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Senator Richard Bryan's Las Vegas roots are deep. His father graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1927, left to attend law school and later returned with his young family. His father was politically active and a role model for young Richard, who would succeed in becoming Governor of Nevada in the 1980s and then U.S. Senator. In this interview, Senator Bryan describes his parents looking at a plat map of John S. Park in 1943 and that they bought a house on Maryland Parkway for around $5500.00. He recounts details of the John S. Park neighborhood development and nearby areas and talks about houses with carports rather than garages, no grass, rough asphalt driveways, and a desert where kids could play for hours without supervision. He mentions the impact of World War II on the community, attending movies at the Huntridge Theatre, and becoming a student leader as well as being active in the Boy Scouts. About the Helldorado Days, he talks about the large undertaking of the parade for the Elks Club. As Las Vegas' population grew, the neighborhoods began to fill in. He tells of the opening of schools, including permanent JSP Elementary in 1948 - with no air conditioning. Neighborhood commerce included a grocery store and Sills Drive-in. On the Strip, he remembers Club Bingo (eventually called Sahara) opening as well as the long list of other hotel/casinos that are part of Las Vegas history.

Attorney Mahlon Brown begins by talking about his family. His dad was a senator for Nevada, his grandmother was an "amazing, strong, powerful, and insightful" woman, and his mother he describes as beautiful, well-read, and a music lover. He reminisces about his undergraduate days at Howard University and the job he held as a Capitol policeman during the sixties. This included guarding JFK's casket. Mahlon recalls many notable Nevadans that he knew personally, worked closely with, or came up against in meetings or trials. He shares many anecdotes and stories about his contact with Judge Foley, Ronald Pollock, Kenny Guinn, Father Vitali, and Earl White, to mention just a few. He also shares memories of women like Ruby Duncan, Mary Wesley and Maya Miller. Attorney Brown describes the duties of the office of Justice of the Peace which he held for a few years, as well as some of the cases he and Jack Anderson handled when they worked in Legal Services. He also describes the poverty workshop he and Jack ran for three or four years, which gave welfare recipients a chance to air their opinions. Mahlon shares his opinions, insights, and firsthand knowledge of the Mob, Howard Hughes, Mayor Oscar Goodman, Malcolm X, James Brown, integration on the Strip, and many other topics. His personal connections and lengthy history of working and living in Las Vegas make for knowledgeable and entertaining reading.

Frances Harelik interviews IBM computer engineer Paul Bowerman in Las Vegas at Harelik’s home. Born in Wolforth, Texas in 1929, Mr. Bowerman relocated to Nevada in 1954. Other places Mr. Bowerman has lived include: California, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Illinois, New York, Minnesota, England, and Japan. From Mr. Bowerman’s perspective this interview provides insight into life in Las Vegas from 1954 to 1976.

Meghan Boyle interviews her father John Boyle (born 1924 in Risen, Arkansas), who at the time was Chief Pilot of Operations for Republic Airlines. The two discuss changes in air travel over the years and John’s profession as a pilot. They also discuss improvements in Las Vegas roads over the years, the rise in crime rates, and the impacts on changes in the economy.

(Folder contains very good photos) Family and personal history focusing on growing up in Ely, NV, including leisure activities. Living through the Depression: banks closing; unemployment. Agricultural Extension Service. Cattle and drought in northern Nevada during the 1930s. Witness to the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. Description of journey from Ely to Norway. Employment history. Gaming Control Board and the Black Book Occupations whilst in Las Vegas. [File includes personal photographs and news clippings]

On March 1, 1980, Ken Pyatt interviewed his grandmother, Merna Dennison (born September 9th, 1917 in Blanding, Utah) in her home in Henderson, Nevada. During the interview, Merna pinpoints Cashman Field as a landmark of Las Vegas. She recalls the Helldorado Parade as one of Nevada’s biggest annual celebrations in which her family attended and participated on numerous occasions. She mentions serving on the Clark County School Board and discusses the growth of the city of Las Vegas, particularly the development and expansion of both McCarran Airport and the Strip.