Sam Stearns was an owner-operator of several casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1935 he bought the Meadows Club on Boulder Highway with his brother Dave Stearns and Larry Potter. By 1941, the Stearns brothers also operated the Northern Club in downtown Las Vegas, which Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel invested $18,000 in.
Gragg, Larry D. Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel: The Gangster, the Flamingo, and the Making of Modern Las Vegas. Santa Barbara: Praeger, 2015.
Dave Stearns was a gambler and entrepreneur who owned and operated several casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1935 he bought the Meadows Club on Boulder Highway with his brother Sam Stearns and Larry Potter. By 1941, the Stearns brothers also operated the Northern Club in downtown Las Vegas, which Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel invested $18,000 in.
Gragg, Larry D. Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel: The Gangster, the Flamingo, and the Making of Modern Las Vegas. Santa Barbara: Praeger, 2015.
On February 7, 1976, collector, Marc Hechter interviewed Herbert and Erma Holtam in the collector’s home in Las Vegas, Nevada. This interview covers the history of the early Las Vegas Valley area. The discussion includes an in-depth overview of the Helldorado Parade and Helldorado Village. The building of the hotels on the Strip, homesteading, and local housing developments, are also discussed.
Oral history interview with Helen Early conducted by Dale Forshee on February 26, 1979 and February 27, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Early talks about some of the first businesses in Las Vegas, Nevada, the initial development of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the early nightclubs and casinos in the city. Early also discusses her work in establishing a school for disabled children.
Dennis Chamberland interviews Thomas Barbarite (b. 1932) in his home about his time in Las Vegas and his experiences in the casino industry. Barbarite discusses his time at the Four Queens and the Dunes as a dealer as well as his work as a pit boss at the Flamingo, the Aladdin, and Caesars Palace. Chamberland also asks Barbarite about the changes over time on the Strip, including the disappearance of lounge shows and expansion of larger shows on the Strip. Barbarite also discusses the involvement of the mob in Las Vegas, particularly the influence of Bugsy Siegel in the operation of various properties.
Until her passing in 2017, Millicent (Siegel) Rosen was the living link to Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, one of Las Vegas’ most notorious links to the Jewish mob. A steadfastly independent woman herself, Millicent recalls Benjamin as a loving father to her and her younger sister. She is proud of his status as a Las Vegas visionary, though she affixes a footnote that the city of today might not be to his liking.
Part of an interview with Louis Wiener, Jr. on February 1, 1990. In this clip, Wiener talks about how he became the attorney for Bugsy Siegel in the 1940s, and Siegel's desire to protect Wiener from criticism.
Las Vegas history from the perspective of medical care. Senator Pat McCarran aiding patients. Water. Charleston Blvd underpass. Influx of specialists beginning in the 1950s. Expansion of valley hospitals beginning in the 1950s. Southern Nevada Memorial and Las Vegas hospitals. Working in the Clark County jail. Reflections on living in Reno, Goldfield, and Tonopah. Walker Scott and Scotty's Castle. Sunday services during the construction of Scotty's Castle. Comparison of medical care between Reno and Las Vegas. Local gaming. Bugsy Siegel's mistress. Critic of modern doctors. Reno medical school.[Interview summary on file]