Talk About Las Vegas with Ira

Each week, Ira talks with the celebrities, entertainers, writers, and personalities who make Las Vegas the most exciting city in the world!

Each week, Ira talks with the celebrities, entertainers, writers, and personalities who make Las Vegas the most exciting city in the world!

Talking With Gordie Brown – May 10, 2021

This week, Ira spoke with impressionist/comedian Gordie Brown, starring in “Lasting Impressions” at the Golden Nugget Las Vegas, the Golden Nugget Las Vegas, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30. In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Brown talks about his journey from from Canadian political cartoonist to Las Vegas impressionist-comedian; how the lightbulb went off as he performed as the lead in “West Sidc Story” and he knew he wanted a life as a performer; how the second lightbulb went off, confirming his choice due to a fortuitous encounter with Rich Little; the satisfaction of moving an audience with performance; his most fun impression; and the hardest impression; and why he keeps “Elvis hours.”

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Talking With MAGICIAN David Goldrake – May 3, 2021


This week, Ira spoke with magician David Goldrake, “The International Man of Mystery,” currently performing a 65-minute magical spectacle at Notoriety Live, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7 p.m. In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Goldrake talks about discovering magic at age eight and using it to validate his existence as a child; why magic is a meritocracy; why he calls himself the “International Man of Mystery”; how he combines American show business with European flair; overcoming obstacles on the road to success; the factor of “staying ready” as opposed to “being ready”; why touch is important in magic and why he seeks a connection with each audience; why magic needs to be tangible; how his goal is to have one single heartbeat at the end of the show; why a magician’s skill is to hide the skill; balancing the art and the business; and what his biggest weakness is.

Talking With Melinda Sheckells – April 26, 2021


This week, Ira spoke with Melinda Sheckels, editorial director of OnTheStrip com and OffTheStrip com. In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Sheckells talks about her reporting and editing career in Las Vegas; switching her beat from housing to nightlife and entertainment; how the city is gearing up for the post COVID world; why she thrives on news and the fact that there’s no “off” switch in Las Vegas; how OnTheStrip com and OffTheStrip com became two of Las Vegas’ first all-digital news sources; the future success here in sports and live events; how social media has changed the way that visitors look at the city; and her favorite Las Vegas experience.

Talking With Charles Calello – April 19, 2021


This week, Ira spoke with singer, composer, conductor, arranger, and record producer Charles Calello. In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Calello talks about working with Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons; why he first took direction when he began his career from Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio; what keeps the creative process going; his long history of writing arrangements (starting when he was 16 and continuing into his 83rd year); his experience working with Sinatra; how recording styles have changed; why the creative process is both laborious and heart warming; why writers should “speak” from the heart and get joy from it; and his first time in Las Vegas (calling home for more money!)

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