The Jeff Does Vegas Podcast

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Taking you to the World Famous Las Vegas Strip...and beyond! Featuring conversations with entertainers and experts as well as trip reports with reviews of hotels, casinos, restaurants, shows, attractions, and more!

Episodes

3 days ago

Mr. Showmanship - Liberace In Las Vegas

3 days ago

There's no question that Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world, and all through the city's history, it's played host to some of the most legendary acts of all time.

Some names come to mind instantly, like The Rat Pack...Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin & Sammy Davis Jr. There's Mr. Las Vegas, Wayne Newton who's been headlining in Vegas since the mid-1960's. And of course, there's the King Of Rock N' Roll, Elvis Presley who sold out a record 636 shows at the International Hotel (later, the Las Vegas Hilton).

But one performer made his mark on Las Vegas before any of those people. In fact, some would say he paved the way for not only past legends but the massive residencies that would come decades later.

That performer is the one and only Liberace...

My guest for this episode of the podcast is Claire White, the Director of Education at The Mob Museum in Downtown Las Vegas. Before she joined the Mob Museum, Claire spent several years working at the now-closed Liberace Museum, also in Las Vegas, where she learned all about the long & storied career of "Mr. Showmanship".

If you want to check out some of the highlights of Liberace's life, check these out:

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Help support the podcast & get exclusive deals by booking your hotel stays, shows, attractions, tours, clubs and even complete vacation packages (including air & hotel) with our special link!

Monday Jan 02, 2023

A Cunning Display Of Stunts

Monday Jan 02, 2023

The Las Vegas Strip attracts all types of people.

Vacationers, gamblers, foodies, partiers...and daredevils. And there's one specific spot on the strip that's been particularly appealing to those who make their living defying death:

The Fountains at Caesars Palace

Since Caesars Palace opened back in 1966, the usually serene spot along Las Vegas Boulevard has played host to multiple brave - and possibly crazy - people who've attempted to jump their motorcycles over the famed fountains. Some have succeeded but many others have failed...spectacularly.

As we mark 55 years since the very first attempt on December 31, 1967, I invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy this specially re-mastered version of Sin City Stories: A Cunning Display Of Stunts.

If you want to learn more about these daredevils, check out the shownotes for Volume 4 of Sin City Stories featuring articles, photos, videos and more!

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Jeff Does Vegas is an official Vegas.com affiliate!

Help support the podcast & get exclusive deals by booking your hotel stays, shows, attractions, tours, clubs and even complete vacation packages (including air & hotel) with our special link!

Monday Dec 26, 2022

2022 In Review - Las Vegas History

Monday Dec 26, 2022

As 2022 comes to an end, I've decided to take you all on a little trip back in time to re-visit some of my favorite conversations from the last 12 months of the podcast.

For the third & final instalment of 2022 In Review, I've decided to cover what is easily one of my favorite things to talk about - and based on your reactions to these episodes, I'm betting it's yours as well:

Las Vegas History

Over the past year, I've covered some pretty cool parts of Vegas history and been very fortunate to be joined by some amazing guests for these conversations!

If you want to check out their full episodes, here they are (in order of appearance):

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Jeff Does Vegas is an official Vegas.com affiliate!

Help support the podcast & get exclusive deals by booking your hotel stays, shows, attractions, tours, clubs and even complete vacation packages (including air & hotel) with our special link!

Monday Nov 21, 2022

Inferno At The MGM Grand

Monday Nov 21, 2022

On November 21, 1980, the Las Vegas Strip was the site of what would become the third-worst hotel fire in modern U.S. history and what to this day remains the biggest disaster in the history of the state of Nevada.

Early that morning, a small fire broke out in a restaurant on the ground floor of what was - at the time - the MGM Grand Hotel. The fire quickly spread, engulfing the casino level and sending thick black smoke & toxic fumes to the upper floors of the hotel. In the end, 85 people were killed and hundreds more were injured.

But what exactly caused the fire and led to such widespread fatalities & injuries? And what changes were made to ensure that something like this could ever happen again?

As we mark 42 years since this horrific event, these are the questions we aim to answer with this specially re-mastered edition of Sin City Stories: Inferno At The MGM Grand.

If you want to learn more about the history of the original MGM Grand Hotel, the fire that claimed the lives of 85 innocent victims, or any of the other incidents covered in this episode, check out the shownotes for Volume 2 of Sin City Stories featuring photos, videos, articles and more!

