries, family life and recreation, and the early atomic tests. Gauger also discusses housing in Las Vegas, Nevada, Howard Hughes, the McCarran Airport, medical facilities and education in Southern Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ree Wengert conducted by Jams A. Bibbee on February 28, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Wengert discusses her personal history prior to arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1951. Wengert then describes the El Rancho Hotel and Casino in the 1950s, and recalls being freely permitted into Nellis Air Force Base to see the aircraft stationed there. Wengert later discusses the significance of the Helldorado Parade, atomic bomb testing, and the advancement of telecommunications.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mamie Buettner conducted by Gertrude Anne Moore on February 21, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. During the interview Buettner discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada and offers insight into the day-to-day life of a Las Vegas old timer.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jon Cobain conducted by Claytee D. White on March 4, 2022 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Cobain describes his childhood growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada and living in a trailer while his father built the family's home. Cobain is the first graduate from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), as he walked across the stage first, thus becoming the first to receive a degree from UNLV. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in business, Cobain attended Northwestern for graduate school. He discusses time spent working in Venezuela, and the value of learning other cultures and building international relationships. At the time of the interview, Cobain is matching gifts to the Jon Cobain Lee Business School at UNLV up to $2.3 million to help first-generation scholars. Other subjects discussed include the Nevada Test Site, Frank Sinatra, and Hoover Dam.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jeffrey Coller conducted by Claytee D. White on July 25, 2017 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Coller discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls attending Bishop Gorman High School, becoming an emancipated minor, and his employment at the El Cortez Hotel and Casino. Coller talks about joining the United States Marine Corps, relocating to Reno, Nevada, and his experience in the hospitality industry. Coller describes the various jobs he had at Harrah’s Reno, advancing up to assistant hotel manager, and his career shift to real estate development. Later, Coller discusses his work in production housing, building communities, and returning to Las Vegas in 1992. Lastly, Coller talks about the growth of his real estate business and getting involved in real estate syndication.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marion Brooks conducted by Kathleen Kasmier on February 24, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Brooks talks about working in mining at Blue Diamond and some of the professional mining societies he was a part of. Brooks also discusses the environmental, economic, and demographic changes he saw in Las Vegas, Nevada throughout the decades.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joseph Wilcock conducted by Claytee D. White on April 17, 2014; April 18, 2014, and April 30, 2014. for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Wilcock recalls working in Bal Harbour, Florida, and coming to Las Vegas, Nevada to attend the School of Hotel Management at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Wilcock explains gaming terminology and the process of dealing and cheating the casino. He discusses the relationship between Caesars in Atlantic City and Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and between operating a gaming company in New Jersey and Nevada. He also recalls opening day at the Mirage, opening the Treasure Island, and how Wynn hotels hired and promoted from within, but instituted a minority recruitment and training program to diversify the workforce.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tom Ehlen conducted by Lisa Gioia-Acres on January 10, 2008 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. Ehlen recalls his career as a professional trumpet player including playing with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Frank Sinatra, Burt Bacharach, and others. He also discusses playing in the bands of various casinos on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Grant Sawyer conducted by Perry Kaufman on May 12, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sawyer discusses his campaign for Governor of Nevada and the differences between northern Nevada and southern Nevada social life. He then describes winning the election for Governor, the gaming industry, and explains why gaming was significant to his political career. Lastly, Sawyer discusses the Nevada Gaming Commission before and after he was Governor, and actions that he took against organized crime.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Yocheved Mintz conducted by Barbara Tabach on March 11, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Rabbi Mintz discusses arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1997 with her husband, the founder of Cenegenics. She also talks about becoming a spiritual leader of what is now known as Congregation P'nai Tikvah in 2005.
Archival Collection