July 31, 1969 was a day that changed Las Vegas forever.
It was on that day that Elvis Presley stepped onto the stage at the newly-opened International Hotel to kick off a four-week engagement in their massive new 2000-seat showroom. At the time, Elvis was thought to be "over the hill" and "washed up" but the run of concerts didn't just revive the King of Rock N' Roll's career...it helped revive Las Vegas.
My guest for this episode of the podcast is Richard Zoglin, author of the book Elvis In Vegas: How The King Reinvented The Las Vegas Show.
Richard and I talked about Elvis's first appearance in Las Vegas in 1956, the leisure time Elvis spent in Vegas & the "unlikely" friendships he made along the way, the toll Elvis's Las Vegas performances took on his health and the effect that Elvis had on Las Vegas - from the doors he opened for future entertainers to the presence he still maintains in the city.
If you'd like to order your own copy of Elvis In Vegas: How The King Reinvented The Las Vegas Show head to Richard Zoglin's website or visit your favorite bookseller.
Also in this episode, Vegas News You Can Use:
- The original American Idol, Kelly Clarkson, has announced a 2020 residency in Las Vegas
- R.U.N. at the Luxor has a memorable-for-the-wrong-reasons opening at Luxor
- And KAOS at the Palms has shut its doors after just 8 months in operation
And don't forget to hit the Audience Survey link to share your thoughts on the show!
I have a very simple question for you: Do you believe in ghosts?
If your answer is "Yes", then you're going to love this episode. Honestly, even if your answer is "No" you're STILL going to love this episode!
With Las Vegas's shady past, it should come as no surprise that Sin City is blessed with its own share of spookiness. A quick Google search reveals multiple spots both on and off the famous strip that are believed to be haunted by the famous, the infamous and the not-so-famous.
Just in time for Halloween, I'm joined by Josef Kruger of Las Vegas Ghost Tours who's here to share some of the creepiest tales of Las Vegas spooks & spectres.
For example...Which hotel was ravaged by a fire that killed 85 of its guests, some of whom haven't quite "checked out"? What resort is haunted by its infamous mobster former owner? And where can you go in Las Vegas to hang out with the ghost of a murdered rap superstar?
For the answers to these - and other - terrifying questions start listening now!
And for tickets to join Las Vegas Ghost Tours, visit their website or start following them on Facebook.
Also in this episode, Vegas News You Can Use:
- Legendary prop-comic Carrot Top signs a contract extension
- Two big shows on the Strip hit major milestones
- And The Mob Museum celebrates a piece of Vegas history with free admissions.
Also, don't forget to take part in the Audience Survey where you can share your feedback on the podcast!
The topic for this episode of the show comes courtesy of listener, Jacob Kehl from Denmark. Jacob really wanted to me to do an episode featuring tips & tricks for the Vegas Low Roller.
Jacob, your wish is my command!
And joining me to talk about the right way to Low Roll in Las Vegas is friend of the show, making his second appearance on the podcast, Sergio Portesan - the creator of the website Viva Las Value! Sergio and I talked about the best websites to find discount Vegas hook-up's, suggestions for low roller hotels, restaurants & bars and how to make your bankroll last longer when hitting the tables & machines.
For all the details, check out Sergio's website, Viva Las Value and be sure to follow him on Twitter and Facebook! And if you want to learn the story behind the creation of Viva Las Value, go back in the archives and check out EP#14: Viva Las Value.
Also in this episode, Vegas News You Can Use:
- Caesars hikes resort fees at three of its Vegas properties
- Raiding The Rock Vault makes a move to west of the The Strip
- And golf is back on the Vegas Strip...and it's very VERY expensive
Don't forget - if you have a few moments, please fill out the Audience Survey!
June 22, 2016 was a huge day for sports fans in Vegas - specifically hockey fans. That was the day that the NHL announced they'd approved plans for professional hockey to come to the Nevada desert, paving the way for the Vegas Golden Knights to officially become the first major professional sports franchise to call Las Vegas home.
As the Vegas Golden Knights get set to kick off their third season at T-Mobile Arena, my special guest for this episode of the podcast is Ken Boehlke - one of the creators and hosts of the SinBin Vegas Podcast. Along with his partner Jason, the pair have been podcasting about pro hockey in Vegas since long before there was actually pro hockey in Vegas.
Ken and I talked about the Golden Knights Cinderella-story inaugural season, how & why hockey seems to working in Vegas as compared to other "non-traditional" hockey markets, what effect - if any - the Raiders & the NFL coming to town will have on the Golden Knights and Ken shared his thoughts on the team's chances in the upcoming 2019-2020 NHL season.
Check out the SinBin Vegas Podcast on your favourite podcast platform or via their website at SinBin.Vegas. Also, be sure to follow SinBin Vegas on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Don't forget: The Vegas Golden Knights play their first game of the regular season on October 2nd at T-Mobile Arena vs the San Jose Sharks!
Also in this episode, Vegas News You Can Use:
- Hooters Casino Hotel will be making a big change by the end of 2019
- Excalibur is upping their restaurant game with a new spot called Vagabond
- And The Cosmopolitan has launched a new charity program to help slot players get rid of their change
My special guest for this episode of the podcast is Steve Cyr.
Steve is a Casino Host in Las Vegas, but he's not just any Casino Host. Steve Cyr is a member of a very elite group of Casino Hosts who deal exclusively with "Whales".
For the uninitiated, "Whales" are the people who come to Sin City to gamble massive sums of money; it's not uncommon for them to drop upwards of a million dollars over the course of a weekend in Vegas. To get them to come to town - along with their giant bank accounts - Casino Hosts will hook them up with lavish comps...like flights on private jets, limo service to & from the casino, high-end suites & villas, ringside seats to UFC fights and pretty much anything else you can imagine.
Steve Cyr is the guy makes all of that happen - and so much more.
Steve was gracious enough to invite me into his home for our conversation. We talked about everything from his start in the casino business to how he re-invented the way hosting was being done to some of the more bizarre requests he's gotten from his Whales.
If you want to know more about Steve Cyr, check out his website and be sure to follow him on Twitter & Instagram. Also, be sure to pick up a copy of the book, "Whale Hunting In The Desert: Secrets of a Vegas Superhost" by Deke Castleman, which chronicles Steve's rise to become one of the top hosts in Las Vegas.
Also in this episode, Vegas News You Can Use:
- A massive sale as Eldorado Resorts enters into an agreement to purchase Caesars Entertainment
- It's official: The SLS will become The Sahara...again
- Record passenger numbers pass through Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport in the month of May