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Jeff Does Vegas is an official Vegas.com affiliate!

Help support the podcast & get exclusive deals by booking your hotel stays, shows, attractions, tours, clubs and even complete vacation packages (including air & hotel) with our special link!

Monday Nov 07, 2022

Bugsy: Fact vs. Fiction

Monday Nov 07, 2022

In 1991, Warren Beatty jumped onto the big screen to portray one the most feared and most famous mobsters of all time...Bugsy.

The film, directed by Barry Levinson and co-starring Annette Bening (as Bugsy's longtime girlfriend, Virginia Hill) tells the story of Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel and his role in the creation of The Flamingo and the building of Las Vegas as an "oasis in the desert".

Bugsy was minor hit, grossing just over $49 Million at the box office, receiving high praise from critics, and garnering several Academy Award & Golden Globe nominations including a Golden Globe win for "Best Picture - Drama". But despite all these accolades, just how historically accurate was the film?

My guest for this episode of the podcast is here to tell us.

Making his FOURTH appearance on the podcast is Geoff Schumacher, the Vice President of Exhibits and Programs at the Mob Museum in Las Vegas. Geoff was kind enough to join me once again to help separate fact from fiction when it comes to the story of Bugsy Siegel.

Did Bugsy actually try to get into acting during his time in Hollywood? Who actually came up with the idea for The Flamingo? And was opening night at the casino really a total flop?

If you want to learn more about Bugsy & his associates and their place in Las Vegas history, plan a visit to the Mob Museum on your next Vegas vacation. You can also follow the Mob Museum on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

And be sure to check out Geoff's previous appearances on the podcast including:

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Jeff Does Vegas is an official Vegas.com affiliate!

Help support the podcast & get exclusive deals by booking your hotel stays, shows, attractions, tours, clubs and even complete vacation packages (including air & hotel) with our special link!

Monday Oct 31, 2022

Podcast Flashback: Viva SCARE Vegas

Monday Oct 31, 2022

For this Podcast Flashback, I've decided to take a deep dive into the archives and, being that it's Halloween, I thought it might be fun to re-share something spooky. And it all starts with a simple question:

Do you believe in ghosts?

With Vegas's somewhat shady past & tales of tragedy, it should come as no surprise that Sin City has more than its fair share of creepiness floating around. A quick search on Google reveals several spots both on and off The Strip that are believed to be haunted by the spirits of the infamous, the famous, and the not-so-famous.

Way back on Episode #41 of the podcast, I was joined by Josef Kruger of Las Vegas Ghost Tours for a conversation about some of the creepiest & strangest stories of Las Vegas spooks & spectres!

If you want to learn more about Vegas Ghost Tours and book yourself on an upcoming tour, be sure to visit their website. Also, follow US Ghost Adventures on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all kinds of cool ghost stories not just from Vegas, but from all over the United States!

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Jeff Does Vegas is an official Vegas.com affiliate!

Help support the podcast & get exclusive deals by booking your hotel stays, shows, attractions, tours, clubs and even complete vacation packages (including air & hotel) with our special link!

Monday Oct 03, 2022

10-1-17 - 5 Years Later

Monday Oct 03, 2022

Heads Up: This episode of Jeff Does Vegas contains descriptions of an event that some people may find disturbing or triggering. Listener discretion is advised.

October 1, 2017.

It's a date burned into the memories of both Las Vegas residents and visitors. On that day, the Vegas Strip - a place normally associated with fun & frivolity - became a site of terror for thousands of people attending a country music festival.

From his suite on one of the high floors of a nearby hotel, a gunman opened fire on the crowd and in doing so, committed the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history with dozens of people killed, hundreds of people wounded, and the city of Las Vegas shaken to the core.

2022 marks 5 years since the shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival and in honor of this tragic milestone, I've decided to release a re-mastered version of the Sin City Stories episode I produced about his incident.

We'll look at the response to the shooting from the people in the city, across the United States and around the world; We'll hear how Las Vegas has healed over the last 5 years; We'll learn about the person who perpetrated this awful attack; And we'll dig into the question that, to this day, still remains unanswered...

Why?

If you want to learn more about what unfolded on October 1, 2017 in Las Vegas including the response of the brave heroes who rushed to the scene, the outpouring of support following the shooting, the investigation into the attack, and the tributes paid to victims following this tragedy, check out the shownotes for Volume 6 of Sin City Stories featuring articles, photos, videos and more.

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Jeff Does Vegas is an official Vegas.com affiliate!

