Las Vegas and Nevada history as told by those who lived it. This series was broadcast in 2000 and produced by KNPR's Tim Anderson with support from the Nevada Humanities Committee.

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Nevada's First Residents
The Paiute Indians were the first humans to make Nevada their home. We hear from three members of the Moapa band of Paiutes who tell stories about the days before and after white settlers moved in.

Founding Families
We hear from members of three of Las Vegas' founding families... Ed Von Tobel, Harley E. Harmon and Nanyu Tomiyasu.

Hoover Dam
Hal Curtis and Tommy Nelson talk about how bad things were during the Great Depression, and how the area's economy turned around with the construction of Hoover Dam. It was dirty, dangerous work but it was eagerly taken by men who were desperate for any kind of paying job.

The Great Depression
Hal Curtis tells about the different ways people managed to make a few dollars during the depression. Breaking windows and making bootleg whiskey were a couple of the things he did. And Harley E. Harmon remembers the story of a down and out Las Vegan who became "king for a day".

After the Dam
The building of Hoover Dam helped to build a city in the desert. But when the construction was over, community leaders had to find a way to keep the economy going. We hear from R. Guild Gray and Jim Cashman, Jr. In the years after the dam, and before casinos took over, the Helldorado celebration was created as a rallying point for the community. Plus, we hear about the building of a stadium to host Helldorado.

Women Make Their Mark
Two women who helped to build Las Vegas in the early days were Florence Murphy, who was in on the building of the first airport, and Laura Belle Kelch who helped create the first radio station in the valley.

World War II
George Von Tobel talks about the affects of World War II on Las Vegas. Nanyu Tomiyasu, who's family was of Japanese decent, says his family's farm was allowed to continue to operate. Laura Belle Kelch says that after the war, community leaders decided to focus on tourism, and the Las Vegas News Bureau was created to get the word out. Photographer Don English tells us how they did it.

Sin City and Bugsy
Herb McDonald is a well-known entertainment director who tells us how he came to "sin city" in 1946, and helped promote Vegas as a place to have fun and win. Herb and Peg Crockett talk about their encounters with the infamous "Bugsy" Siegel. Former county commissioner Paul Christensen remembers growing up in the 50's... the hangouts and "the frog pond".

Test Site part 1
Larry Johns is an attorney for current and former Nevada Test Site workers who claim to have suffered radiation poisoning while working at the test site. He says the Cold War prompted a desire to "beat the commies" at any price. Hal Curtis remembers the awesome sight of watching an above-ground nuclear test from "Newsman's Knob." Former test site worker Troy Wade reminds us why the nuclear weapons testing program was necessary.

Test Site part 2
A test site blast in 1970 results in massive exposure to radiation by test site workers. Larry Johns talks about how it happened and how he tried to force the federal government to take responsibility. Franciscan nun Rosemary Lynch explains why she and others protest the nuclear weapons testing.

Entertainers
This episode is narrated mostly by Herb McDonald, longtime entertainment director who tells stories about Robert Mitchum's 1948 marijuana bust, dealing with the strong-willed Marlene Dietrich, the Rat Pack at the Silver Slipper and the Beatles. Also, Don English, photographer for the Las Vegas News Bureau tells of photographing the Beatles during their performance at the convention center.

Howard Hughes part 1
Florence Murphy (North Las Vegas Airport) Peg Crockett (Alamo Airways) and Robert A. Maheu tell compelling stories about their personal associations with the great Howard Hughes.

Howard Hughes part 2
Robert Maheu continues the story of Hughes and his last plane crash that left him hard of hearing, drug addicted, withdrawn, and about his death at the hands his of incompetent and conniving inner circle.

Civil Rights part 1
Dr. James McMillan relates the story of the struggle for Civil Rights in the Mississippi of the West.

Civil Rights part 2
More from Dr. James McMillan who relates the story of the struggle for Civil Rights in the Mississippi of the West.

Moulin Rouge
Prominent Las Vegas businessman, Bob Bailey, tells of the short but swingin' life of the Moulin Rouge, billed as the first inter-racial resort in the country.

