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Transcript of interview with Santo Savino by Lisa Gioia-Acres, September 23, 2008
Santo was born in the Bronx, New York in 1937. Santo’s family includes his father who was a butcher, and his mother who mostly stayed at home to raise the children, as well as a brother who currently lives with Santo. Santo recalls that it was great growing up in the Bronx, and he spent most of his life there until he joined the Air Force when he was 17. Santo’s immediate family was not musically oriented, but he learned to play the drums from a cousin. Music came easy for Santo, and he started getting paid for playing when he was 12. At 17, Santo joined the Air Force with a group of friends. He auditioned for and was accepted into the Air Force band where he played drums for four years. Santo was married with a child and another child on the way when he ended his military career and moved to California. After jobs working as a security guard and on an assembly line, Santo knew he just wanted to play and came to Las Vegas in 1960 to play with a band. It took several years before Santo was able to get on with a permanent band. Once Santo broke into the scene in Las Vegas, he played for six years at the Flamingo. Following that he was on the road for a couple of years with Paul Anka. Upon returning to Las Vegas, Santo worked for 14 years at the Sahara. Santo talks about when “the boys” had the hotels before the corporations came in and how everything changed. Currently, Santo does a lot of work with trumpet player Carl Saunders, frequently traveling to Los Angeles to do recordings together.
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Transcript of interview with Lawrence Hadland by Lorraine Owens, February 2, 1979
On February 2, 1979, collector Lorraine Owens interviewed nurseryman, Lawrence Hadland (born November 16th, 1919 in Long Island, New York) in his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. This interview covers the life and times of “Nurseryman Hadland,” and offers insights into local business, family life, jobs, and the overall community of Las Vegas. He also discusses the military and the local airport.
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Esau, Esper, 1929-
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Esper Esau studied art at the Carnegie Institute of Technology before joining the military. After his discharge, he started working as a stage crewman on productions in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was there that he met his future wife, Valda Boyne, who was a dancer in Lido de Paris. Esper continued to work in the theater, eventually progressing to stage manager and assistant director of entertainment. He wrote a book called Las Vegas' Golden Era: Memoirs 1954-1974 that was published in 2016.
Person
Shepherd, John Richard
Dr. John Richard Shepherd was born November 25, 1936 to Harley and Mary Shepherd and was raised in southern Illinois. He married his wife, Nancy Shepherd, on June 22, 1963 in Pana, Illinois. His army experiences in Chicago, Illinois and Alabama convinced him and his wife to look for a warm dry climate in which to live, and they relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1968.
Person
Ray, Roger, 1922-
Roger Ray was born on February 26, 1922, in Yonkers, New York. Roger married Dorothy M. on December 27, 1983, and they had four children: Kaaren Ray, Mary R. Hoyt, Robin Ray, and Vivian R. Bratton.
Ray was enlisted in the United States Army from 1940 to 1970.
Ray obtained a master of science degree from the United States Military Academy. Ray then earned a master of art degree in electrical engineering from New York University.
Person
"Billy Bob and Leroy": article draft by Roosevelt Fitzgerald
From the Roosevelt Fitzgerald Professional Papers (MS-01082) -- Drafts for the Las Vegas Sentinel Voice file. On a different future for Black veterans as opposed white counterparts.
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