Oral history interview with Roy Waite conducted by Dale Haley in approximately 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Waite begins by discussing his athleticism, being a part of the first basketball team in Las Vegas, Nevada, and his general store in Bunkerville, Nevada. Waite lists the different social organizations and boards he was affiliated with, describes the arrival of the railroads, and the ranch he used to own near Bunkerville. He talks about the construction of Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) and how Southern Nevada has changed socially and environmentally. Waite also discusses smelting lead for bullets and relocating Native American remains away from a grave site that would be submerged by Lake Mead.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Hermina Washington conducted by B. Leon Green on March 02, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Washington discusses her career with the State of Nevada, working under different governors, and raising her three sons with her high school sweetheart. Washington also discusses her various residences on the Westside over the years, her role of church growing up, and changes of Las Vegas, Nevada as a city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with the Sennes family conducted by Claytee D. White on November 18, 2011 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Frank Sennes Jr., Jerry Sennes, and Luanne Sennes Glenn discuss their father, Frank Sennes Sr., and his life and career as an entertainment director. They describe their early lives traveling with their father to various states before eventually moving to Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1950s, where Sennes Sr. became the entertainment director for the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino and the Moulin Rouge. They talk about their father's personal history, his work with Donn Arden, and the various celebrities they met through their father.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Kent Carmichael conducted by Stefani Evans on November 25 and December 2, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
In the first session of this oral history, Carmichael discusses his early career in lighting design and maintenance from his start at Interstate Neon to his work in the 1950s and 60s in Las Vegas. He discusses some of the iconic signs he built including the Casino Center, Carnival Room, Thunderbird, The Frontier, Bonanza, and the Stardust. He also details the technology and inner workings of these innovative signs including the transition from mechanical to electrically controlled signage. Carmichael continues to discuss Native American laborers and various individuals that he interacted with throughout his early career including Max and Mo Oggenblick, Doby Doc, Benny Binion, Arby Alper, Steve Wynn, Peter Arp, and Wayne and Jerry Newton. Carmichael ends the first interview by recalling a high wind event that damaged the Frontier sign and his efforts to bring the sign under control and repair it as well as his vision and behind the Stardust sign.
The second oral history interview contains Carmichael’s discussion of his career from 1968 onward. He immediately picks up discussion of the Stardust sign and his transition to desk work. Carmichael details the challenge and limitations of designing the International sign (the Westgate as of 2021). He describes the development of his first messenger sign for the International and the time consuming task of using tape to program the sign. He fondly remembers working on the Holiday Inn Riverboat signs, and International transition to Las Vegas Hilton and the Hilton’s transition from blue to red letters. Carmichael shares the story of being caught between organized crime and a young Steve Wynn. He recounts his last project for Ad Art, developing and construction the sign for the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. He details working through legislative and construction issues as well as the fallout from the Nat Kiefer Commission.
After leaving Ad Art Carmichael began working with Heath and Co. and began collaborating with Raul Rodriguez. Carmichael and Rodriguez went on to design some of the most enduring and visually unique signs in Las Vegas including, the Flamingo, Four Queens, Golden Nugget, Dunes Hotel, and the Desert Inn. They also worked in Reno on Circus Circus and El Dorado. Carmichael also details his interior work including the main pylon and interior signs for MGM Grand; 1974 renovation Golden Nugget, suspended stained glass ceiling at Tropicana, and the MGM Lion display. Lastly Carmichael outlined his work with Young Electric Sign 1983-85 and the Dewey Sign Company including the Las Vegas Convention Center sign. He ends by sharing his views on the role and importance of lighting in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Adelaide Robbins conducted by Lisa Gioia-Acres on April 18, 2008 and April 29, 2008 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. Robbins discusses her experience in piano lessons at age six and having a professional career by the age of 12. Robbins also discusses playing many Las Vegas, Nevada venues and "always [being] the only woman in the band."
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ron Donoho conducted by Craig Brenner on February 28, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Donoho discusses the history of sheriffs in the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Donoho mentions various sheriffs that were his colleagues and the political dynamics during their leaderships. He also recalls a list of Southern Nevada police officers killed in the line of duty.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert Gore conducted by David Emerson on January 31, 2008 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. Gore discusses serving as a public relations officer for the United States Air Force and being a part of the Summa Corporation. He also discusses being one of the main promoters of an engineering school for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with William Hanson conducted by Randy Martin on March 05, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In his interview Hanson discusses Las Vegas, Nevada history, Howard Hughes, African Americans in Las Vegas, social classes, and hotel entertainment.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Dennis McBride conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on various dates in March, April, and May 2023 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. McBride goes into detail in this 4-session interview and covers a wide variety of topics, including: the history of Boulder City, working at various cultural institutions in Las Vegas, the evolution of the LGBTQ+ community in Las Vegas, researching his own history and publishing a book, and local advocacy groups. Digital audio available; no transcript available.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jay Duarte conducted by David Schwartz on January 27, 2017 for the Slot Operations Oral History Project. Duarte gives a description of the various positions and roles he has held in Station Casinos and other properties on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip. Duarte then explains how the slot department works with other casino departments, and later describes the qualities that make both good and bad slot managers.
Archival Collection