Oral history interview with Edwin "Tony" Wuehle conducted by David Schwartz on December 21, 2006 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Wuehle discusses his early life in Hettinger, North Dakota and his career as an educator. He recalls his first experiences playing poker, participating in home poker games while living in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and using a pseudonym as a player. Wuehle then talks about writing a book, founding the Gamblers Book Club Press in Las Vegas, Nevada, and writing for religious publications. Later, Wuehle explains the tension between participating in religion and playing poker. He describes Las Vegas poker rooms during the 1960s and 1970s and shares his thoughts on online poker. Lastly, Wuehle discusses why casinos use prop players and his efforts to organize a poker tournament to raise funds for Bay de Noc Community College in Michigan.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mach and Arlene Manuel conducted by Kristel Peralta and Stefani Evans on June 28, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Mach and Arlene Manuel share the story of their overseas courtship and how they came to be together in the United States. Arlene was raised in the Philippines while Mach was born and raised in San Diego, California. Mach describes his visit to the Philippines as an adult when he began to connect more to his Filipino heritage. The couple shares how they dated for 13 years before Arlene moved to San Diego, and how the Manuel family came to live in Las Vegas in 2017 to pursue Arlene's nursing career. Arlene and Mach talk about cultural differences and discrimination, emigration and diversity, religion and identity, and Filipino food, among other topics.
Subjects discussed include: Manila, Philippines; discrimination of class; and anti-Asian hate.
Archival Collection
Ron Lawrence is one of the busiest people in the gay community, so I want him to know how much I appreciate his reserving time for me so that I could complete this oral history interview. The importance of his work toward the well-being of the gay community in Las Vegas cannot be measured, and much of what he's accomplished and otherwise made possible will live long after he leaves us. With Ron's consent to this interview, our knowledge of Nevada's gay history is greatly enriched and our record preserved.
Text
Oral history interview with Edward Baca conducted by Claytee D. White on January 28, 2016 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Baca opens his interview describing his parents and his youth in Wyoming. He then discusses moving to Bryce, Utah in the 1940s, his career in coal mining, and the process of removing coal from the mine. Baca describes his brief time working for the federal government, going to trade school to learn morse code, and working for the railroad. He then talks about switching careers to to work as an air conditioning insulator, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1969. Baca then describes how he found religion, his efforts to learn more about Christianity, and forming a ministry where he preaches. He discusses his Christian radio program, his singing ministry, and his efforts to save a Christian radio station from closing. Lastly, Baca discusses his religious music albums, touring in a religious music group, and faith healing.
Archival Collection