Oral history interviews with Will Vicuna conducted by Stefani Evans on June 23 and July 3, 2023 for Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In the first interview, Vicuna goes into detail about his family's history, and his parents' life in Quezon, Philippines. When his brother sent Will a postcard of the newly opened Hilton Hotel and Casino, Will decided he would move to Las Vegas as soon as he completed his psychology degree in 1970. He concludes the first interview discussing his employment at the Hilton and the Flamingo Hilton, his 1972 marriage, and his 1973 UNLV graduation in Hotel Administration. In the second interview, Vicuna talks about his wife, Felicidad, who graduated from University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila in Medical Technology. He shares details about her career, and then talks about his own career in hospitality, working in a number of Las Vegas hotels including the Hilton and Flamingo Hilton, Palace Station, Peppermill Mesquite, and the Golden Eagle in Pahrump. Throughout the interviews, Vicuna discusses family reunions in Las Vegas, shopping for Filipino food, and eating at various restaurants around town. Digital audio available; no transcript available.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Wilford "Witt" C. Olive conducted by Gordon R. Brusso on April 13, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Olive discusses local live entertainment venues during the 1930s and 1940s in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Adele Baratz conducted by Claytee White on March 19, 2007 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Baratz discusses the early Jewish community in Las Vegas, Nevada, including how education, shopping and restaurants such as Al's Bar were like. She also discusses how medical care, Helldorado, and early hotels advanced.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alfred Baker conducted by Blanche Uekling on April 04, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Baker discusses Las Vegas, Nevada general history, including the Boulder (Hoover) Dam.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Tom Wright conducted by Claytee White on February 14, 2005 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas History Project. Wright opens his interview by discussing his family history and his education. He then describes what the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) was like in the 1960s and his father's experiences working at the newly established university. Wright then recalls his own experiences at UNLV in the history department as a "Latin Americanist" professor and dean. He also discusses Latin American history and his dissertation about Chilean politics.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Friel conducted by James Friel on February 29, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Friel discusses his knowledge of his family’s personal history in Tonopah, Nevada during the 1940s, the growth of railroads, and population changes.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Darrel Waldthausen conducted by Gretchen Schroeder on May 10, 2008 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Waldthausen discusses his personal history and arriving to Blue Diamond, Nevada in 1946. He describes living in the Blue Diamond village and attending the Blue Diamond school. Waldthausen then talks about the operations that were done at the mines and recalls the separate village near the mines. Lastly, he discusses moving to Guatemala in 1972 after buying real estate and building a home.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Virgil Brownlee conducted by Patricia van Betten on May 02, 2012 for the History of Blue Diamond Village in Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Brownlee discusses his personal history and living at the Blue Diamond Village, Nevada in the late 1930s. Brownlee describes the homes that were built in the Village, joining the U.S. Air Force in 1949, and living in Bonnie Springs, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ivan S. Larkin conducted by Mary Anne French on April 05, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Larkin discusses moving from Utah with his wife to Nevada to start a family together. Larkin talks about living in Las Vegas, Nevada and his career as a plumber.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Zoe Allison conducted by Debra Ruth on February 21, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Allison discusses her career with Central Telephone Company, working at the Sahara Hotel as a switchboard operator, and owning a dress shop on Fremont Street. She also talks about notable locations such as Craig Road Speedway, Silver Slipper Race Track, Nellis Air Base and Mount Charleston, and the politics of prostitution in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection