Oral history interview with Maurine Swarts conducted by Teresa McGhie on May 01, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Swarts discusses her personal history and Southern Nevada history. Swarts discusses the crash of Carole Lombard's plane, above ground nuclear tests, and her recreational interests. Swarts also describes how Las Vegas, Nevada has changed.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with David Mills conducted by Risa Rosenstein on March 07, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Mills discusses the gaming industry in Las Vegas, Nevada and recalls the growth of gambling throughout the city. Mills then explains the origins of slot machines and the increase in number of slot machines inside casinos in Las Vegas. Lastly, Mills describes the technological advancement of slot machines.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Lonnie Pittman conducted by Beverly Williams on March 16, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Pittman, an African American man, describes the treatment and living conditions of African Americans in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1950s. Pittman also discusses the job opportunities available to African Americans, segregation, and the quality of schooling available to African American children at the time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jack White and William Pyborne conducted by Jan Weiler on March 26, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, White and Pyborne describe their lives as cowboys in Nevada, mainly focusing on how life was in rural Nevada. White describes breaking and selling horses, leading search parties on Mt. Charleston, and doing stunts at the Wild West shows in Bonnie Springs.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Guy Roark conducted by Patricia Elliott on March 10, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Roark discusses changes in Las Vegas, Nevada, specifically the expansion of downtown Las Vegas. Roark then describes the above ground atomic tests and recalls the magnitude of a particular explosion. Lastly, Roark discusses his visits to northern Nevada and describes the nightlife in Reno, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Raymond Roberts conducted by his wife, Genevieve Roberts, on March 13, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Roberts describes his career as a musician and as a draftsman. As a draftsman, Roberts designed schools and houses for architect Julius Gabriel. Roberts also helped design road improvements and community buildings for Clark County, Nevada as a civil engineer.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charles Adams (born 1930 in Juliet, Illinois) conducted by Robert Melcer on February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. The two discuss various topics, including Adams’s move to Southern Nevada, the growth of Las Vegas, the educational system, the growth of the English Department at the university, cultural and recreational activities for locals, raising a family in Las Vegas, and prostitution in Southern Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Georgia Adras (b. 1916) conducted by Robin L. Hayes on March 02, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Adras relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada from Farmington, Utah in 1936. This interview covers education, religion, ad raising a family in Nevada. During the interview Adras also discusses the building of the Boulder Dam, road conditions, grocery shopping in the early days, and the Strip.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Thelma Aiken (formerly Thelma C. Liggitt b. 1899) conducted by Patrica Gaydosh on April 05, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Born in Osceola, Iowa, Aiken discusses moving to Henderson in 1942. Aiken also offers in-depth descriptions of housing, schools, early above ground atomic tests, gambling, and the closing down of the Basic Magnesium (BMI) Plant in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Judith Ann Allaire conducted by Tracye Ann Collins on March 10, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Allaire discusses her education, growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada, and politics in Nevada. Allaire also discusses the various job titles she has held, such as medical social worker, secretary, cocktail waitress, drug counselor, dancer, and teacher.
Archival Collection