Showgirls part 1
Two former show girls, Tracy Heberling and Kathy Saxe tell colorful insider stories of what it was like to be a Las Vegas showgirl.

Showgirls part 2
Two former show girls, Tracy Heberling and Kathy Saxe tell colorful insider stories of what it was like to be a Las Vegas showgirl.

The Mob, DI and other stories
New Jersey immigrant, Harry Merenda, talks about his family's Sicilian mob roots, the "Boys" in Las Vegas and working at the Desert Inn in the early 60s.

The Gragson Years
Former Las Vegas Mayor Oran Gragson (1960-76) tells about his unlikely election. Senator Richard Bryan talks about the campaign tactics of Gragson's rival, City Commissioner, Wendell Bunker. Black activist, Bob Bailey, tells of how Gragson kept his promises to the black population on the West side even though they didn't support him.

Test Site Neighbors
Jean Sharp Howerton and her family have lived in Railroad Valley, NV since 1895. The family ranch is located about 100 miles northeast of the Nevada Test Site. During the 1940's and 50's they'd watch as nuclear blasts exploded on the test site...and the radioactive fallout drifted over their ranch. Concern and fear were dismissed in the name of "national security."

Depression Era Stories
Lee Tillman tells the story of "salting" mines with gold to inflate the property value. And the truth behind how a local restaurant could afford to sell "all-you-can-eat" meals, including t-bone steak, for just 25-cents. Hal Curtis talks about having Halloween fun, and the filling of Lake Mead.

Las Vegas in the 50's
During the 1950's Las Vegas became the hot spot for entertainers and high rollers. Matt Gregory tells the story of a local gambler who won and lost a fortune in one night. And Matt tells the story of one night when Orson Wells, Cary Grant, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, and the owner of the El Rancho Vegas sat down for a night playing poker with a "gambler's companion."

Las Vegas Extravaganzas
Producer Don Arden introduces glamorous showgirls to the Las Vegas Strip. Rick Mitchell tells about how a gay dancer could not only survive but succeed in a homophobic town.

1946 - The Desert Inn
Wilbur Clark's dream to build a new casino results in a partnership with the mob. From the start, George Foley was a bellman at the DI and tells stories of "the good old days."

Si Redd
The founder of International Game Technology explains how he came to Nevada and revolutionized the slot machine industry.

MGM Fire part 1
Lark Williams begins KNPR's six-part series on the tragic 1980 fire at the MGM Grand which killed 86 people. Lark was running keno on the floor of the MGM early that morning when the smell of smoke began to drift through the casino. She and others thought nothing was "really wrong" until it was almost too late.

MGM Fire part 2
November 21, 1980, an electrical fire in the MGM's deli smolders for hours before exploding into a ball of fire that quickly engulfed the casino and sent black clouds of smoke billowing through the high-rise hotel. Ed Finley was one of the firefighters at the scene who talks about needless deaths. Wayne Burns was a primary fire investigator who also tells what he found. And Robert Taylor remembers finding an older couple who calmly sat out the fire in their room and were eventually rescued.

MGM Fire part 3
In November 1980, Laura Fielden Spina was a 16-year-old student at Clark High School. Youthful curiosity drew her to the MGM fire where she quickly began work as a volunteer helping to rescue fire victims. She talks about what she saw and did, and how the Las Vegas community came together to help the victims. Dennis Mack, helicopter rescue pilot, describes how they rescued people from the balconies.

MGM Fire part 4
As huge clouds of billowing, black smoke engulfed the MGM Grand Hotel, hundreds of terrified hotel guests and employees made their way to the roof of the hotel. Helicopter pilot Ray Pas recounts how he and other helicopter pilots rescued more than 300 people from the roof...and how his most meaningful "thank you" came many years later.

MGM Fire part 5
We know the results of the MGM fire - 86 dead, hundreds injured, at a cost of a billion dollars. In this episode we hear from principal fire investigator Capt. Wayne Burns who explains how the fire started, and why it spread and grew into an inferno before it was ever detected...and who was to blame.

MGM Fire part 6
Voices of the day - We listen to excerpts from TV news coverage of the day, November 21, 1980. Those who fought the fire, survived the smoke and flames, helped and rescued the injured, and blessed the victims.