Oral history interview with Suzette Cox conducted by Lance Cooper on March 01, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Suzette Cox discusses working at the Las Vegas Sun, a local newspaper, as a deputy sheriff, and at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas as a secretary. She also talks about living in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Las Vegas Strip, gambling, recreational activities, atomic testing, the Mormon Fort, and how Las Vegas has changed over the years.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Donald Aikin conducted by Patrick Carlton on April 9, 2007 for the Las Vegas Rotary Club Oral History Project. In this interview, Aikin reflects upon his experiences working with the Nevada Gaming Control Board, his accounting career with various casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada, and his involvement with the Las Vegas Rotary Club from the 1970s through the 1990s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Stan Irwin conducted by Cork Proctor on August 24, 2003 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. In this interview, Irwin talks about his early life performing comedy in nightclubs, hotels, and casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada, writing comedic material, his military service, starting a family, and racism in the Las vegas entertainment industry in the 1950s and 1960s. He also discusses his work as vice-president and executive producer for Sahara Nevada Corporation, bringing The Beatles to Las Vegas, Nevada when all other hotels refused to do so, and the band's appearance at the Las Vegas Convention Center. He continues talking about being a comedian, actor, and special materials writer and his life since retirement.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Darwin Gidel conducted by Claytee D. White on October 21, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Gidel discusses being a flight engineer in the Air Force during World War II. He describes when he was shot down over Belgium in 1944 and was held as prisoner of war in Belgium and Germany for eleven months. He also discusses being an accountant.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tyrone Williams conducted by Claytee D. White on August 25, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. Williams discusses arriving at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and his various jobs there. He recalls that blacks were not welcome on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip unless they were going to work in one of the hotels or casinos. Williams then describes joining the Executive Housekeepers Association. The interview concludes with a short discourse on social life and positive aspects of life in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with William Laub Sr. conducted by Claytee D. White on October 20 and 28, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Laub opens the interview discussing his service in the United States Navy in the Pacific Theater in World War II. He also talks about his education in Van Nuys, California, his time in law school, and gaining Basic Magnesium Inc. as a client for his California law firm. He discusses coordinating the construction of the gas pipeline from Henderson, Nevada into Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls being injured in a gas explosion, that forced him to rehabilitate in Las Vegas, and inevitably move his family to the area in 1956. He describes the construction changes that occurred on the Las Vegas Strip from the 1950s onward. Laub also explains why the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino was a political epicenter, and recounts meeting Nevada Lieutenant Governor Clifford Jones and other political candidates.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bruce Layne conducted by Claytee D. White on 2004 June 18, June 29, July 13, and July 20 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Bruce Layne discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1955 at ten years old, his two childhood friends Governor Bob Miller and Tito Tiberti, and becoming president of Layne and Associates, the largest insurance agency in Nevada. He then discusses the growth of Las Vegas, life in Las Vegas, having Parkinson's disease, running for lieutenant governor, and his insurance business.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John J. Lee conducted by Claytee D. White on June 15, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Lee discusses his upbringing in North Las Vegas, Nevada. He talks about his initial interest in politics, being elected to the State Assembly District 3 and the Nevada State Senate. Lee describes the economic issues in North Las Vegas, running for Mayor of North Las Vegas, and being elected Mayor in 2013. Later, Lee discusses changes that he implemented as Mayor, obtaining permission to build new homes in North Las Vegas, and describes working with other Nevada politicians. Lastly, Lee talks about diversifying North Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marie Heher conducted by her daughter Sharon Heher on March 01, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Heher discusses her early life in Boulder City, Nevada and Henderson, Nevada, as well as her education in Reno, Nevada and Las Vegas, Nevada. Heher also discusses the Helldorado parades and her experiences with the Union Pacific Train Depot in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gwen Weeks conducted by Perry Kaufman on November 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Weeks describes early Las Vegas, Nevada and the changes the city went through. Weeks also talks about segregation, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the different living conditions between communities.
Archival Collection