HISTORIC BLACK VEGAS: The Missile 

BY CLAYTEE D. WHITE

The Missile was a newspaper once published by the Las Vegas Branch of the NAACP. The issue I discovered was dated August 2, 1960, Volume 3, Number 3. I have no idea when it began publication, how often it appeared, or when it ended. It was likely replaced by — and perhaps eventually absorbed by — The Voice newspaper, as mentioned by J. David Hoggard in an interview with UNLV. 

Advertising from Westside businesses testifies to the vibrancy of the area’s commerce at the time. Those businesses included “Poor” Jerry’s News Stand at 614 W. Bonanza Road; The Community Store at 1218 D Street; Canada Dry Bottling Company at 500 W. Bonanza Road; El Rio Club at North H and Revere; Ted Floyd Chevron Service Station at 721 W. Bonanza Road; Guffey’s Quality Goods at 1315 D Street; Mrs. Coleman’s House of Beauty at 416 West Monroe Avenue; Crockett & Wesley’s Barber Shop & Amusement Center at 1402 D Street; Gilbert Bros. Market and Liquors at 400 W. Bonanza; Westside Laundromat at 609 Van Buren Avenue and F Street; Larry’s Music Bar at 1318 D Street; Saphronia’s Beauty Salon at 130 North C Street; New Town Tavern Club at 600 Jackson Avenue; Margo’s Fine Foods at 814 W. Bonanza; Ranch Market at 611 Van Buren Avenue; Jim Tatum’s Pit Bar-B-Q at 1301 North E Street; Ellen’s Beauty Salon at 407 Jackson Avenue; and the Louisiana Club at 1322 North F Street. 

This edition was eight pages long and contained advertisements from a few downtown businesses as well. Three things surprised me. First, this list represented only a fraction of the active businesses we know existed in 1960. Second, the number of businesses located along Bonanza Road was far greater than I had realized. And, perhaps most astonishing, there was an advertisement from James A. Gay III for Sunset Funeral Chapel at 310 Foremaster Lane — a business I have not seen mentioned in any of the oral histories I have encountered. 

The front page of The Missile announced the arrival of the new pastor of Zion Methodist, Rev. Marion Bennett, and his family. Governor Grant Sawyer addressed the Masons of Truelight Lodge #54. The Nevada Voters League committed to picketing any member who endorsed a candidate not endorsed by the membership. And six leaders from the Black community were candidates for political office. 

This unprecedented number of office seekers sought state and local offices. Dr. Charles I. West was a Democratic candidate for Assembly District 2. Dr. James B. McMillan, a Democrat, was seeking a seat as County Commissioner. J. David Hoggard was also pursuing the Democratic nomination for Assembly District 2, as was Rev. Donald Clark, who was running as a Republican in Assembly District 2. A seat on the State Board of Education was sought by Mrs. Helen Crozier, while the sixth candidate, Rev. Leo Johnson, was running to serve on the Hospital Trustee Board. 

I sincerely miss having a Black newspaper in our community. 

Black businesses are making a comeback, some through the efforts and creativity of the Jackson Street Coalition. Yet we don’t know enough about their work or how we can support them because there is no longer an official newspaper like The Missile, The Voice, The Sentinel Voice, or The Sentinel. 

And Black political candidates in next month’s election are numerous — so numerous that I will not attempt to list them. We have a U.S. congressman, governor, judges, Assembly members, a mayor, and others. 

As our Nevada Voters League of the past would have urged us: JUST VOTE!