Oral history interview with Mike Devere conducted by an unnamed interviewer on September 24, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Mike Devere discusses atomic testing, the Las Vegas Strip, recreational activities, and cultural changes in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Elizabeth Casper conducted by Adrienne Revell on March 05, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Casper discusses Las Vegas, Nevada’s history of education customs, discrimination in busing, art competitions, and religion from 1946 to 1976.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Abe Schiller conducted by Perry Kaufman on April 25, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Schiller discusses the history of the Las Vegas Strip. He also discusses his career as the head of publicity for the Flamingo Las Vegas. Lastly, Schiller discusses working with various stars and entertainers in order to draw business to the hotel.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Herb Jeffries conducted by Cork Proctor on 2009 May 5 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. In the interview Jeffries discusses his life as a singer and actor, entertaining in Las Vegas, Nevada where Frank Sinatra offered support when Jeffries encountered racial discrimination. He also talks about his life after retirement, his family, being an America, his military service, and his relationship with Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington as a young performer.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Richard "Dick" Richards conducted by his son, Rick Richards, on February 21, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Richards describes his own personal history and the history of Las Vegas, Nevada. Most notably, Richards describes his time working as a dealer in casinos owned by the mob and his interactions with individuals involved with organized crime.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Norman Wood conducted by Karen Amell on March 01, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In his interview, Wood discusses his work with the Nevada Department of Wildlife and his interests in biology.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Alexander Grayson conducted by David Glasco on March 15, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. This interview covers the black experience in Las Vegas, Nevada. Grayson also discusses prejudice, racism, education, and entertainment. Additionally, he recalls relocating to Las Vegas from North Carolina with his family when he was a child.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Marjorie McManus conducted by an unknown interviewer on October 24, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, McManus discusses the history and differences betweeen Boulder City, Nevada and Las Vegas, Nevada. She talks about the differences in culture, education, and stances on political issues.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Helen Smith conducted by Claytee D. White on February 20, 2007 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Smith discusses her personal history and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1956. She then talks about her employment at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital and the change to University Medical Center (UMC). Smith recalls an air conditioning business she co-owned with her husband at the time, and the activities she did as a member of Daughters of the Nile, a women's community service organization. Lastly, she discusses education and the general changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ernest Jackson conducted by Larry E. Cooper on March 1, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Jackson discusses his experiences in the Westside as a Black Las Vegas, Nevada resident. Jackson discusses the lack of property buyers on the Westside and his goals of improving the Westside by building on the land. Jackson also discusses his youth as a baseball star for Las Vegas High School in the 1950s.
Archival Collection