On February 16, 1978, Steven Knowles interviewed Betty Joyce Clark (born 1940 in Cartersville, Georgia) about her experiences living in Las Vegas, Nevada. Clark first talks about her early places of residence, the schools she attended, and some of the businesses she remembered from the time. She also discusses bus transportation, the first hospitals in town, and the early development of the Las Vegas Strip. Additional topics include the development of utility services for homes, early railroad activity, the development of North Las Vegas, and the first airport and airline services. The latter part of the interview includes discussion of the first department stores, the tourist population, the racial makeup of the city, the police department, and the extent of crime in Las Vegas. The interview finalizes with Clark’s thoughts on the growth of Las Vegas.
Text
Louis La Porta served on the City Council of Henderson, Nevada and the Board of Clark County, Nevada and oversaw periods of great growth. He was born in 1924 in New York City, but his service in the United States Air Force pulled him out West. After settling in Henderson, Nevada, with his wife Elayne, La Porta became interested in insurance sales and local politics. While in office, La Porta oversaw the development of critical roads for Clark County, the Henderson Historical Society, and Henderson Libraries. He recounts each of these major developments in his interview, chronicling the evolution of Henderson, Nevada, into a major city.
Text
Interviewed by Laurents Bañuelos-Benitez. Gustavo Ramos Junior was born in Presidio, Texas. Growing up Ramos described his childhood as simple childhood, typical of someone that was born on farmland. At the age 10, Ramos and his family moved to California in hopes of better opportunities. When they arrived in California the family had to live in public housing, despite his father not wanting to, he realized it was the only way his family could start anew. Living in public housing influenced Ramos for the rest of his life, including his career as director of public housing in three states.
Text
On February 26, 1980, collector Russell Oakes interviewed beautician, Myrtle Hancock (born January 1st, 1921 in Craig, Colorado) in her residence in Las Vegas, Nevada. This interview covers the narrator’s occupational experience as a wardrobe dresser in the entertainment industry in Las Vegas. She also discusses family life, life on a ranch, Downtown Las Vegas, Helldorado, and Nevada’s hot weather. The interview concludes with a discussion on the development of Las Vegas and the projected future growth.
Text
Lucile Whitehead Bunker was born November 23, 1907 in Overton, Nevada. Her family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada when she was four years old, but moved back to Overton so that she could finish grade school before starting high school. After graduating from high school, Bunker worked at a law firm in research for a year so that she could attend the University of Nevada, Reno. She married her husband, Berkeley L. Bunker, on December 29, 1932. She moved around with him while he was involved with politics, even living in Washington, D.C. for a few years.
Person
Lucile Whitehead Bunker was born November 23, 1907 in Overton, Nevada. Her family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada when she was four years old, but moved back to Overton so that she could finish grade school before starting high school. After graduating from high school, Bunker worked at a law firm in research for a year so that she could attend the University of Nevada, Reno. She married her husband, Berkeley L. Bunker, on December 29, 1932. She moved around with him while he was involved with politics, even living in Washington, D.C. for a few years.
Person
Walter Leland Catlett was born to a locally prominent San Francisco, California family in 1889. He won his first stage role as a thirteen year-old in a comedic opera; this early stage career lasted over twenty years. He moved to Hollywood in the early 1920s to make films and by 1930 was in demand as a character actor. After a foray behind the camera, directing a series of comedy shorts for RKO, Catlett returned to acting. His film career spanned another thirty years and 163 films. Catlett died in 1960.
Source:
Person
