Oral history interview with Linda Lintner conducted by Claytee D. White on February 12, 2013 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Lintner discusses graduating from Rancho High School in 1962 and sailing around the world for almost a decade with her husband. She also discusses how she became an expert sailor and a qualified diver.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jack Herst conducted by Suzan DiFederico on March 01, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Herst talks about the population growth in Nevada and emphasizes the significant changes that Las Vegas, Nevada has experienced from its origins as a small town. Herst also discusses his personal family history, his Jewish identity, community affiliations, and his career as a card dealer and broker at different casinos.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with John Edmond conducted by Claytee D. White on February 19 and 25, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Edmond discusses his family history in Tallulah, Louisiana and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada before Basic Magnesium, Inc. drew many African Americans to the region. He recalls working as a young boy at the local bowling alley and later attending college in Seattle, Washington. After college, Edmond returned to Las Vegas and became the first Black baccarat dealer at the Stardust Hotel working for Frank Rosenthal. He discusses later owning the largest shopping center in the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Betty Garren conducted by Joyce Marshall on May 02, 1997 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Garren opens her interview by discussing her young adult life in California. She then talks about her first night out in Las Vegas, Nevada. Garren discusses her experiences as an executive secretary at the Last Frontier and the types of jobs available to women in casinos. Garren also describes the amenities available at the Last Frontier and the El Rancho Vegas. Garren goes on to talk about her experiences and memories of the Last Frontier Hotel in detail.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Hildred Meidell conducted by Greg Abbott on February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Meidell covers a range of topics about living in Las Vegas, Nevada, from her and her husband’s time as tourists in the city and their subsequent retirement to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, California. Meidell describes the Las Vegas Strip, the interstate and highway conditions between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, as well as their numerous visits to Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam). Moreover, she speaks about the changing layout of the city, the increase in shopping centers and department stores, and the clothing stores inside of hotels. Lastly, Meidell talks about the prominence of churches in local communities, the atomic testing program and the structural damages these tests caused in her neighborhood, and the influence of the railroad and passenger train on the town.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dr. Jack Cherry conducted by Lowell Christie on June 17, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Cherry discusses environmental change in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cherry also recalls experiencing an atomic bomb test.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Junell Bowman conducted by Anna Huddleston on March 09, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Bowman begins by describing her early history as a singer in California, performing on the radio, different orchestras, and nightclubs before marrying her husband and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1958. Bowman discusses becoming a sketch artist after managing an unsuccessful business, doing portraits and caricatures of people in the casinos, at conventions, and on the Las Vegas Strip. She talks about the celebrities and entertainers she met and did caricatures for while working at casinos like the Stardust and Riviera, and the amount of work that went into being a professional sketch artist.
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 Lee Murialdo conducted by Kim Burco on February 26, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Murialdo discusses the history of Las Vegas, Nevada as it pertains to casinos and city growth. Murialdo describes the initial founding of the city and origins of the name "Las Vegas," entertainment on the Las Vegas Strip, and the different games available to play in casinos. Murialdo also describes the construction of the Flamingo Hotel and Casino, as well as the construction of the Hoover (Boulder) Dam. Murialdo goes on to discuss her novel and why she decided to move to Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jean Whitcher conducted by Michele deHoll on March 12, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Witcher discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1932 and describes the construction of Boulder (Hoover) Dam, Fremont Street before it was fully paved, and social life in Las Vegas at the time. Witcher then recalls her work in costume repair and construction as a seamstress at the El Rancho Hotel and Casino. Later, Witcher discusses her work in costume design and recalls some of her more memorable designs.
Archival Collection