Oral history interview with Verilee Shelbourne conducted by Mark Simons on March 07, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Shelbourne discusses her personal history in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shelbourne discusses prominent figures who have visited Las Vegas, her personal and political involvements, and nuclear weapons tests. Shelbourne also discusses how Las Vegas has changed.
Oral history interview with Ron Slack conducted by John Wolf on February 19, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Slack discusses arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1955 in search of job opportunities. He then recalls being drafted into the United States Army. He ends by describing his work as a slot manager at the Golden Nugget and the duties associated with the job.
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.
Oral history interview with Richard E. Strahlem conducted by Jacqueline R. Hall on March 12, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Strahlem discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1958 in search of job opportunities. Strahlem then describes the local businesses that he worked with and recalls the competitive nature of gambling. Strahlem later discusses the construction of McCarren International Airport and the Las Vegas Convention Center.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.