Oral history interview with Richard E. Schroeder conducted by Richard Harrah on February 26, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Schroeder discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1951 to work as a carpenter for the Desert Inn. Schroeder then describes changes in Las Vegas, gambling, and the development of the Las Vegas Strip. Lastly, he discusses the history of some of the hotels and casinos on Fremont Street.
Guests at the Sands playing craps on a floating table in the pool. Transcribed from photo sleeve: "Floating craps table - Customers at the Sands Hotel escape the heat by gambling in the pool. About 2200 guests tried this in 1954." Stamped on original: "Desert Sea News Bureau. Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Don English - Dave Lees - Joe Buck." Site Name: Sands Hotel Address: 3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Anthony Robone interviews Bill Armstrong (born in Kentucky in 1921) in Armstrong’s apartment complex about his experiences in Las Vegas. Robone asks a variety of questions relating to Armstrong’s bootlegging in Kentucky before he arrived in Las Vegas, his involvement with the Las Vegas Dealers, the weather as it relates to other parts of the country, the impacts of the work of Howard Hughes on the town, the construction of Hoover Dam, the above ground atomic testing, the growth of Las Vegas and tourism, changes in gambling habits for the next generation, and the social and recreational activities residents took part in.
On May 8, 1976, James Thomas Griffin interviewed former casino dealer Midge Innis (born September 23rd, 1928 in Neligh, Nebraska) in her apartment in Las Vegas, Nevada about her life in Southern Nevada. The two discuss her occupational history as well as how she met her husband. The interview concludes Innis’ thoughts on environmental and social shifts in Las Vegas.
Materials include news reports, totalizator reports, and reports of private organizations concerning legal and illegal gambling in various countries from 1948 to 2004 collected by Eugene Martin Christiansen. The countries most represented in the materials are Australia, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Germany, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, and Spain. The topics include gambling legalization or illegalization, horse racing, lotteries, pari-mutuel wagering, and possible investment in casinos by multinational companies, as well as entertainment topics such as television markets, films, and vacation resorts.
On February 21, 1980, George Baker interviewed Frank H. Johnson (born July 27th , 1929 in El Paso, Texas) about his occupational history in Southern Nevada. The two discuss Johnson’s career as a journalist for the Nevada State Journal and how he transitioned into his position as a government official. Johnson then recalls problems that arose while he was chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission. The interview concludes with Johnson speculating about the impact of industrial growth on the environment.