The Talk About Las Vegas Podcast | a podcast by Ira Sternberg

This week, Ira spoke with Jim Tavaré.

Comedian Jim Tavaré is headlining, along with Jackson Perdue, in the Laugh Factory at the Tropicana Las Vegas through April 29.

In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Tavaré talks about his catastrophic, life-changing accident that kept him off the stage for more than a year; how his new approach to comedy will a funny and serious narrative of that accident; how he first developed his unique act with a double bass; how he’d rather deal with a heckler than a disinterested person; and his performances before The Royal Family and crowned heads of Europe.

Tavaré is an actor and comedian who holds the distinction of being the only overseas act ever to reach the final of NBC's “Last Comic Standing.”

He co-wrote and starred in ITV's “The Sketch Show,” which won a BAFTA and was syndicated worldwide.

He wrote and starred in six highly acclaimed short silent films for BBC Television (UK) called “Jim Tavaré Pictures Presents.” This was followed by his own comedy sketch series “The Jim Tavaré Show, a 13- part TV series co-written with Ricky Gervais, who also starred.

http://www.troplv.com

http://www.jimtavare.org

This week, Ira spoke with Brad Williams.

Comedian Brad Williams returns to Las Vegas for two performances inside Rocks Lounge at Red Rock Resort, April 20-21.

In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Williams talks about how he wins audiences over with by acknowledging his diminutive size with candor and humor; why his 4’4” height allows him to talk about things the average comedian can’t; how he finds humor through observations; why he doesn’t tell political jokes; and how social media has both improved comedy and made it worse.

A California native, Williams started doing stand-up at age 19 and has been touring ever since.

He has appeared on numerous TV shows including “Legit,” “Dave Attell’s Comedy Underground,” “Sam and Cat,” “Live at Gotham,” “The Tonight Show,” “ Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “Mind Of Mencia,” and “Pitboss.”

His one hour comedy special, “Fun Size,” was the highest rated comedy special on Showtime in 2015. A year later, he followed it up with a second special, “Daddy Issues.”

http://www.stationcasinoslive.com

http://www.bradwilliamscomedy.com

This week, Ira spoke with Kevin Lepine.

Kevin Lepine, winner of "Best of Vegas," stars in “Hypnosis Unleashed” at Binion’s in Downtown Las Vegas, Tuesdays through Sundays at 8:30.

In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Lepine talks about his background in clinical hypnosis; his development of hypnosis for performance art; his appreciation of mentors as well not taking his nightly audience for granted; his move to Las Vegas from Detroit; and the reasons for his success with his own show in Downtown Las Vegas.

Lepine has a certification in hypnotherapy, and uses his knowledge to take comedy hypnosis to a new level. Ironically, says Kepine, “I want my volunteers to have the time of their lives. The volunteers have even more fun than the audiences."

http://www.binions.com

http://vegashypnosisshow.com/

This week, Ira spoke with William Rempel.

William C. Rempel is the author of “The Gambler, How Penniless Dropout Kirk Kerkorian Became The Greatest Deal Maker in Capitalist History.” Kerkorian played a big part in the development of modern Las Vegas.

In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Rempel traces Kerkorian’s hardscrabble childhood; his bravery in ferrying airplanes to Europe in World War II; his ability to take chances in business; his legacy in creating the leisure industry and the subsequent impact on Las Vegas; and the lowest point in his life, one which had nothing to do with money.

Rempel is a veteran investigative reporter and editor with thirty-six-years’ experience at the Los Angeles Times. He has been recognized with numerous journalism honors including an Overseas Press Club Award, and a Gerald Loeb Award, and was a finalist for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting.

He is the author of “At the Devil’s Table: The Untold Story of the Insider Who Brought Down the Cali Cartel,” the basis of an eighty-episode Spanish language television series.

Rempel’s first book, “Delusions of a Dictator,” was based on exclusive access to the secret diaries of former Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Over his long career at the Los Angeles Times, Rempel produced groundbreaking reports on subjects ranging from oil tanker safety prior to the Exxon Valdez disaster to the menace of al Qaeda prior to September 11, 2001.

He tracked international arms merchants across Europe, documented secret U.S. support for terrorists in North Africa and traced the shipments of Soviet-era cargo planes to South American drug cartels.

Few of those stories were as challenging as finding the real Kirk Kerkorian behind decades of privacy protection.

http://www.williamrempel.com

This week, Ira spoke with Tom Santopietro.

Tom Santopietro is author of “Considering Doris Day (Doris Day will celebrate her 96th birthday April 3).”

In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Santopietro talks about Doris Day’s unique status as one of the top entertainers of the 20th century, her extraordinary success in movies, radio, recordings and television; the lack of recognition due her by Baby Boomers based on a few motion pictures that cemented an image; Paul McCartney’s acknowledgement of her as a great singer; and why she agreed to play Las Vegas, but could not come to terms with the casino.

He also is the author of five other books: “Barbara Cook: Then and Now,” the best-selling “The Sound of Music Story,” “The Godfather Effect: Changing Hollywood, America, and Me,” “Sinatra in Hollywood,” and “The Importance of Being Barbra.”

A frequent media commentator in programs ranging from the PBS documentary “The Italian Americans” to the Jimmy van Heusen biography “Swingin’ With Frank & Bing,” Santoprieto conducts monthly interviews for Barnes and Noble and lectures on classic films. Over the past thirty years he has managed more than two dozen Broadway shows.

Prior to becoming an author, Santopietro worked as a tennis pro and has spent twenty-five years as a manager of more than 30 Broadway shows, including Phantom of the Opera, A Few Good Men, Jersey Boys, and Master Class.

https://www.tomsantopietro.com

This week, Ira spoke with David Goldrake.

Luxembourg’s award-winning illusionist David Goldrake, who is presenting IMAGINARIUM at the Tropicana Las Vegas Tuesdays through Sundays at 7 p.m., now calls the city home.

In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Goldrake talks about discovering magic at age eight in a small country; learning to perform through reading books and using magic to validate his existence as a child; coming to Las Vegas after successfully establishing himself in Europe; combining reality and fantasy, as well as the grand illusion and close-up for his show; and why he believes magic is a universal language.

Representing a new generation of illusionists, David Goldrake’s IMAGINARIUM allows guests to lose all sense of reality, creating a surreal scene caught somewhere between reality and a dreamlike world full of dreams and fantasies.

From the classics of magical history to modern experience, the grand illusionist treats guests to an interactive show featuring escapology, music and choreography blending with modern 3D mapping technology.

Goldrake developed IMAGINARIUM with the best creators in the field of magic and entertainment, and undertakes a journey through time that challenges the laws of nature.

He started his career as a professional magician in 1999. In addition to being a regular performer at the renowned Magic Castle in Hollywood, Goldrake has performed all over the world and has amazed more than 20 million guests in more than ten countries. He speaks seven languages.

In 2010, he was awarded the coveted 'Mandrake d’Or’ award (The Oscar of Magic) ranking him alongside names such as other Las Vegas favorites including David Copperfield and Siegfried & Roy. In 2015, Goldrake was awarded the “Merlin Award” for “Best Illusionist Europe 2015” by the International Society of Magicians.

http://www.troplv.com

http://www.davidgoldrake.com

This week, Ira spoke with Jack Hanna.

America’s favorite zookeeper Jungle Jack Hanna, who will be appearing with some of his favorite animals in JACK HANNA'S INTO THE WILD LIVE! in Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center March 17, is recognized around the country as America’s favorite zookeeper. Included on stage with Hanna are an eight-foot alligator, a spider monkey and an African porcupine.

In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Hanna talks about his philosophy of loving what you do and working hard; respecting animals in their natural habitat; why zoos and aquariums are imperative; and the importance of education and technology in saving what remains of the wild.Hanna has made countless television appearances since 1983 on shows such as Good Morning America, The Late Late Show with James Corden, David Letterman, FOX and CNN News.

Hanna and his TV crew have travelled to Africa more than forty times. Although he has explored many fascinating cultures and animals throughout his travels, the country that has truly captured his heart is Rwanda. There Hanna has experienced the thrill of observing the magnificent mountain gorillas, while also spending time with people in the community.He is proud to support a number of Rwandan wildlife and humanitarian organizations, including the Gorilla Doctors and Partners In Conservation at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

http://www.thesmithcenter.com

http://www.jackhanna.com

This week, Ira spoke with Emilio Castillo.

Emilio Castillo, cofounder of Tower of Power, which is performing March 9-11 at South Point Casino, has delivered the best in rhythm and blues music for 50 years.

In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas With Ira, Castillo reflects about his early days forming his first band; developing the style and music of what became Tower of Power; how the band came to be named; the influence of Sly Stone.

He also talks about his relationship with impresario and rock concert promoter Bill Graham; playing with the Rolling Stones, and releasing two albums celebrating the 50th anniversary of the group.

Their first record, East Bay Grease, helped to define the East Bay sound, and did well enough to warrant a recording contract with Warner Brothers. Bump City, their 1972 debut for the label, was a hit on both the Billboard 200 and the chart’s R&B Albums chart, and netted them the hits “You’re Still A Young Man” and “Down To The Nightclub.”

“We’re not a smooth jazz band, or a retro band...we don’t follow trends, we just make our music exactly the way we want it to be. We noticed years ago that when we did that, the fans liked it,” says Castillo. “We stay true to that, and that makes it easy to go to work on a daily basis. Every time we go to play, we’re playing music we love because we got to make it our way.”

The decade of the 1970s were a boom period for the group, who hit with radio classics like “So Very Hard To Go” and “What Is Hip?” and the band has continued to tour and record over the years with their latest project Hipper Than Hip being a live flash back to their 1974 tour. Castillo says their love of the stage is the same today as it was back in 1968.

http://www.southpointcasino.com

http://www.towerofpower.com

This week, Ira spoke with Harvey Kubernik.Harvey Kubernik, an active music journalist for more than 40 years, is the author of eight books, including “Turn Up The Radio,” “Rock, Pop and Roll in Los Angeles 1956-1972.” The tome captures the flavor of the L.A. music and radio scene at a unique moment in time. Kubernik’s […]

This week, Ira spoke with James Orr. Writer-producer-director James Orr, after 30 years in Hollywood, moved to Las Vegas and now is offering “The James Orr Master Class,” a series of three-day intensive seminars, one on screenwriting, March 10-12 and one on directing, April 14-16. A native of Canada, Orr moved to Los Angeles to […]