Help support the podcast & get exclusive deals by booking your hotel stays, shows, attractions, tours, clubs and even complete vacation packages (including air & hotel) with our special link!

Monday Aug 22, 2022

Las Vegas Black History - The Rise & Fall of the Moulin Rouge

Monday Aug 22, 2022

I've talked about a lot of Las Vegas history on this podcast and I absolutely love doing it. And, based on the reaction to the various Vegas history episodes I've released, it's pretty clear that you do too.

This time around, I'm covering a part of Las Vegas history that doesn't get the attention it deserves and if I'm being honest, it's a part of Las Vegas history that I really had no idea existed - and as someone who considers themselves a bit of a Vegas fanatic, I'm a little embarrassed by that fact.

Joining me on this episode is Claytee White, the Director of the Oral History Research Center at the University of Nevada - Las Vegas. I asked Ms. White to come on the podcast to have a conversation about Black History and the African American Community in Las Vegas after hearing her appearance on the podcast, "Spectacle - Las Vegas".

Ms. White shared her story of what brought her Las Vegas and got her interested in Black History, we discussed the situation in Las Vegas leading up to the founding of the Moulin Rouge, and what led to the integration of Las Vegas Strip.

If you'd like to learn more about Black History, the African American Community in Las Vegas, and the Moulin Rouge, visit Documenting the African American Experience in Las Vegas, a project of the UNLV University Libraries. You can also check out the books, The Moulin Rouge and Black Rights in Las Vegas by Earnest N. Bracey and Storming Caesars Palace by Annelise Orleck.

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Jeff Does Vegas is an official Vegas.com affiliate!

Help support the podcast & get exclusive deals by booking your hotel stays, shows, attractions, tours, clubs and even complete vacation packages (including air & hotel) with our special link!

Monday Jul 25, 2022

”Rare” History - The Story of the Golden Steer

Monday Jul 25, 2022

As frequent listeners to the podcast know, one of my favorite parts of visiting Vegas is the food.

Over the last several years, Las Vegas has become a Foodie's paradise with dozens of new restaurants opening each year, featuring celebrity chefs and cuisine you can possibly imagine. But you know what? No matter how hard you try, you just can't beat a classic.

The Golden Steer, located just off the strip on Sahara Boulevard is Las Vegas's oldest continually operating steakhouse. They opened back in 1958 and over the course of it's almost-65 year history, they've become legendary not only for their amazing steaks but for the incredible service, old Vegas atmosphere, and their famous (and infamous) customers.

My guest for this episode of the podcast is Nick McMillan, Managing Partner of the Golden Steer. Nick and I talked about the early days of the Golden Steer, it's evolution from "western roadhouse" to "cool celebrity hangout", their place in Vegas Mob History, and what makes the Golden Steer different from other Las Vegas steakhouses.

If you want to learn more about the Golden Steer and make a reservation for your next Vegas trip, visit their website. And for drool-worthy pics of their awesome food, be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Jeff Does Vegas is an official Vegas.com affiliate!

Help support the podcast & get exclusive deals by booking your hotel stays, shows, attractions, tours, clubs and even complete vacation packages (including air & hotel) with our special link!

Monday Jul 18, 2022

Atomic Vegas

Monday Jul 18, 2022

July 16th, 2022 marks the 77th anniversary of the detonation of the very first atomic bomb and to honor that milestone, I've decided to release a re-packaged version of one of my favorite episodes of Sin City Stories, my Las Vegas history spin-off podcast.

And although the actual test occurred in the desert just outside of Los Alamos, New Mexico, it led to one of the most interesting periods in Nevada's history and a very bizarre tourism industry for the city of Las Vegas.

Just as the cold war with Russia was beginning to heat up, the US Government selected a spot a little over 60 miles away from the glitz and glamour of the Vegas Strip where they could test atomic weapons. The explosions lit up the sky and the mushroom clouds that came with the blasts could be seen for miles around - including from the rooftops of the hotels in downtown Las Vegas.

If you want to go even further in-depth on the history of Atomic Vegas, check out the complete shownotes on the Sin City Stories website featuring articles, photos, videos and more! And if you've got a Las Vegas trip planned anytime soon, be sure to visit the National Atomic Testing Museum.

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Jeff Does Vegas is an official Vegas.com affiliate!

Help support the podcast & get exclusive deals by booking your hotel stays, shows, attractions, tours, clubs and even complete vacation packages (including air & hotel) with our special link!