Oral history interview with Judge Angel conducted by Denise M. Beverstein on November 29, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Judge Angel shares the reasons she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005. Angel discusses her career in media production, detailing her positive impact radio show on KLAV1230 AM. Angel talks about the growth of Las Vegas' historic Westside and the businesses that have aided that growth. She also shares her impressions of the African American community in Las Vegas, as well as her hopes for the future of the community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Norman Forsythe conducted by Bill Cunningham on March 04, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Forsythe discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada and joining the City of Las Vegas and Clark County Fire Departments. He also goes into detail about fighting the fire at the El Rancho Vegas in 1960 and his responsibilities as a battalion chief. The interview concludes with Forsythe talking briefly about his family’s recreational activities and his experience as a baseball coach.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ernie Lomprey conducted by Chris Tonemah on July 11, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Lomprey moved from Wisconsin to Henderson, Nevada in 1949 because his father was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base towards the end of World War II. He discusses his childhood, education, and eventual work as a cement mason and firefighter.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marie Schamaun conducted by Elie Elias on February 21, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Schamaun discusses her personal history and the history of Las Vegas, Nevada. Schamaun discusses being a member of the first Methodist church in Las Vegas and her involvement with an auxiliary of the Optimist Club which helped young girls. Schamaun describes how Las Vegas and its casinos have changed since she first moved to the city in 1947, and how the city has changed socially. Schamaun also discusses nuclear weapons tests, youth centers in Las Vegas, and the important role the youth centers have in the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with William McCullough conducted by Pete Wahlquist on February 26, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, McCullough discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1931 for employment opportunities at the Boulder (Hoover) Dam. McCullough later goes into detail about the process of building the dam and what it was like to work there. Lastly, McCullough discusses the Las Vegas Strip, the hotels, and entertainers.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Helen Winthrop conducted by Ron Valles on February 20, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Winthrop discusses her personal history and living in Las Vegas, Nevada. Winthrop describes her family, education, and marriage to her husband. She also describes her recreational activities and places she has traveled with her family. Winthrop explains the differences between the Las Vegas Strip and the rest of the city, as well as how Las Vegas is developing and changing. She goes on to discuss irrigation and agriculture in Las Vegas, the effects of nuclear testing in Nevada, and nuclear power. Winthrop concludes the interview by expressing her opinions on future development of the city and what environmental protections she thinks should be implemented.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Betty Counts conducted by Jim Phillips on October 29, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Counts first talks about her early life in Las Vegas, Nevada, including her educational background and some of the recreational activities in which she took part. She also discusses the atomic testing, the changes in Las Vegas over time, and her familiarity with political figures, and the police department.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jacob Snow conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee White on August 29, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Snow discusses the ways that infrastructure accommodated Southern Nevada's growth. He discusses McCarran's Terminal Three, the Las Vegas Monorail, University of Las Vegas, Nevada (UNLV) football stadium, the Bruce Woodbury Beltway, and the Fremont Street Experience. Snow discusses his career as general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission, where he worked with Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury, and his three years as city manager for the City of Henderson.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charles J. Sorrells conducted by Karen Schank on November 30, 2010 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Sorrells primarily discusses his family's history in Nevada beginning in the early 1900s when his grandfather moved there from Georgia. Sorrells describes life in the rural desert town of Shoshone, Nevada and a town called Greenwater, his grandfather's main residency, located somewhere in Death Valley. Through his family history, Sorrells provides an overview of Nevada's history as it progressed from an Old West lifestyle to modern American living by the mid-twentieth century. Sorrells also talks about life in Las Vegas, Nevada, his children, and his career as a certified public accountant.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert “Bob” Brown conducted by Ian McLaughlin on February 23, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Brown discusses his background in the food business working for various hotels and restaurants in the city. Brown discusses some of the developments of the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, including the opening and closing of various casinos, as well as issues relating to the increasing crime rate, rise in air pollution, and growth in population in the city. Brown also mentions some of the entertainers from the Strip such as Wayne Newton and Frank Sinatra, and he describes the various recreational activities available to Las Vegans in and around the city. The interview concludes with Brown’s discussion about how means of transportation have evolved and how the city has grown since he moved to Las Vegas.
Archival Collection