Oral history interview with Jerry Lockhart conducted by O’Sheyon Rollins on April 17, 2015 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Lockhart discusses his personal history and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1965 after transferring to Nevada Southern University (now University of Nevada, Las Vegas). He talks of his impressions of the city at the time, his first accounting job at Southwest Gas Corporation, and his employment with the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) in the 1970s. Lockhart then recalls being the first African American Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Nevada in 1977 and being appointed to the Nevada Gaming Commission in 1983. Later, Lockhart discusses the process to qualify for employment as a CPA and owning a CPA firm in the 1980s. Lastly, he describes West Las Vegas businesses and shares his thoughts on the growth of the Westside.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dorothy Lee conducted by Claytee D. White on June 02, 2016 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Lee discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada and recalls horse riding from Paradise Township to downtown Las Vegas. After moving to the John S. Park neighborhood, she attended Las Vegas High School and worked at the Huntridge Theater as an usher. She also discusses her time working as an elevator operator at the Riviera and how she became a Rhythmette in her second year in high school.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jennie Mead on March 04, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Mead discusses her career as a waitress at the Hacienda Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she had worked for twenty-one years at the time of the interview. Mead also describes how the Hacienda Hotel and Casino had changed over the years.
Archival Collection
The Penelope Ruchman Collection of Las Vegas, Nevada Casino Professionals Oral Histories includes interviews conducted by Ruchman from approximately 1999 to 2001 of casino industry workers who worked in Las Vegas, Nevada. The majority of interviews were conducted by Ruchman in their office at Gambler's Book Shop (GBS), but some where conducted in interviewee's homes and offices, or over the phone. The collection represents Ruchman's efforts to interview and document a generation of early casino industry workers that were quickly aging. The project was intended to be compiled as a definitive history of Las Vegas and American gambling, entitled "After the Gold Rush." The project was permanently postponed in the fall of 2001 when Ruchman left GBS to work for Park Place Entertainment as a corporate business and operations analyst, and later as casino operations director for Caesars Palace. Not all interviews have digital transcripts available.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Bob Gronauer conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on October 27, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Gronauer discusses his early life in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and describes living in subsidized housing. He talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1989, his employment with Las Vegas Paving, and his involvement with building the Luxor Hotel and Casino. Gronauer then recalls doing the master plans for the Iron Mountain Ranch community in the late 1990s, his contributions to the development of public parks, and developing master plans for North Las Vegas communities. Lastly, Gronauer discusses location planning for new projects and obtaining support from home owners and elected officials.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert Griffith conducted by Jerry Gatch on March 19, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Griffith discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada, and the development of railroads throughout Southern Nevada. He later talks about the first casinos, hotels, and the construction of Boulder (Hoover) Dam.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with David Frommer conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on September 12, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Frommer discusses his early life in New York. He talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1994, his employment at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) as a campus planner, and his work in the area along Maryland Parkway sometimes referred to as "Midtown UNLV.". Frommer then recalls building planning for the newest UNLV buildings, the construction of Allegiant Stadium, and his work refining UNLV buildings. Lastly, Frommer discusses the idea of a UNLV campus hotel.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Robert Maheu conducted by K. J. Evans on April 19, 1999 for the Las Vegas Review-Journal First 100 Oral History Project. In this interview, Maheu discusses Howard Hughes and attempts by Bill Gay and associates to take Hughes' business. Maheu then discusses his career in the FBI and CIA before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. Finally, Maheu talks about working for Hughes.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Darwin Lamb conducted by David Blanton on October 25, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Lamb discusses his early life living in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and various United States presidents who visited Las Vegas. Lamb also discusses his involvement in politics as a Clark County Commissioner, Las Vegas economics, and the growth and change of the hotel and casino industry over time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Roosevelt Toston conducted by Chanelle Pickens on October 19, 2013 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Toston discusses his career in broadcast journalism in the Las Vegas, Nevada market and then at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Archival Collection