Oral history interview with Mark Brandenburg conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on September 22, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Brandenburg discusses his upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada. He talks about his stepfather’s involvement with the opening of the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, becoming a co-owner of the property in 1990, and joining other downtown properties to form the Fremont Street Experience. Brandenburg describes the challenges in competing with mega-resorts on the Strip, modernizing the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, and weaving the history of the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino with that of the more recent Fremont Street Experience. Lastly, Brandenburg discusses the monetization of the street, and the future of the Fremont Street Experience.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Steven R. Melugin conducted by R. C. Taliaferro on April 08, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Melugin discusses his birth at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, his early education, imprisonment, the growth of Las Vegas, and racial segregation. Other topics discussed include Melugin's international travels.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Danel Boone conducted by Daniel Pope on February 22, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. During this interview Boone discusses why he came to Las Vegas, Nevada, the Helldorado parade, church activity, and the weather. Boone also discusses city parks, Boy Scouts, schools, above ground atomic tests, local history of Southern Nevada, and the ways in which Las Vegas has changed over the years.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with George Cichoski conducted by Tracey Bradley on March 15, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Cichoski discusses, the roles and functions of the Cumorah Credit Union, the development of the credit union, the effects of the transition from federal to state charters and those advantages, and the overall function of a credit union.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Raymond Roberts conducted by his wife, Genevieve Roberts, on March 13, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Roberts describes his career as a musician and as a draftsman. As a draftsman, Roberts designed schools and houses for architect Julius Gabriel. Roberts also helped design road improvements and community buildings for Clark County, Nevada as a civil engineer.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Timothy C. Williams conducted by Claytee D. White on April 14, 2011 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Williams discusses his personal history in Chicago, Illinois in the 1960s and eventually moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1985. He describes his career in law and the increase of African American lawyers in Las Vegas by the end of the 1980s. Williams then talks about the founders and past presidents of the Las Vegas National Bar Association (LVNBA). Lastly, Williams recalls his involvement serving on a committee for the Las Vegas Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jo Mueller conducted by Claytee D. White on August 26, 2011 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Mueller discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband, Hal Mueller, in 1956 so he could work for the federal government as a meteorologist and was involved with nuclear testing. She also discusses raising their two children and her involvement in the Parent Teacher Association, Weight Watchers, and the League of Women Voters.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Richard Plaster conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on March 21, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Plaster discusses his early life in Santa Monica, California, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1973. He recalls his early interests in real estate, forming his company Signature Homes, and the first home building projects he was involved in. Lastly, Plaster describes land acquisition during the late 1970s, building mass housing, and his role as President of the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association (SNHBA).
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Terry Wood conducted by Gretchen Schraeder on November 14, 2006 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the interview, Wood describes her childhood in Dearborn, Michigan and the racial discrimination there. She describes meeting her husband and moving to Dallas, Texas for his job with General Dynamics. Wood describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada and her life working and living in the downtown area. She details the restaurants, shopping, and gaming in the area. She also provides accounts of attending shows and meeting famous entertainers primarily at the Flamingo Hotel & Casino.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Hazel Geran conducted by Claytee D. White on August 30, 2000 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Geran gives insights into the black experience in Las Vegas, Nevada. Geran describes her perspective of living on the Westside and the businesses that thrived there in the past, and why she remained in west Las Vegas. She also gives a peek into her family life including Catholic schools, family outings and an insightful story regarding racism and the difficulty of getting a housing loan in the 1950s.
Archival Collection