The Ruthe Scott Photographs of Las Vegas, Nevada Hotels and Casinos contain color and black-and-white negatives and transparencies of Las Vegas hotels and casinos from 1960 to 1986. The collection includes the Sahara Hotel, Castaways Hotel and Casino, the Desert Inn Hotel, the Dunes Hotel, the Riviera Hotel, the Sands Hotel, the Silver Slipper Gambling Hall, Tally Ho Grounds, the Thunderbird Hotel, and the Hotel Flamingo. The collection also includes people gambling in Las Vegas casinos and two transparencies of Nevada politician Phil Tobin, who sponsored the bill to legalize gambling in 1931.
The Timothy Peters Postcard Collection consists of postcards dating from 1905 to 1992. The postcards feature playing cards and card games. There are advertisements, illustrations, quotes, and scenes from games that all contain playing cards in some way.
Mark Mangiaracina interviews Eugene Brandise, born in Denver, Colorado, in his home about Nevada’s growth over time. Brandise discusses his experience as a construction worker and construction business owner as a resident of Las Vegas for over 25 years. He also discusses changes in the gaming industry over time, specifically how hotels and casinos treat their patrons.
On March 25, 1981, Brenda Sue Cody interviewed local business owner, Charles Alvin (Todd) Early, Jr. (born in Yerington, Nevada) at his Central Credit office in Las Vegas, Nevada. The interview covers the history of Nevada. During the interview, Charles discusses mining, the building of Boulder (Hoover) Dam, and travelling by train as the central mode of transportation, in the early days. He also discusses a quick and easy divorce process and gambling as the main tourist attractions in Nevada.
The Eugene Martin Christiansen Papers (dating from 1948 to 2017, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1975 to 2005) contain research files, reports, and presentations about gambling written and collected by gaming consultant Eugene Martin Christiansen. Most of the collection is comprised of research files and reports about legalized gambling, casinos, hotels, racetracks, and entertainment venues, including the economic impacts of legalized gaming, feasibility studies for opening new casinos and racetracks, popularity of off-track betting, horse and dog racing, table games, gambling addiction, gaming regulation, taxes, lotteries, and Native American gaming. The collection also includes research files covering state and municipal regulation of gaming, significant individuals in the gaming industry, prominent hotels and casinos, gaming research conferences, financial reports, and international regulation of gaming. The collection also contains a small amount of business records from Christiansen’s entertainment company Feature Film Finance & Production.
On March 7, 1981, Elisabeth McLaren interviewed blackjack dealer, Roger H. Dudley (born August 10th, 1940 in Las Vegas, Nevada) in his home. This interview covers Roger’s recollections on growing up in Las Vegas. During the interview they further discuss Roger’s childhood, his parents, grade school, World War II, the atomic testing, the Mesquite Club, the development of the Strip, rodeos, Howard Hughes, Paradise Valley and changes in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On March 23, 1977, Paul Pearson interviewed Ellen Lempe (b. 1928 in Detroit, Michigan). Lempe details her life in Sturgis, Michigan—her marriage, her kids and an automobile accident that resulted in gangrene and amputation—before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. She recounts working as a telephone operator, gambling after work and a big win playing keno. Moreover, she describes her disinterest for politics, her husband’s love for sports and his work as a car salesman. The two end by discussing inflation and the changing attitude and landscape of the city.
The Benjamin F. Smith Papers, dated from 1960 to 1969, contains a photocopy of a typed manuscript written by Benjamin F. Smith titled "Lady Luck and I." The manuscript details Smith's life, and focuses mainly on his time in Las Vegas, Nevada and his gambling strategies. The manuscript also contains gambling plays, figures, and charts. The collection also contains photocopied newspaper clippings and a brief biography of Smith written by Larry Evans.