Director, Voices: The Danny Gans Story
This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with Andrew Davies Gans, director of the new documentary, Voices: The Danny Gans Story, premiering June 20 at the 28th Annual Dances With Films festival at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. The film honors the remarkable yet often overlooked legacy of Danny Gans, a legendary Las Vegas entertainer whose name was once synonymous with the Strip. Though his star burned brightly during his lifetime, his passing on May 1, 2009, left only a fleeting memory in the city he helped define.
Andrew shares why now—over a decade later—felt like the right time to tell his father’s story. He opens up about the emotional journey behind the camera, the challenges of wrangling a complex production delayed by COVID, and how a project he thought would take two years turned into a nearly five-year labor of love. Featuring heartfelt interviews with Louie Anderson, Donny Osmond, and Las Vegas entertainment columnists Norm Clarke and John Katsilometes, the film sheds light on Danny’s extraordinary talent, unmatched work ethic, and the pain he kept hidden behind his smile.
From Danny’s deep admiration for Sammy Davis Jr. to his relentless drive, athletic mindset, and close relationship with his own father, Voices explores the man behind the Vegas marquee. Despite his enormous popularity within Las Vegas, Danny remained a relative unknown beyond it—largely by choice, relying on word-of-mouth rather than flashy marketing. Now, this powerful and intimate documentary aims to restore Danny Gans to his rightful place in entertainment history—and introduce him to a global audience for the first time.
Andrew Davies Gans is a Los Angeles based producer, director, and writer. Andrew was once a promising athlete and was Drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays at 18 years old, but his Major League Baseball dreams were cut short by injury,redirecting his ambitions into storytelling.
As a producer, he has brought bold narratives to prestigious festivals like SXSW (Pink Skies Ahead) and Tribeca (Changing The Game), collaborating with talents such as Anya Taylor-Joy,Michael Shannon, Emma Roberts, and Ewan McGregor.
With Voices: The Danny Gans Story, Andrew makes his directorial debut, crafting a layered and intimate documentary that explores the life of his father, Las Vegas legend Danny Gans. This next phase marks an evolution in his career as Andrew moves beyond producing to embrace writing and directing narrative films. He’s eager to make films that bridge the gap between indie and studio cinema, bringing intimate stories with powerful universal themes to audiences on a grand scale.