Oral history interview with George Burns conducted by Sandy Fink on April 03, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Burns discusses the early history of Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1940s and 1950s. Burns also discusses the various jobs he has held including cook, dishwasher, clerk, pipe fitter, and salesman.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mel Greb conducted by an unknown collector on March 11, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Greb discusses his experiences as a boxing fanatic in Las Vegas, Nevada. Greb also describes attending hundreds of boxing matches, including significant championship matches. Greb then explains the requirements to become a successful boxer.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ray Merrill conducted by his son, Rick Merrill, on March 14, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Ray Merrill describes how Las Vegas, Nevada has evolved and expanded over the years since he moved to Southern Nevada in 1942.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with doctor Nancy Leveque conducted by Robin Wright on July 03, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. The interview covers, among many wide-ranging topics, Leveque’s move to and away from Las Vegas, her career as a veterinarian, and the practice she and her then-husband built. Leveque also discusses how the city of Las Vegas has changed—environmentally and socially—, special interest groups and social activities, as well as natural phenomena. Throughout the course of the interview, Leveque provides anecdotes about prominent figures and old Las Vegas traditions, such as Helldorado.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Curtis Myles conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on March 16, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Myles discusses his childhood in Las Vegas, Nevada and growing up in the Westside. He recalls his employment at McCarran International Airport, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), and later the Las Vegas Monorail. Lastly, Myles talks about corporate gaming mergers as they apply to monorail transit in Las Vegas, and speaks to the future of monorail transport relative to the airport, Maryland Parkway, and Downtown Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lucille Wright conducted by Cheryl Reed on February 23, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Wright talks about her personal life and experiences in Las Vegas, Nevada. Wright also talks about her experiences as a school teacher in the mid 1950s, teacher pay, and school activities.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ernest Jackson conducted by Larry E. Cooper on March 1, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Jackson discusses his experiences in the Westside as a Black Las Vegas, Nevada resident. Jackson discusses the lack of property buyers on the Westside and his goals of improving the Westside by building on the land. Jackson also discusses his youth as a baseball star for Las Vegas High School in the 1950s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Victoria Nozero conducted by Claytee D. White on December 03, 2012 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Nozero discusses her personal history, experiences in law school, and her employment at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Nozero describes the committees she has been involved with at UNLV and becoming the director of User Services in the Circulation Department at Lied Library. Later, she discusses the significance of reference work, and the challenges of making information accessible. Lastly, Nozero describes changes in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with J.T. Thomas conducted by Samuel Greene on February 13, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Thomas discusses his arrival to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1913 in search of job opportunities. Thomas also describes the development of Las Vegas, specifically the increase of hotels and casinos. Thomas then discusses segregation in schools and explains that African Americans were only allowed to live on the West Side of Las Vegas. Thomas later recalls downtown Las Vegas and changes in the state's educational curriculum.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Leslie H. Smith conducted by Claytee D. White on November 02, 2017 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Smith discusses his life in Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls anecdotes of the city during the 1950s and 1960s, growing up near downtown Las Vegas, and the influence of organized crime. Smith talks about starting a construction contracting firm and changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection