An Interview with Jean Tobman, Marilyn Moran & Janie Moore
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AN INTERVIEW WITH JEAN TOBMAN, MARILYN MORAN & JANIE MOORE An Oral History Conducted by Claytee White West Charleston Neighborhoods: An Oral History Project of Ward 1 Oral History Research Center at UNLV University Libraries University of Nevada Las Vegas i ©The West Charleston Neighborhoods: An Oral History Project of Ward 1 University of Nevada Las Vegas, 2014 Produced by: The Oral History Research Center at UNLV - University Libraries Director: Claytee D. White Project Manager: Barbara Tabach Transcriber: Kristin Hicks Editors: Maggie Lopes, Melissa Robinson Interviewers: Claytee White ii The recorded Interview and transcript have been made possible through the generosity of Dr. Harold Boyer. The Oral History Research Center enables students and staff to work together with community members to generate this selection of first-person narratives. The participants in this project thank the university for the support given that allowed an idea the opportunity to flourish. The transcript received minimal editing that includes the elimination of fragments, false starts, and repetitions in order to enhance the reader's understanding of the material. All measures have been taken to preserve the style and language of the narrator. In several cases photographic sources accompany the individual interviews. The following interview is part of a series of interviews conducted under the auspices of the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Claytee D. White, Project Director Director, Oral History Research Center University Libraries University Nevada, Las Vegas iii PREFACE In 1953, Jean and Herb Tobman packed up their life in New Jersey and moved their family to Las Vegas. The couple had fell in love with the city when visiting Jean's parents who had already moved to the city. After initially settling in North Las Vegas, the Tobmans moved to Twin Lakes, before eventually settling in the Pinto Palamino area. Herb Tobman bought three lots in Pinto, building the homes on all three, which have housing various family members over the years. Upon moving, Jean initially assisted her mother at her rooming house, and Herb worked with Jean's father at City Furniture. Herb bought his first cab soon thereafter, and grew one vehicle into Western Cab Company, which is still family-run. After a large fire closed City Furniture, Herb worked as the general manager at Moulin Rouge, jumpstarting his career in the gaming industry. Jean and Herb were blessed with three daughters - Marilyn, Janie and Helen - all of whom still live in Las Vegas. The girls grew up keeping horses, as did many other neighbors in the Pinto area. They would ride their steeds through the desert to the Strip, sometimes for breakfast at the Sliver Slipper. Marilyn married John Moran, the sheriff's son, who served as a police officer himself. She sat on the planning commission for a decade, during the city's growth spurt. Janie spent a semester at Arizona State University before returning to Las Vegas to work at Stardust Hotel, a property co-owned by her father, who also served as the its president. Jean, Marilyn and Janie are devoted Nevadans, grateful for the opportunities Las Vegas has afforded their family. While they admit that the city has changed since Marilyn, Janie and Helen were children riding horses in their vast desert of a backyard, they are all appreciative to call Las Vegas home. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Interviews with Jean Tobman, Marilyn Moran, and Janie Moore on November 5, 2013 by Claytee White in Las Vegas, Nevada Preface iv Jean talks about following her parents to Las Vegas in 1953 with her family, initially living with her mother in her rooming house; father owns used furniture store; husband starts cab company. Daughter Marilyn discusses growing up in Twin Lakes before family moves to Pinto area. Janie joins Marilyn in discussing riding horses, through the desert, to casinos on Las Vegas Boulevard, while living in Pinto; mentions racetrack owned by Harry Claiborne 1-5 Marilyn eventually purchases parent's home and raises family there. Janie touches on security career at Stardust Hotel, where her father worked; differences in organizational culture within gaming industry then and now. Jean talks about why she fell in love with Las Vegas; running the rooming house with her mother; clientele; taking care of working mothers' children; work as cocktail waitress. Marilyn discusses lounge acts in 1950s; fire in father's furniture store 6-9 All three women discuss Herb Tobman's relationship, experiences on the