Oral history interview with Ward Wengert conducted by Perry Kaufman on May 28, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Wengert discusses the banking career of his father Cyril S. Wengert in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Sally Halko conducted by Roberta Farmer on March 11, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Halko first talks about her family background, education, traveling, and church membership. She later talks about the development of Las Vegas, Nevada casinos, racial minorities, housing growth, Lake Mead, and the first theaters.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Herb Jeffries conducted by Cork Proctor on 2009 May 5 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. In the interview Jeffries discusses his life as a singer and actor, entertaining in Las Vegas, Nevada where Frank Sinatra offered support when Jeffries encountered racial discrimination. He also talks about his life after retirement, his family, being an America, his military service, and his relationship with Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington as a young performer.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alice Waite conducted by Claytee D. White on July 14, 2015 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Waite primarily discusses her time in The Rhythmettes, a female student dance group based out of Las Vegas High School in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1950s. Waite describes the group's choreographer and coach, Evelyn Stuckey, her fellow Rhythmettes, and the performances they gave at Las Vegas High School and around the state. Waite also talks about her family history, what she likes about Las Vegas' downtown, and her career as a teacher.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marilyn V. Tamre conducted by Sheri L. Woodward on March 09, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Tamre discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1955 and life in the city. Tamre describes how Las Vegas has changed and expanded, as well as what forms of recreation were available during the 1950s. She goes on to discuss how hospitable the casinos were to their guests, economic changes in the city, and flooding problems in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Larry Canarelli conducted by Claytee D. White on May 01, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. Canarelli discusses growing up in an Oregon logging town living in a tent, and how that fueled his passion of providing homes for underdeveloped areas. He relates stories of Las Vegas, Nevada's early home development and how the real estate industry has changed throughout the decades.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Oliver Crickman conducted by William Hawley on March 03, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Crickman discusses his upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada and his gradual move from the position of cook’s helper to executive chef at the Royal Inn. Crickman goes into detail about the operation of Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Las Vegas restaurants, the demographics of cooks, and how the hospitality and housing industries have changed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Carolyn Hutcheson conducted by Barbara Tabach on May 2, 2022 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Hutcheson, a native of Houston, Texas, discusses relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband Floyd in 1989. At the time, she worked for Quality Mechanical and later for the Perini Building Company when the Cosmopolitan was under construction. Throughout the interview, Hutcheson recalls what it was like making Las Vegas her home in the late 1980s. Digital audio available; no transcript available.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Richard L. Starr conducted by Barrie S. Eddy on March 19, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Starr begins by discussing his career as an optical technician in Las Vegas, Nevada before transitioning into the service and repair industry for laundromats, and air conditioning. Starr describes how Las Vegas has changed, its population boom, and his hobby of prospecting. He also talks about flooding in Southern Nevada and housing development in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gene Leavitt conducted by his son, Monte Leavitt, on February 28, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Mr. Leavitt talks about his career as a truck and bus driver. He also talks about the life in Southern Nevada, the soldiers stationed here, and gambling. Leavitt also briefly discusses doing drilling work on the Boulder (Hoover) Dam.
Archival Collection