Author, Vegas: From Fremont to The Strip - How Las Vegas Casinos Evolved
This week on Talk About Las Vegas With Ira, Ira welcomes Mark Wojtowicz Jr., author of Vegas: From Fremont to The Strip - How Las Vegas Casinos Evolved. Mark dives into his earliest and most vivid memory of Las Vegas, sharing how his fascination with the entertainment capital led him to take on the ambitious task of writing the book. He reveals why, in an age dominated by digital content, a physical book still holds significant meaning — and why a linear storytelling approach was crucial to making the pieces fit. Mark also discusses which casino left the biggest impression on him, which one surprisingly did not, and the stark differences between the Strip and Downtown Vegas. Along the way, he uncovers fascinating Vegas personalities, his personal “bucket list” item, and offers his vision for the future of Las Vegas. Whether you're a Vegas aficionado or just curious about its captivating past, this episode promises a deep dive into the rich and evolving history of Las Vegas.
Author, Vegas historian, creator, producer and host of 360 Vegas podcast, Mark Wojtowicz Jr grew up in Conneaut, Ohio and fell in love with Vegas more than twenty years ago. Since then, he has dedicated his energy to researching and enjoying Sin City. This obsession spawned the 360 Vegas podcast, a weekly production that as of this writing has more than 500 episodes released, in addition to more than 200 episodes of bonus content which includes approximately 30 hours of 'Vintage Vegas' episodes on the history of Las Vegas. Mark is most proud of those Vintage Vegas segments, which also led to him becoming an author.
Mark now lives in Las Vegas with Keren, his wife of almost thirty years, as well as his cat and two wild (but lovable) Bernese Mountain Dogs.