Westside, including working at Moulin Rouge after fire at furniture store; transitioning to casino industry. Marilyn talks more about the changes in casino culture over the years. Janie mentions working with Hazel Gay at the Stardust. Jean remarks about who now runs Western Can Company 10-13 Jean and Janie describe the Pinto neighborhood, from when they moved then and over time; three lots owned by Herb Tobman; who designed the houses; about various family members, and others, who lived in homes on the street over the years. Marilyn mentions that parents' original home was same design as Myron Leavitt's. Jean describes first home in North Las Vegas; how she met her husband back East. Marilyn talks about how she met her husband 14-18 Marilyn continues talking about her husband, who served as a police officer, working the Pittman area; husband's father was sheriff. All state disliked show Vegas, disappointing portrayal of the Lambs. All discuss Las Vegas' growth over the years, differences they see, for better and worse; demise of local school system; culture of 'Sin City'. Marilyn discusses serving on the planning commission, development in northwest of city 19-23 Continue talking about city's changes, including the Strip, Fremont Street; affection for the west side of town. Marilyn mentions working at Huntridge Theater. All reflect on the wonderful people they've met in Las Vegas, the good life they've enjoyed living in city. Marilyn again v talks about planning commission work, appointed by Jan Jones; opening of several casinos. Mention Panorama Market. Offer to provide photos to accompany transcript 24-28 Interviewer describes her thesis project about women in gaming and entertainment. Try to recall showgirls from Moulin Rouge that father knew; possible renovation discussions of Moulin Rouge over time. Mention Dr. West, Sarann Knight Preddy; Dairy Queen and YMCA on Main Street; Dula Center. Talk about apartments father owned, named after his daughters; appreciation of living in Las Vegas each time return from family visit back East 29-35 Index 36-37 vi vii viii ix This is Claytee White. It is November 5, 2013. I am here in Pinto Palomino today and I am with a wonderful family. We have two generations sitting around the table. Jean, we were going to start with you. Could you please give me your name and would you spell it for me, as well? Yes. Jean Tobman; J-E-A-N, T-O-B-M-A-N. I'm the matriarch of these two young ladies. I've lived here since 1953. My parents are from Haverstraw, New York and Weehawken, New Jersey. My mother moved here first. She came on a trip and she loved Las Vegas; that was in 1950. Then I decided, with my two little children, I'm going to pay her a visit and we fell in love with it. We wanted to leave the East, and to come this far west was a big excitement for us. We traveled in a car with two little babies across the country. We came here and lived with my mother on North Eighth Street on Fremont Street; she had a rooming house. She rented to cocktail waitresses and their children, and the children lived with us and my two little children. We all slept together in this little house. My husband went to Boulder City to get a job temporarily, until we decided to go back and pack up and come back here, as a gas station attendant. Then we decided to come back. We drove back to New Jersey, packed up as quickly as possible to come to this beautiful, beautiful desert because that's just what it was. It was maybe a half dozen streets. We came and moved in with my mother right on Fremont Street. And the story begins. My father had a used furniture store on Main Street; it was called City Furniture. My husband worked with him. He obtained his first taxi from one of his best friends who worked with him; his name was Johnny Crockett from the Westside. He bought his cab and they went into the cab business and that's what I have today; I have Western Cab Company and my family works that company. It was quite a few years and it was wonderful. We enjoyed every minute 1 of it. Then there was a fire at City Furniture and my husband— I'm going to let you start right there again with the fire. That was wonderful. I have so many questions to ask you. When I come back I'm going to start with those questions, so remember. Yes. Why don't we just— Yes, go along this way. Okay, Marilyn, M-A-R-I-L-Y-N, Moran, M-O-R-A-N. To start where my mother just left off...I'm the oldest offour children. There's me, my sister Helen, who runs the cab company for us; we had a brother who passed away when he was 40; and then we have the baby sister sitting here, Janie. My parents lived in North Las Vegas when I was born and we came here.