Oral history interview with Leslie H. Smith conducted by Claytee D. White on November 02, 2017 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Smith discusses his life in Las Vegas, Nevada. He recalls anecdotes of the city during the 1950s and 1960s, growing up near downtown Las Vegas, and the influence of organized crime. Smith talks about starting a construction contracting firm and changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Nathalie Martinez conducted by Rodrigo Vazquez and Barbara Tabach on June 24, 2021 for Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Nathalie Martinez, one of the original members of the Latinx Voices project team, dicusses her personal history and the history of her parents who immigrated to the United States from Colombia and El Salvador. She shares her educational background and experiences working as an interviewer for the Latinx Voices project before its culmination and her graduation in 2021. Nathalie also talks about her work on the project's podcast and her work linguistically translating the interviews from Spanish to English.
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Oral history interview with Alan D. Dennis conducted by David Schwartz on April 20, 2017 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Dennis discusses the opening of the Boulder Station Hotel and Casino in 1994. He talks about the gaming industry in Las Vegas, Nevada, casino gaming, and casino customer services. Dennis recalls anecdotes as a valet driver and changes in valet services.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ethel Matteucci conducted by Tom Matteucci on March 10, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Ethel talks about being chased out of Mexico for being Mormon colonizers and later arriving to Nevada. Ethel later talks about the first casinos that were built in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Roy Brown conducted by Rick Godwin on May 21, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. During this interview Brown discusses his career as a hairstylist, celebrities he has styled, and the growth of the haircutting industry in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with F. Andrew Taylor conducted by Claytee White on September 30, 2013 for the West Charleston Neighborhoods--an Oral History Project of Ward 1. Taylor discusses his career as a Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter and the evolution of Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1990s.
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Oral history interview with Steve Hobbs conducted by Howie Basuk on February 17, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Hobbs describes the different sports he was in and includes the various rewards and championships he accomplished. Hobbs also talks about becoming general manager of Olympian Incorporated.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with David L. Weide conducted by Claytee D. White on May 31, 2007 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Weide discusses his career as a geologist, teaching geology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the history of the University of Las Vegas, Nevada. Weide begins by explaining the history behind the name "Blue Diamond Village," how he came to study geology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the employment process at UNLV. He describes the geological history of Nevada, hosting his own folk music program on the local radio station, KNPR, and his opinions on UNLV's intention to become a "Research One" institution.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Emma Oliver conducted by Jan Marshall on March 19, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Oliver discusses her personal history and the history of Las Vegas, Nevada. Oliver discusses how Las Vegas has changed, casinos in Las Vegas, the Mormon Church, and the race riots at a shopping center in North Las Vegas in 1968. Oliver also discusses race relations between white and African American children in schools.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dennis Ritz conducted by Claytee D. White on September 29, 2017 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Ritz discusses his early life in rural Pennsylvania. He recalls his initial interest in entertainment, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1965, and becoming an entertainment director for hotels and casinos. Ritz talks about the influence of organized crime in Las Vegas, and the various shows he worked on.
Archival Collection