Oral history interview with Ashok Mirchandani conducted by Kristel Peralta, Cecilia Winchell, and Stefani Evans on March 11, 2021 for the Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Mirchandani discusses his early life in Kolkata, West Bengal, India and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2002. He talks about Indian traditions he celebrates and Indian festivals in the United States. Mirchandani recalls his employment with the State of Nevada, becoming the Director of the Department of Business and Industry, and advocating for small businesses. Later, Mirchandani describes the importance of minorities in politics, engaging in policy making, and the need for Asian Americans in public services. Lastly, Mirchandani discusses the model minority myth, developing the Nevada Home Retention Program, and emphasizes children's mental health.
Information about the Kings Row Trailer Park sign that sits at 3660 Boulder Hwy. Site address: 3660 Boulder Hwy Sign owner: Kings Row Trlr Pk Inc Sign details: This property is still functioning as a mobile home park along Boulder Highway. They are one of the largest RV parks in Southern Nevada and within a close distance to downtown and Boulder Station Casino. They advertise that they have some of the best deals in town as well as about 200 spaces available. They have been operating in Las Vegas for more than 60 years. Sign condition: 5 - in great condition, well maintained Sign form: Roadside pole with a message center and directional elements Sign-specific description: This sign is made up of many different small cabinets. The top is a painted crown that is plastic and backlit. This sits on top of a red minimal arrow sign that points to the direction of the trailer park. This sign has yellow incandescent light bulbs lining the edge with "Kings Row" painted in white paint on the top of the sign, "Trailer Park" painted in bold yellow text in the center, and the text is outlined with neon tubes. The cabinet under this is a long, red trapezoid with "OVERNITES" painted on it in bold white text that is also outlined with neon tubes. Under this is what appears to be an iron flourish on top of another plastic backlit sign. This sign as "RV SPACES" painted on it in bold red text over yellow paint, "INDOOR HOMES TRAILERS CAMPING" in bold red text against a white background, and "MOBILE HOME SPACES POOL REC HALL" in bold red text against a yellow background. Under this is another iron flourish. Following that sign is a plastic backlit reader board. Under that is a plastic backlit sign with "CAMPERS" in white text and underlined against a red background. Finally, there is another plastic sign in the shape of an arrow with "Kings Row" in a light blue script, "ENTRANCE " in red, and "TRAILER PARK" in black inscribed on it. Sign - type of display: Neon, incandescent, backlit Sign - media: Steel and Plastic Sign - non-neon treatments: Paint Sign environment: This property sits along Boulder High way and near many other RV rental businesses. It is also down the street from Boulder Station Hotel & Casino. Sign - date of installation: Possibly c. 1962 Sign - date of redesign/move: Current sign not the original, which was a long rectangular shape cabinet Sign - thematic influences: This sign is very unique to the RV park. To emphasize the "Kings Row" theme, the crown perched on the top of the sign is designed to help with this. Much of this sign is used to tell motorists and pedestrians what the property has. Sign - artistic significance: This sign is elaborate. There are many different elements to this sign overall. This sign is that there is a crown to signify the royal theme of this property, possibly as a way to differentiate from other RV park signs around town. Survey - research locations: Kings Row website, assessor's website Surveyor: Lauren Vaccaro Survey - date completed: 2017-09-14 Sign keywords: Neon; Incandescent; Backlit; Steel; Plastic; Paint; Pole sign; Roadside; Directional; Reader board
Oral history interview with George Levine conducted by Cynthia Cicero on February 11, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
George discusses moving to Las Vegas and working as a waiter in the Copa Room at the Sands Hotel. He talks about working for Jack Entratter and Howard Hughes and describes the working conditions of his various positions in the Copa Room, including maître d. George also shares stories of different entertainers that would frequent the establishment.
Oral history interview with Eleanor Walker conducted by Claytee D. White on June 03, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Eleanor Walker discusses serving as President of the Las Vegas, Nevada Chapter of the NAACP in the early 1970s and holding several jobs throughout her lifetime, being among the first black individuals to hold a position in many of the companies for which she worked. She also talks about how she was a pioneer as a black woman in the Las Vegas community.
The Bella Tyktin Stern papers (approximately 1930-1997) document the life and travels of Las Vegas, Nevada resident Bella Tyktin Stern. The collection focuses on the trips she took within the state of Nevada as a guide for Nevada Discovery Tours, featuring travel itineraries and travel brochures. The collection also includes biographical materials, such as personal correspondence, legal documents, postcards sent to Stern from her Aunt Rose, and an untranslated copy of Stern's unpublished autobiography written in German, Unser Kampf.
Courtney Mooney is the Urban Design Coordinator for the City of Las Vegas. Her job description includes a knowledge of historic preservation, which is her passion. In this interview she shares her professional and personal thoughts about John S. Park Neighborhood. She moved to John S. Park in 2002. As a professional she explains that "how I look at preserving neighborhoods or buildings, is more of a community preservation, not saving the individual building for the individual building's sake..." Courtney offers a big picture of the neighborhood's past, present and future. John S. Park, like so many other Las Vegas neighborhoods, was built during World War II and has been affected by history of segregation and the wave of changing demographics, and the work that went into the plan and requirements to be designated a historic neighborhood. Courtney provides a summary of the story about the land, its ownership and what lead to the foundation of the neighborhood: from John S. Park to George Franklin and John Law, to Mary Dutton and explains how the proposed development of the land differed from other communities being built to FHA standards and specifics that declared Las Vegas a Defense City in the 1940s. She lists the factors that made the neighborhood a logical and important target for the historic designation, a small neighborhood tucked away, that is "a snapshot of the types of people that were coming here," filled with community leaders, entrepreneurs, blue-collar and casino workers. She also mentions about the missed opportunity of the Las Vegas High School neighborhood for preservation while supporting the John S. Park designation.
Costume Details: Showgirl in sleeveless vest in spotted-pony print with fringe across chest, red tights with spotted-pony print pockets, pony print cuffs, red cowboy boots with spurs, holster with gun around hips, white hat, red bag marked "Pony Express"; topless showgirl in spotted-pony print tights with red jewelled belt, red harness, red side-blinders, matching headpiece, feathered black "tail", headpiece with black feather "mane"; male cowboy costume of black trousers, white boots, red shirt with white bandana tied around the neck, spotted-pony print sleeveless vest, holster and gun around the hips; male Civil War era costume with kepi-style cap, trousers with side fringe, fringed long sleeved jacket tied at the waist with fringed sash. Show Name: Pony Express Site Name: Sahara Hotel and Casino