Oral history interview with Diane and Pat Clary conducted by Claytee D. White on May 20, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, the Clarys discuss the history of Las Vegas, Nevada, their personal histories, and provide an overview of Las Vegas during the 1950s and 1960s. Diane Clary describes working for various casinos as a teenager and her father's work as a casino chef. Pat Clary describes his history and involvement with the musical arts in Las Vegas. The couple talk about the nuclear weapons tests performed at the Nevada Test Site and the prevalence of organized crime in Las Vegas' casinos before the arrival of Howard Hughes. Pat Clary also discusses his involvement in Nevada politics as a Democrat and his career as a lawyer.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Clara Alvarez conducted by Norma Flores and Claytee D. White on October 25, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Brian "Paco" Alvarez also participated in the interview. Clara Alvarez describes her family background and her childhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She recalls dropping out of high school to work, memories of early jobs, and why she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1966. She secured her first position at the Sands Hotel as a maid during a time when that job position was held almost exclusively by Black women. Alvarez describes her time working at the Sands Hotel, and recalls meeting Frank Sinatra and his wife. After working as a maid, she was recruited to deal games in clubs and casinos, and was the first woman to deal at the Las Vegas Club. Then, Alvarez explains the changes in racial discrimination in the city, and says she never felt discriminated against in Las Vegas. Lastly, she talks about moving back to Florida and what she did while living there.
Archival Collection
The Cal McKinley Collection of Tune-Dex Cards spans from 1943 to 1950 and contains a collection of index cards called Tune-Dex Cards that provide the lyrics and melodies of popular tunes from the late 1940s.
Archival Collection
The Joe Williams Music Scores date from 1940 to 1991 and comprise the handwritten musical scores of American jazz musician Joe Williams, born Joseph Goreed. Many of the musical scores are Williams' original arrangements.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gene Noboru Nakanishi conducted by Ayrton Yamaguchi, Cecilia Winchell, and Stefani Evans on April 2, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Gene Nakanishi shares his detailed family history from both his father's and his mother's families. He discusses his paternal grandfather's work on the Union Pacific Railroad, the family's internment in Wyoming during World War II, and his father's release from the camp by joining the United States Army Signal Corps. Nakanishi also talks of his maternal grandfather who was of the Bushido ("warrior") class in Osaka, Japan, and his grandfather's work with Christian missionaries. He shares details of his mother's restaurant employment in Los Angeles and her opening of Osaka Japanese Bistro in Las Vegas in 1969. Nakanishi also talks about being born and raised in Las Vegas, his musical schooling at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and his graduate education at Harvard University. He discusses his work as a band teacher for the Clark County School District, his involvement in the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program band camp, and his interests in jazz music.
Archival Collection
The Antonio Morelli Photograph Collection documents the professional and private life of the Sands Hotel Orchestra conductor, Antonio Morelli, from 1932 to approximately 1970. The majority of the photographs show events, Copa Room showgirls, and the orchestra at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1950s and 1960s. Subjects depicted in the photographs include a Copa girl with an atomic bomb crown, Joe W. Brown's Horseshoe million dollar display at Binion's Hotel and Casino, and Antonio Morelli performing with Jimmy Durante and Carl Cohen.
Archival Collection
The Antonio Morelli Papers include materials spanning from the 1910s to the 1970s that chronicle the professional and private life of longtime Sands Hotel and Casino orchestra conductor and musical director, Antonio Morelli and his wife Helen. The collection includes snapshots from Morelli's early life, three scrapbooks, one box of sound recording tapes, and a box of slides from Thailand. The collection also documents Morelli’s efforts to provide classical music concerts for the Las Vegas, Nevada community and his involvement with the Guardian Angel Church on the Las Vegas Strip.
Archival Collection
This collection is comprised of the personal papers of noted Las Vegas entertainment writer, producer, and critic Bill Willard, which date from 1887 to 1999. It contains material on his father's theater and political involvements as well as Willard's early childhood and high school years. His time in the United States Army is chronicled by the editorials and correspondence he wrote. His papers trace his continued involvement in writing, entertainment, and art which culminated in his direction of the Arnold Shaw Popular Music Research Center. The collection also includes pictures of his artwork, articles he wrote for various newspapers and magazines, scripts, skits, jokes, awards, over 700 audio cassette recorded interviews done for the "Rap with the Artist" series, and personal memorabilia.
Archival Collection
The Ken Tiffany Music Scores (approximately 1956-1999) comprise a collection of published sheet music and original handwritten scores composed by Tiffany. The material also includes several pictures of Tiffany.
Archival Collection
The Liberace Fan Memorabilia Collection (1944-2004) consists of fliers, brochures, newspaper articles, show programs, and collectibles chronicling the life and career of famed Las Vegas, Nevada entertainer Liberace. Materials from the Liberace Foundation, various fan clubs, and the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas comprise the bulk of the collection.
Archival Collection