Oral history interview with George Pollak conducted by Lisa Gioia-Acres on May, 25, 2010 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. Pollak discusses breaking into the music industry and attending accounting school and working as an accountant while still performing in clubs. He also discusses playing with his band at Caesars Palace Hotel and the Tropicana Hotel, African-Americans in the music industry, and drug use among musicians. Pollak then discusses how Las Vegas, Nevada has changed, in terms of the entertainment industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Charlie McLean conducted by Lisa Gioia-Acres on December 14, 2007 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. McLean discusses making a living playing for the Ice Capades—traveling entertainment shows featuring theatrical ice skating performances—and in jazz bands after graduating from college. He also discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1960 and playing at hotels such as the Frontier, Desert Inn, Riviera, Sahara, and the Tropicana.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Adelaide Robbins conducted by Lisa Gioia-Acres on April 18, 2008 and April 29, 2008 for the All That Jazz Oral History Project. Robbins discusses her experience in piano lessons at age six and having a professional career by the age of 12. Robbins also discusses playing many Las Vegas, Nevada venues and "always [being] the only woman in the band."
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Susan Molasky conducted by Barbara Tabach on March 11, 2014 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Susan Molasky discusses her childhood and teenage years growing up in London, England where she worked in a fabric store. Molasky also talks about originally coming to Las Vegas, Nevada with her first husband in the late 1950s. She discusses raising her children in Las Vegas, Nevada and her battle with ovarian cancer, which prompted her involvement in Nathan Adelson Hospice. She then discuss her life with second husband, Irwin Molasky, and the causes they are involved in.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joni, Sarah, and Max Fried conducted by Barbara Tabach on March 04, 2016 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Joni Fried, her daughter Sarah Fried, and nephew Max Jacobson-Fried share stories of working in the family business, Freed’s Bakery, started by Joni's parents Milton and Esther Fried. They also discuss how computer technologies and social media marketing impacted their early business.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Heidi and Scott Swank conducted by Claytee D. White on July 28, 2014 and October 13, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Heidi talks about forming the Nevada Preservation Foundation, her anthropological research in India, and her run for the Nevada Legislature representing Assembly District 16. The Swanks discuss the Downtown Project, the Flamingo Club, their 1956 house in the John S. Park neighborhood, and their neighbors.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gil Cohen conducted by Claytee D. White on August 05, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Cohen discusses growing up at the Las Vegas, Nevada Country Club, working at the Stardust Hotel and Casino, learning the casino business after college, and working at the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Margaret Ostler Stout-Hall conducted by Claytee D. White on August 11, 2014 for the West Charleston Neighborhoods--an Oral History Project of Ward 1. Stout-Hall discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada’s Rancho Circle neighborhood, attending Las Vegas High School, and becoming a Rhythmette. She also talks about working at the El Portal Theatre, dancing at the Wildcat Lair, and working for Harry Reid later in life.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with John Wilhelm conducted by Claytee D. White on August 12 and 27, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview John Wilhelm discusses how he became a community organizer after college, the many social problems faced in the hospitality industry, and the issues faced in the unions. He also discusses negotiations he made with powerful Las Vegas, Nevada casino owners, contributions by union leaders, and his work after he stepped down from being president of UNITE HERE (Union of Needletrades, Industrial, and Textile Employees and Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union).
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Geoconda Arguello Kline conducted by Claytee D. White on September 18, 2014 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Arguello Kline discusses being the first female Secretary-Treasurer of the Culinary Union Local 226 and how she worked her way up the ranks. She then describes being instrumental in crafting the language that ensured housekeepers’ safety as rooms on the Las Vegas, Nevada Strip grew larger and more elaborate, thus more difficult to clean.
Archival Collection