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Oral history interview with Grant Snow conducted by Elizabeth Nelson Patrick on November 16, 1982 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Snow discusses arriving to St. Thomas, Nevada in 1925. Snow also describes teaching in St. Thomas, the significance of mines to the region, and increase of local businesses.
Archival Collection
The Chip Chat Newsletters and Catalogues date from 1994 to 2011 and contain Chip Chat issues 1, 2, and 4 through 49. Chip Chat was a newsletter produced by Douglas Saito and circulated throughout the gambling chip collectors' community. The newsletters were self-published by Saito. Generally three copies were produced a year, in some years there was more content, in others less. The newsletters focused on selling chips between collectors, tips for becoming a sucessful collector, the history of chips, and the state of the hobby.
Archival Collection
Dayvid Figler (1967 - ) is the quiet boy who became an insightful and creative contributor to the local culture of Las Vegas. The oldest of Barbara and Meyer Figler?s three children, he was four years old when the family station wagon reached Las Vegas in 1971. They moved in with Uncle Izzy (aka Big Irish) Figler for a few months. Having the ?juice,? Dayvid?s father soon became a Pan dealer on the Strip. As the family grew, Barbara eventually immersed her energies in her children?s activities, Hadassah and Temple Beth Sholom. In this oral history, Dayvid also recalls his awkward, but incredibly interesting youth, his bar mitzvah at Temple Beth Sholom, and path to a successful career as a criminal defense attorney. He also talks about embracing Las Vegas as his home, owning a home in John S. Park neighborhood and mentions a number of literary depictions of Las Vegas that he admires. Dayvid describes growing up a ?casino kid? who lived in an apartment near the Riviera Hotel. This, in addition to his slight stature and academic brilliance, may have set him apart from many of his childhood peers. He graduated from Valley High School at the age of 16 and by the age of 23 he was a rising star in the legal world. He looks back with appreciation to his list of mentors who encouraged him along the way. Dayvid is also a local favorite as an essayist and poet. For a number of years he could be heard on KNPR/NPR. He has been a performer in hundreds of productions that featured his comic wit and writings, from Lollapalooza to Tom and Jerry?s on Maryland Parkway.
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Oral history interview with John Boyle conducted by Meghan Boyle on March 14, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Boyle discusses the changes in air travel over the years and his profession as a pilot. He also discuss improvements in Las Vegas, Nevada roads over the years, the rise in crime rates, and the impacts on changes in the economy.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jane Overy conducted by Claytee D. White on August 17 and December 20, 2023 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Overy discusses her museum work, early life, and many civic projects she has participated in over the years. Overy grew up in Kansas, where she spent time playing pool (billards) and spending time outdoors. After high school, she joined the United States Air Force and served in Alaska where there were two women, each with a private guard. Additionally, she worked as a newspaper reporter and as an entertainer who sang around the world. Overy served in the military for four years. In 1981, she moved to Nevada and desert climate for the improvement of her overall health. Over the years, her work and civic projects connected her with Senator Harry Reid, the Walking Box Ranch, the Searchlight Nugget Casino, and many other experiences.
Archival Collection