Newsletter from Congregation Ner Tamid, March 2015

Oral history interviews with Michael Green conducted by Barbara Tabach on February 26, 2018 and April 04, 2018 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In the first interview, Green discusses his family background and growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. He talks about his Jewish ancestry and the significance of religious communities in Las Vegas. In the second interview, Green discusses the growth of the Jewish community in Las Vegas, and the history of the Jewish heritage in Southern Nevada.

Oral history interview with Casiano Corpus Jr. conducted by Cecilia Winchell and Stefani Evans on February 14, 2023 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Corpus Jr. details a difficult childhood in the Philippines, where society is highly socioeconomically stratified. He recalls his parents working a number of jobs to support their large family, and as soon as he finished his primary schooling, he also started working in construction. When his father was finally petitioned by his uncle to move to the United States, Corpus was at first reluctant to go, since he had a familiar life in the Philippines, but has come to love the United States and the life he created for himself. Immediately after moving to the United States, their family landed in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Corpus began working a number of jobs. He started out as a busboy at a Chinese restaurant before deciding that he wanted to work in a casino and moved to Union Plaza. His current job is as a porter at Palace Station, where he has been for the past 31 years. He has also been working to unionize Palace Station and Station casinos with the Culinary Union for the past twelve years. He talks about the hunger strike he organized, why he organizes with no fear, and what he hopes to see out of his efforts throughout the interview.

On March 2, 1980, collector David Mowrey interviewed Barbara Millington (born July 3rd, 1937 in Oak Creek, Colorado) at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada. In this interview, Mrs. Millington discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with her family and working various jobs including at Vegas Village and becoming a bookkeeper at a construction firm. She also speaks about the changes she has seen in Las Vegas, such as how casinos were when she first came here compared to how they are now. She ends the interview talking about the need for Las Vegas to find industry outside of gaming. She discusses the need for young people to come back after going away to college to improve the city.

At the time of this interview, Shecky Greene (1926 - ) is energetically snuggled into his modest Henderson home. His wit and signature sense of humor are at in full swing. Shecky sees a joke in every nook and cranny of a conversation and seamlessly spins the moment with a tune or voice characterization. A native of Chicago, his given name is Fred Sheldon Greenfield. His Jewish parents, Bessie and Carl Greenfield raised Shecky and his older two brothers in a secular but kosher setting. He recalls honing his humor as a child and creating his path to a decades-long career in comedy lounges and in film. His narrative glitters with names of Las Vegas entertainment history. He also talks about his passion for the St. Judes Ranch in Boulder City.

On February 5, 1975, James M. Greene interviewed Mrs. Patricia Hesse (born 1895 in Beaumont, Texas) in her home in Las Vegas, Nevada. The two discuss Hesse’s personal history and the general social life of early Las Vegas. Hesse also shares experiences that she has had with her friends while living in Las Vegas.