Oral history interview with William Star conducted by Tony Morneau on September 15, 1973 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Star discusses moving from Brooklyn, New York to Henderson, Nevada in 1955. In 1959, Star moved from Henderson to Las Vegas, Nevada to run a family-owned pawn shop. Star goes into detail about atomic bomb testing, the growth of Las Vegas, and gambling.
Oral history interview with Richard T. Chapter conducted by Stan Hawkins on March 6, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Stan Hawkins discusses the cost of living in Las Vegas, Nevada, Howard Hughes, the Boulder Dam, the Union Pacific Railroad, the old Mormon Fort, gambling, local businesses, and the weather in Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Irving Kirshbaum conducted by Cheryl Rogers on February 23, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Kirshbaum discusses the Riviera Hotel where he began working in 1955. He also talks about the landscape of the Las Vegas Strip in the 1950s, and the state of gambling, comps, customer service, and dealer training. Kirshabum discusses the treatment of minorities at the Riviera and in Las Vegas, Nevada generally.
On March 11, 1981, Melvin Thompson interviewed Richard F. Caldwell Sr. (b. 1919 in New Orleans, Louisiana) about his experiences living in Las Vegas, Nevada for over 49 years. The interview begins with Caldwell discussing his family and what brought him to Las Vegas. He then talks about working at the Nevada Test Site, the hotels and casinos that were built on the Strip, his experience working at some of those properties, and the way of life in Las Vegas in the 1940s and 1950s. The two also discuss politics, religion, and recreational gambling in the city. The interview finalizes with Caldwell’s account of the Westside of Las Vegas, African American entertainers who came to town to perform, and a brief mention of many specific historical sites in the city.
Oral history interview with Charles F. Sells conducted by Noble B. Young on March 13, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Sells describes his personal history in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sells discusses how Las Vegas has changed, the jobs he has held, and the death of his wife. Sells also discusses his enjoyment of going out with his wife to gamble at the casinos when he was younger, meeting Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, playing in a local softball team, and his business, an industrial laundry cleaning plant.
Oral history interview with J. D. Morris conducted by his son, Dan Morris, in approximately 1974 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Morris discusses moving to Southern Nevada in 1942 and life in Caliente, Nevada during that time. He describes the mining and railroad activity near Caliente, as well as his career as a jeweler and watchmaker. Morris also discusses gambling in Southern Nevada, nuclear weapons tests, and how the cities in Southern Nevada have expanded.
Oral history interview with Eugene Perry conducted by Anneliese McKenna on March 11, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Perry discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada from Denver, Colorado in 1955. Perry discusses his career as a dealer in the Golden Nugget and other Las Vegas casinos. Perry also describes how Las Vegas has benefited economically from gambling and casinos.