Oral history interview with Elinor Horden conducted by Valerie Fujii on February 13, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Horden discusses local entertainment in the 1950s, as well as the social and environmental changes that have occurred in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Virginia Houser conducted by Karen Reed on March 20, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Houser discusses her move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1954 and the developments and changes that she has observed in the city. Houser also discusses the entertainment that Las Vegas, Nevada offered at the time, and surrounding areas, including Lake Mead and Mount Charleston, Nevada. Houser then discusses some of the first casinos that opened on the Las Vegas Strip and on Fremont Street.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Russel Howard conducted by James W. Howard on January 10, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Howard recalls being transferred to Las Vegas, Nevada for work in 1947 and how impressed he was by the number of celebrities from the movie and entertainment industry that frequented Las Vegas in the early 1950s. He also discusses the expansion of the Las Vegas Strip and how rapidly the number of hotels grew.
Archival Collection
The Sands Hotel Public Relations Records document the history of the Las Vegas casino and hotel from 1952 to 1977. It is comprised primarily of photographs, mostly 8x10 black-and-white prints, color prints, and transparencies. Most were produced by the Las Vegas News Bureau. Also included are newspaper clippings, brochures, press releases, and inter-office memos relating to the advertising and promotion department. Materials also include reels of 16mm film of the Sands opening, various shows and events including Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin's "Summit Meeting" performances with the Rat Pack, and footage from various television productions filmed at the Sands.
Archival Collection
The Harrah’s Entertainment Corporate Archives (dating from 1811 to 2004 with the bulk of the materials dating from 1940 to 2000) contain the promotional and corporate files of Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. and its predecessors, as well as Bill Harrah’s personal papers and card game collection. The materials were compiled and developed as a corporate archive by Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.’s Corporate Communications Department. The collection is primarily comprised of casino and employee periodicals, reports, manuals, promotional files, ephemera, and newspaper articles that document Bill Harrah’s casinos in Reno, Nevada and Lake Tahoe as well as Harrah’s Inc., Holiday Inns, Inc., Holiday Corporation, the Promus Companies, and Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. Also included are photographs that document the construction of Harrah’s properties, business operations, the people who worked and performed at Harrah’s properties, and Bill Harrah’s automobile collection. The collection also contains Bill Harrah’s collection of playing cards and card games. Also included are photographs of the Harrah family.
Archival Collection
The Stardust Resort and Casino Records (1950-2006) contain materials of the Stardust Resort and Casino, which operated in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1958 to 2006. The collection contains materials on events hosted by the Stardust, the resort and casino's corporate history, interior and exterior building design, and performers. The collection also includes photographs, negatives, and slides that document the history of the resort and casino. Newspaper and magazine clippings, advertisement and marketing materials related to the Stardust's venues, shows, entertainers, and events are also present in the collection. The collection also contains a significant amount of audiovisual material, including VHS tapes, audio cassettes, optical discs, film reels, and cassette tapes containing footage and audio recordings of Stardust show promotions, news broadcasting clips, interviews, and commercials featuring the Stardust.
Archival Collection
The Willard H. George Furrier, Ltd. Scrapbooks are comprised primarily of three leatherbound scrapbooks containing black-and-white and sepia toned photographs taken from the 1920s through 1955. The scrapbooks feature actresses from Hollywood, California wearing furs designed and created by furrier Willard H. George. Actresses of note include Lucille Ball, Rita Hayworth, and Greta Garbo.
Archival Collection
The Carmella Rickman Papers (1955-1999) document Rickman’s career as a burlesque dancer as well as her later life in Las Vegas, Nevada. She performed primarily in Washington, D.C. and along the east coast of the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. Materials include promotional photographs of Rickman and newspaper and magazine clippings about her performances, as well as photographs and promotional material for other burlesque dancers. The collection includes one beaded costume worn by Rickman. It also includes photographs of Rickman’s life in the 1990s in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
The Jerry Jackson Papers, 1953 to 2009, contain materials related to Jackson's career in entertainment as a director, producer, choreographer, writer, lyricist, and costume designer. Jackson's work on
Archival Collection
The Hal Belfer Papers chronicle the professional career of producer, choreographer, and writer Harold (Hal) Belfer (1935-2004) and consist of general materials regarding his work in Hollywood, California and Las Vegas, Nevada. One of the scrapbooks contains photographs of famous personalities from his early work in movies and theater. Also included are newspaper clippings, scripts, sheet music, arrangements, and photocopies of "Fabulous Las Vegas" and "Ken's Spotlight on Las Vegas," where Belfer had made notations.
Archival Collection