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Rick Arpin oral history interview, 2024 May 22
Level of Description
Scope and Contents
Oral history interview with Rick Arpin conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on May 22, 2024 for the Game On! The Oral History of Las Vegas Sports project. In this interview, Las Vegas native Rick Arpin reflects on his East Las Vegas childhood, his career in accounting and finance, and his role with MGM Resorts in conceiving, building, and operating the T-Mobile Arena, home of the Vegas Golden Knights. Arpin mostly focuses on the idea of what would become T-Mobile arena, possible sites and designs for the arena, and putting everything on hold through the financial crisis (2008-2009) and the building of City Center (2008-2010). He talks about MGM Resorts realizing they had to manage all sports and entertainment venues across the company, including security, vendors, booking, and all operations. Arpin recalls the multiple people, institutions, and determination that helped chip away the "stigma" that professional and collegiate sports felt clouded Las Vegas as a location for professional or collegiate sports. Digital audio available.
Archival Collection
Collection Name: Game On! The Oral History of Las Vegas Sports Interviews
Box/Folder: Digital File 00
Archival Component
Aquiles Garcia oral history interview
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Abstract
Oral history interview with Aquiles Garcia conducted by Claytee D. White on January 10 and February 20, 2015 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Garcia discusses the political atmosphere and risks of being gay in Juan Perón’s Argentina in the 1940s, Las Vegas, Nevada life in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and his dual Las Vegas careers as a dancer and a casino dealer throughout the second half of the twentieth century.
Archival Collection
Slavin, Ed, oral history, Nye County Town History Project, undated
Level of Description
Archival Collection
Collection Name: Mountain West's Yucca Mountain Socioeconomic Project Records
Box/Folder: Box 02
Archival Component
Jonathan Sparer oral history interview
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Abstract
Oral history interview with Jonathan Sparer conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on August 29, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Sparer discusses his involvement in the Jewish, and LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) communites, and his career as an architect in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also talks about working on projects that included The Mirage Hotel and Casino, the Congregation Ner Tamid, and The Center (The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada).
Archival Collection
J. K. Russ oral history interview
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Oral history interview with J. K. Russ conducted by Claytee D. White on December 22, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Russ discusses her early life in New Zealand and growing up on a tobacco farm. She remembers arriving to the United States and establishing a career as an artist. Russ talks about the 1 October shooting, creating an art exhibit using cards and letters received from people all over the world, and Las Vegas’ response to the tragedy. Lastly, Russ describes the art community in Las Vegas and the Arts District.
Archival Collection
Pat Spearman oral history interview
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Oral history interview with Pat Spearman conducted by Lisa McAllister on March 03, 2016 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Spearman discusses her experiences in the military and becoming a minister at United Methodist Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. She describes what it was like to serve in the military as a gay woman and telling church members about her sexuality. Spearman then talks about the African American gay community in Las Vegas and the intersectionality of race, class, religion, sexuality, and politics. Lastly, Spearman discusses her plans to get re-elected as a Nevada State Senator.
Archival Collection
Anne Davis Mulford and Strutt Hurley oral history interview
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Abstract
Oral history interview with Anne Davis Mulford and Strutt Hurley conducted by Dennis McBride on June 7, 2002 and July 22, 2002 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. Mulford discusses her early life in the Northeast, including her experiences with a lesbian mother and how that affected her early life. She discusses her coming out and her move to Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1990s. Anne recalls her involvement in the LGBTQIA+ community in Las Vegas, including her work on the Las Vegas Pride parade and the beginnings of the LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada. Finally, she talks about her work building AFAN, the Aid for AIDS of Nevada.
Archival Collection