Oral history interview with Mike Smith conducted by Claytee D. White on August 17, 2018 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Smith discusses his early life in Santa Clara, California and his early interest in art. He describes the first drawings he did, drawing political cartoons, and drawing about controversial ideas. Smith remembers moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1983 and becoming the cartoonist for the Las Vegas Sun. Smith describes his process in drawing political cartoons, working alongside Hank Greenspun, and newspaper syndication. Lastly, Smith explains the meaning of some of his cartoons.
Printed text on front reads: "Youngsters Join Procession -- A scene of the Procession with the Scrolls of the Torah in which children of the Religious School participated. On the pulpit platform from left are Cantor Herman Kinnory, Hank Greenspun, Max Goot (holding the Scroll of the Law), Melvin S. Moss, president of the center, and Dr. Bernard Cohen. Mrs. Ivan Eisenberg, right, led Sunday School Class in the Scroll procession."
Jane Greenspun Gale-actor, activist, writer, magazine publisher, philanthropist, and farmer- has filled her life with accomplishments such as the Animal Foundation and Springs Preserve. It has also been a life filled with adventure - from “looking for John Lennon” during her time living and studying acting in London to learning to raise chickens on the acres of the Gilcrease Farm she owns with husband and photographer Jeff Gale. Everyone calls her Janie. Born Jane in 1949, she is the third of four children born to community leaders Barbara and Hank Greenspun. In this oral history, Janie captures the fun of growing up in Las Vegas under the watching eye of Hank. As a teen she and her friends cruised Fremont Street. Several years later she wanted to be arrested protesting the Atomic Test Site, when Hank diverted her into reporting about the event instead. Her Jewish foundation was at Temple Beth Sholom, where her parents were among the founding members. As the Jewish population grew, the tastes in synagogues grew to reflect the change. When Janie’s children preferred the Reform approach at Congregation Ner Tamid, a new family tradition began. She is proud of her background and shares loving stories of time spent with her grandparents as a child and pride in the heroic and dramatic story behind the naming of Hank Greenspun Plaza in Israel. Even her love story with Jeff is a tale made for movies. It unfolds in this engaging oral history interview along with anecdotes that are plucked from her personal history and preserve a reflection of growing up in Las Vegas, one of the Greenspun family of local fame.
From the Marie and James B. McMillan Photograph Collection (PH-00334). Clockwise from left: Woodrow Wilson (NAACP), Lubertha M. Warden Johnson, Bob Bailey (NAACP), Clesse Turner (County Commissioner), Butch W.E. Leypoldt (Sheriff), Hank Greenspun (Las Vegas Sun), James B. McMillan (President of the NAACP), Oran Gragson (Mayor), Dr. Charles I. West, Ray K. Sheffer (Chief of Police), Art Olsen (County Commissioner), possibly J. David Hoggard, and Donald Clark (NAACP).
Three photographs of various people at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas, Nevada. Going clockwise, from left to right: handwritten text under the top image: "an easy Halloween party"; handwritten text under the bottom right image: "Dennis Crosby, Bob Hope, and Cecil Simmons getting ready to tee off"; and handwritten text under the left image: "Jack Doyle, Hank Greenspun, and the New Years baby Jerry Mack."