Oral history interviews with Robert Alton Thielke conducted by his grandson, Harry Stephen Lauer, on March 12, 1975 and an unknown date in 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In these interviews, Thielke discusses his personal history working for railroads, gas companies, and munitions manufacturers before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1948. Thielke describes life in Las Vegas during the 1940s and taking road trips in a Ford Model T roadster. He talks about how Las Vegas has changed and grown, as well as rodeos in the city. Thielke explains the history of Henderson, Nevada, manganese mining, and the history of Stewart Ranch. He also describes his recreational activities and explains that he moved out of west Las Vegas because of the increase of African Americans living in that area.