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Jennilee Thayer oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02631

Abstract

Oral history interview with Jennilee Thayer conducted by Claytee D. White on August 12, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Thayer discusses arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1936 when it was still a mining town. She describes early Henderson, Nevada, attending Basic High School, and recalls her father’s employment at the Basic Magnesium Plant. Lastly, Thayer discusses her employment in show production, atomic bomb testing, and changes in Las Vegas.

Archival Collection

Marilyn Tinnell oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02632

Abstract

Oral history interview with Marilyn Tinnell conducted by John Grygo on June 19, 2012 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Tinnell begins by discussing her personal history, the history of Henderson, Nevada, and how the Basic Townsite evolved into the city of Henderson. She continues, discussing the African American population of the Carver Park community in Henderson, who lived there due to segregation before Henderson was integrated. Tinnell describes life in Henderson during the 1950s, attending Basic High School with Harry Reid, and attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to pursue a career in social work. Tinnell details her career as a social worker, working as an investigator for Child Protective Services and as a family services specialist for foster care families.

Archival Collection

George Wallace oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02642

Abstract

Oral history interview with George Wallace conducted by Claytee D. White on April 10, 2009 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. Wallace begins the interview by discussing his upbringing in Atlanta, Georgia, his extensive family, and attending college at the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio to study transportation. He describes having a career in advertising in New York City, New York before moving to Los Angeles, California, where he made the career transition into stand-up comedy. Wallace details his career as a successful comedian, writing for The Redd Foxx Show, going on tour with musicians such as Diana Ross and Tom Jones, and having his own running show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Other topics of discussion also include Wallace's friendship with fellow comedian Jerry Seinfeld, being awarded "Best Male Comedian" by the American Comedy Awards in 1995, and the changes Wallace has noticed in comedy and African American culture.

Archival Collection

Pete Menefee oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02654

Abstract

Oral history interview with Pete Menefee conducted by Su Kim Chung on April 14, 2016 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Menefee begins the interview by talking about his childhood in San Diego, California, where he took dancing classes starting at the age of ten. He discusses working as a dancer on shows starring Dick Van Dyke, Terry Gar, Goldie Hawn, and Elvis. Menefee recalls working in shows and musicals including Bye Bye Birdie, Fair Lady, and Viva Las Vegas. He describes his evolution as a costume designer and stage designer from his childhood creating miniature stages of Disney shows to creating costumes for shows on the Las Vegas Strip, Nevada. He also talks about surviving the MGM Grand fire in 1980.

Archival Collection

Christopher C. Hudgins oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02694

Abstract

Oral history interview with Christopher C. Hudgins conducted by Claytee D. White on May 18, 2016 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Hudgins open his interview by discussing his upbringing in Virginia, his education, and the manual labor jobs he worked as a teenager. Hudgins then describes his introduction to American folk music and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1976. Hudgins then recalls what the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) was like in 1976 and how he became familiar with the city. Hudgins then discusses his career and scholarship while at UNLV as a chairman in the English department, and his interest in broadcasting. He then explains conflicts between the Board of Regents and the UNLV faculty, the expansion of UNLV related construction on Maryland Parkway, and his interest in becoming a dean. Hudgins describes his goals as dean of the liberal arts college, the challenges of implementing grants for liberal arts projects, and his views on college athletics. Lastly, Hudgins recalls attending a Nobel Prize ceremony as an invited guest of Harold Pinter, and his association with the City of Asylum organization.

Archival Collection

Geraldine Sharpe and Dianna Menzel oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02700

Abstract

Oral history interview with Geraldine Sharpe and Dianna Menzel conducted by Claytee D. White on May 23, 2016 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the interview, Sharpe describes her early memories of Las Vegas, Nevada beginning in the 1930s while her daughter, Dianna Menzel, clarifies and adds details. Sharpe recalls moving to St. Thomas, Nevada in 1930, her early life in the area, and memories of family members in Alamo, Nevada. Sharpe then describes moving to Las Vegas after St. Thomas was flooded in the 1930s, her education, and people and locations in her local community. Other subjects Sharpe talks about include housing conditions and recreational activities during the 1930s and 1940s, the Helldorado parades, the Las Vegas Mormon community, and life in Las Vegas during World War II.

Archival Collection

Beryl Warren oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02720

Abstract

Oral history interview with Beryl Warren conducted by Claytee D. White on June 21, 2016 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. Warren begins her interview by describing her early life in Mobile, Alabama in the 1940s and 1950s. She then discusses her young adult life in California as a telephone operator. Warren then talks about her marriages, her education at St. Dominguez College in California, and working for Motown Records as production assistant. Warren then discusses her husband, Mark Warren, a prominent African American television producer and director. She explains that she came to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1993 when Mark wanted to buy a vacation home in the area. She then talks about how during the 1990s the couple had jobs in Las Vegas, but also commuted to work in Los Angeles on occasion, until her husband's death in 1999. She then describes how family tragedy led to her raising her grandchildren, and also take on some hobbies, such as gardening, in order to live an active lifestyle. Warren then discusses her life with her husband and her fondness for him, and having to teach her grandsons to be cautious around police while raising them in Las Vegas. Lastly, she recalls her community work and her service organization, Southern Nevada Collation of Concerned Women (SNCCW).

Archival Collection

Rick Peppers oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02742

Abstract

Oral history interview with Rick Peppers conducted by Claytee D. White on July 06, 2016 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the interview, Peppers describes his childhood in Exira, Iowa and moving to Blue Diamond, Nevada in 1962. He explains working in various positions at the Blue Diamond Mine to ensure employment stability. Peppers shares stories about how the mine company's ownership of Blue Diamond affected the town. After transitioning into security jobs, he explains working through the Teamsters Union at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino, and then working forty-six years at Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Archival Collection

James Dunbar, Benny Figgins, and Pete George oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02748

Abstract

Oral history interview with James Dunbar, Benny Figgins, and Pete George conducted by David G. Schwartz on July 19, 2016 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. The three interviewees describe their experiences working for Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada since its grand opening on August 06, 1966. George begins the interview by recalling his work in various positions including showroom custodian, showroom cocktail server, and banquet server. Figgins then describes his initial positions as a casino porter, convention porter, dishwasher, restaurant busser, and in 1972, his primary occupation as a dealer for table games. Dunbar explains working as a valet at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino while serving Caesars Palace executives during and after Caesars Palace's construction. The three interviewees then recall stories about notable casino executives and celebrities.

Archival Collection

Burton Cohen oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02753

Archival Collection