Barbara Cloud was born in Tulare, California. Her father's job kept the family on the move for the first seven years of her life. They eventually settled in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where Barbara attended grade school and high school. After graduation, Barbara applied to three universities and was accepted at all three. She chose Stanford and decided to major in journalism. It was while at Stanford that she also met and married her husband Stan. Stan and Barbara moved to California, where Barbara got a job working on a weekly Sunday supplement. After a year and a half, they returned to Oregon and Barbara decided to get her master's in journalism. She was given a graduate assistantship at the University of Oregon, and completed the degree in two years. In 1969, Stan agreed to accept a post doctoral assignment in Australia, and Barbara found a job with an advertising agency. After six years, the couple returned to Oregon, and Barbara decided to apply to the University of Washington for a PH.D. in journalism. She was admitted, given a graduate assistantship, and completed the work in three years. In 1978, Barbara applied for a journalism position at UNLV. She was hired, and she and Stan moved to Las Vegas in 1979. She built up the journalism program and continued with her research. In 1983, she became department chair, a position she was elected to each year for the next six years. She was the editor of "Journalism History", published her own book, and was associate provost for academic affairs. Barbara is retired today, though still connected with the School of Journalism. She is planning to teach a distance education course.
On March 15, 1981, Steven L. Smith interviewed Edward A. Collins (born on March 16th, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois), at the Dunes Hotel and Country Club. Collins relocated to Nevada in 1955. The interview covers gender equality in the field of culinary arts in Las Vegas. Collins describes the changes he saw take place in culinary over the years. He also discusses Bugsy Siegel’s impact and influence on the emergence of big shows in the hotels on the Strip. Among other jobs, Collins worked as a captain in a showroom at the Frontier Hotel. He discusses Las Vegas before and after Howard Hughes and Bob Maheu appeared on the scene.
Carol Hunter interviewed columnist and former music consultant Joseph “Joe” Delaney (b. 1922 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) on October 24, 1979 about his experiences in the entertainment industry of Las Vegas, Nevada. The interview begins with Delaney’s recollection of how Las Vegas looked when he first moved to the city in 1961. Delaney mentions some of the businesses and hotels that were popular at the time, including the entertainers that performed at many of those hotels. He then describes the evolution of piano bars to lounge acts to showroom performances in the hotels, as well as the types of changes made for admission to those performances as corporations took control over Strip properties. Delaney also provides insight into the intricacies of the agreements between the properties and various entertainers for their residencies, and he mentions many of the particular entertainers of the time throughout the interview. Delaney additionally discusses his original experiences in talk
With roots in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, John J. Delibos epitomizes a true Las Vegan. At the age of eight, his family moved from Wisconsin to Las Vegas to take advantage of emerging employment opportunities. Raised in a devout Catholic household, his mother and father demonstrated a strong work ethic that John would emulate. After graduating from Cornell University, John returns to Las Vegas. Over the course of his young adulthood, John meets many of Las Vegas' key developers, including the McKellars, the Boyds, and the Thomases. He works in various capacities, in various casinos around town. Eventually, John retires from gaming and works full-time as an interior designer, a skill he cultivated since childhood. Throughout the interview, John recollects, with meticulous detail, the development of Las Vegas since the 1960s, neighborhood by neighborhood, street by street, property by property. John now lives at Turnberry, overlooking a very different Las Vegas than that which he first saw as a child living at The DeVille.
On March 1, 1980, Ken Pyatt interviewed his grandmother, Merna Dennison (born September 9th, 1917 in Blanding, Utah) in her home in Henderson, Nevada. During the interview, Merna pinpoints Cashman Field as a landmark of Las Vegas. She recalls the Helldorado Parade as one of Nevada’s biggest annual celebrations in which her family attended and participated on numerous occasions. She mentions serving on the Clark County School Board and discusses the growth of the city of Las Vegas, particularly the development and expansion of both McCarran Airport and the Strip.
On March 15, 1978, Marianne Johnson interviewed Frank Cope (born in Kansas, in 1930) at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. Frank’s family relocated to Nevada from Kansas when he was six months old. For school, he attended the Westside Grammar School, Las Vegas Grammar School on Fifth Street, and Las Vegas High School. He also attended Carson City High School for two years before enlisting in the Army and going overseas. Pertaining to work, Mr. Cope describes his occupation as distribution superintendent at the Las Vegas Valley Water District. He recalls how he met his wife, who also works for the water district as a secretary in the engineering department. Additionally, most of Frank’s brothers work for the water district as well. Social groups or organizations Frank mentions being affiliated with include the Las Vegas Golf Association, two motorcycle clubs, the American Public Works Association, the American Water Works Association, and the Las Vegas Elks Lodge 1468.
On March 11, 1981, Leora Cohen interviewed city planner, Margie Joanne Corderman (born September 30th, 1933 in Sac City, Iowa) in the kitchen of her home in Boulder City, Nevada. The interview covers the history, growth and development of Boulder City. During the interview, Margie discusses Six Companies houses, swamp coolers, pollution and Boulder City locals having to commute to Las Vegas and Henderson for work. Some of the occupations Margie has held in Clark County, Nevada, include, Clark County Deputy Assessor, engineering aid, planning technician, planning director, and engineering technician.
Susan Cowan grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, and enjoyed a loving childhood with her parents, older sister and grandparents, complete with family vacations to California and Mexico. Called to dancing ever since she can remember, this passion remained with her throughout her life. By the time Susan graduated from high school, she had moved five different times. This nomadic nature continued once being married and having two children, eventually settling in Boulder, Colorado. It was here that Susan began working in higher education, as a secretary at the University of Colorado-Boulder, where she met her second husband. During her 19 years at UC-Boulder, Susan advanced in her career, becoming the lead administrator for the Chemistry Department. It was also here that Susan took dance classes again, with some of the best in the field. Susan and her husband moved to Las Vegas after nearly 25 years in Boulder, where she quickly found a community to express herself in dance.
On March 15, 1981, Andrew Lazarus interviewed Suzette Cox (b. 1945 in San Diego, California) about her experiences of living in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cox talks briefly about her move from California to Las Vegas, her employment at two police agencies and a local newspaper company, and her family. The two also discuss racial discrimination issues in Las Vegas and Cox’s experiences in sports as she was going to school in Las Vegas. Cox later describes how the Strip influenced her life and move to the city, the crime rate in Las Vegas and Nevada and how it related to tourism, and her recollection of the effects of the above-ground atomic testing.
On March 1, 1979, Lance Cooper interviewed Suzette Cox (b. 1945 in San Diego, California) about her experiences living in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cox talks briefly about her career history in working at the Las Vegas Sun, as a deputy sheriff, and eventually as a secretary at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She also talks about the various parts of Las Vegas in which she has lived since moving to the city in 1953. The two also discuss the Las Vegas Strip, gambling, recreational activities, atomic testing, the Mormon Fort, and how Las Vegas has changed over the years.