Oral history interview with Dennis Ritz conducted by Claytee D. White on September 29, 2017 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Ritz discusses his early life in rural Pennsylvania. He recalls his initial interest in entertainment, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1965, and becoming an entertainment director for hotels and casinos. Ritz talks about the influence of organized crime in Las Vegas, and the various shows he worked on.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Thelma Oldfield conducted by Katherine Franco on March 03, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Oldfield describes her personal history and the history of Ely, Nevada, where she lived from 1914 to 1964.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carl Ciliax conducted by Gary Wood on March 08, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Ciliax first describes his family history, and his early interests in wildlife. Ciliax then discusses his early experiences in hunting and his eventual interest in conservationism and preservation.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alice Doolittle conducted by Christopher Moran on March 21, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Alice Doolittle discusses why she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, working as a dental assistant, her move to Boulder City, Nevada, the first theaters in Las Vegas, the Union Pacific Railroad, and the Doolittle Center.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alfred Isola conducted by Stephen Kalish on March 15, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Isola discusses Las Vegas, Nevada’s lack of a unified garbage system and how dumping sites have had to adjust their practices in order to limit their impact on pollution. Isola also explains the different disposal protocols for wet and dry trash.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carol Azevedo conducted by James E. Cuchine on March 04, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Azevedo discusses topics such as colleges, her political feelings, Downtown and West Las Vegas, Nevada, hospitals, and the Las Vegas Strip from 1951 and its growth.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Delibos conducted by Claytee D. White on October 2, 2012 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. John Delibos discusses moving with his family from Wisconsin in 1959 to Las Vegas, Nevada and his experience being raised in a Catholic household. He then discusses graduating from Cornell University and returning to Las Vegas to work in various casino jobs. Delibos also discusses retiring from gaming and becoming a full-time interior designer.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marcus Mason conducted by Leon Green on February 04, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Mason talks about his childhood in Las Vegas, Nevada, his parents’ past occupations, and how his religious upbringing influenced his career choices as an adult.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ethel Matteucci conducted by Tom Matteucci on March 10, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Ethel talks about being chased out of Mexico for being Mormon colonizers and later arriving to Nevada. Ethel later talks about the first casinos that were built in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Roy Brown conducted by Rick Godwin on May 21, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. During this interview Brown discusses his career as a hairstylist, celebrities he has styled, and the growth of the haircutting industry in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection