On the Corner of Main Street

Time for another fascinating history lesson! Leading the class today: Dr. Bo Bernhard, who owns a couple of titles at UNLV: Vice President of Economic Development and Executive Director of The ​International Gaming Institute. He shares news about how the IGI works as part of the Harry Reid Research and Technology Park. Among the subjects you'll definitely want to hear: all about the Hotel of the Future, and how it's developed sheets that are used just once! And Bo talks about one of the more popular classes he teaches: The Sociology of Gaming. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

With fireworks, streamers, showgirls and doughnuts, Plaza has kicked off huge improvements that will help fulfill its goal to reimagine Main Street. In this episode you'll hear Jonathan describe four big projects: The Carousel Bar in what's now the porte-cochere, a new branch of Pink Box Donuts that opens right onto Main St., an expansion of Oscar's Steakhouse that will bring the first outdoor fine dining to a downtown casino -- and a new social media - friendly, smoke-free, separate entrance to the Brian Christopher Slots at Plaza Area! For all the deep details, you'll just have to listen! Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

Jeff Silver has experienced the Las Vegas casino business from both sides: as a member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board and as an executive at the Riviera, Landmark and Caesars Palace. Silver's time as a regulator happened during the Frank Rosenthal era, and Silver was the man who eventually put Lefty in the 'Black Book.' At the Riviera, Silver spearheaded several innovations, including one that's ubiquitous today: putting a fast food franchise on the property! Silver is also on the board of The Mob Museum. And, of course, he has stories about Oscar Goodman! Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

After a more than 14 year delay, Las Vegas' tallest casino-hotel is finally back on track. And the man in charge of bringing Fontainebleau Las Vegas to life is veteran hotelier Cliff Atkinson. He talks about growing up in San Francisco wanting to be a chef and run a restaurant - and how he morphed into running hotels. But Cliff spends most of the episode discussing the "full circle" journey of Fontainebleau Las Vegas from near-completion in 2007, abandonment in 2008, subsequent ownership changes, and how its original owner is now poised to complete the property and open next year. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

We could just as easily call this "Governor Richard Bryan." Or "Attorney General Richard Bryan." He held all three jobs in his long, distinguished career. He was also Clark County's first Public Defender, working with a staff that for a while included another young attorney named Oscar Goodman. Bryan talks about growing up in downtown Las Vegas, being the son of a well-connected attorney, developing his own connections, and how the valley has grown over his 80+ years. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

We're back with highlights from another talk by former Las Vegas Mayor, famous attorney and steakhouse namesake Oscar Goodman. Oscar reads from a logbook of Metro Police officers who were following him in the 1970s, and has some 'kind' words for a local politician seated at his table. But the centerpiece of this story involves Tony 'The Ant' Spilotro and a 'friend' he brought into Oscar's law office one day. You will be fascinated!

UFC is the world's largest promoter of mixed martial arts, and is based in Las Vegas. Its iconic ring announcer, Bruce Buffer, is the star of this episode. Bruce shares the story of finding his passion in his mid 30s - after finding his long-lost half-brother -- who also happens to be the world's most famous boxing ring announcer, Michael Buffer. Bruce Buffer talks about helping Michael capitalize on his fame, and then finding the perfect gig for himself with UFC.

Vital Vegas blogger Scott Roeben is back as the podcast's first-ever THREE-TIME guest! And there is plenty to discuss. For one, Scott is not a fan of the statue of Oscar Goodman with Tony "The Ant" Spilotro, and he lets Jonathan know why. Jonathan smooths it over by taking Scott's advice on a new combo item for the bar (you'll have to listen to find out what it is). Jonathan also teases Scott about a new expansion project that's not been announced. And it all starts with Scott talking about a sudden video poker jackpot - two of them - just before we recorded. Much to producer Rich Johnson's dismay. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

He's back! Former William Hill USA president Joe Asher, now IGT president of sports betting, joins Jonathan and Lisa at Oscar's. Joe explains his new job, how the William Hill - Caesars deal worked out, and how he relaxed between jobs. He also offers some 'advice' for pro athletes celebrating championships (hint: don't be an idiot). Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

Jonathan and Lisa welcome a very special guest: Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak. They discuss how the Milwaukee native got to Las Vegas in the 1970s, and stayed - establishing a successful marketing business that lasted more than 30 years. He traces his transition to public service and how his first term has been defined by the Covid pandemic. And the governor discusses his efforts to diversify the state's economy so it's not as dependent on the hospitality industry.

Second-generation Las Vegas legend Brian Greenspun swings by Oscar's to tell fantastic stories about his legendary father, the early mob days of The Strip, helping found the state of Israel and desegregating the casino resorts. Brian also discusses his legacy, including development of neighborhoods and the casino in Green Valley Ranch.

It was a night to remember when Las Vegas royalty showed up to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Oscar's Steakhouse. Not only did the former mayor tell a great story about 'The Trial of the Century,' he was the subject of a roast that included a rare appearance by legendary comic magician The Amazing Jonathan. And we learned about big improvements coming to the restaurant. We have the highlights. But beware: this episode is definitely rated "E" for explicit.

Las Vegas is home to some of the world's biggest and best events, from the Rock 'n Roll Marathon to Electric Daisy Carnival to the National Finals Rodeo. The Organization that finds those events and convinces their organizers to come here is LVE - Las Vegas Events. For 20 years, Pat Christenson has been LVE's president. He shares some stories about the progress in those years - especially how NFR came to Vegas and won't ever leave. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

The Plaza has become a player in the Vegas rodeo scene thanks to Linnea Mitchell Nelson, who convinced Jonathan to build the Core Arena. The arena has hosted a variety of events, but its main reason for being is rodeo. Linnea tells us how that happened, and how the modest bit of dirt next to the hotel complex has anchored the Plaza's growing presence during National Finals Rodeo and all year. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

In past episodes we've presented bits and pieces of past Oscar Dinners, in which the former mayor tells tales from his days at the nation's top mob lawyer. But this time we're giving you The Full Oscar - an entire story from start to finish, as recorded at Oscar's Steakhouse at Plaza. Enjoy! Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

For nearly 40 years, Piero's has been one of Las Vegas's top Italian restaurants, and a destination for anyone looking for an authentic "Old Vegas" vibe. Its history is preserved on the walls, on the booth plaques honoring long-time regulars and celebrities and in the movie "Casino," which used Piero's to portray a couple of fictional (but similar) restaurants. And all of that history is personified in Piero's only owner, Freddie Glusman. Jonathan, Lisa and producer Rich Johnson venture out of the Plaza for the first time to visit Freddie in his office and talk about the restaurant, his life and some of the people he's known over his many decades in Las Vegas. (And we take Freddie with extra 'salt,' so this episode is rated 'E.') Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

It's time for your Nevada history lesson! And few know more about the Silver State's colorful history than Dr. Michael Green, Associate Professor of history at UNLV. Jonathan, Lisa and Gary dive into the early days of Las Vegas, how the men who worked on Hoover Dam enjoyed their paydays on Block 16, and the first casino to be controlled by the Mob. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

The CEO of AGS (aka American Gaming Systems), David Lopez, shares his journey from Troy, NY to Las Vegas - from sweeping floors at MGM Grand to running one of the nation's top makers of slot machines, card shufflers, table game displays and online casino games. Along the way, you might even learn the secret of "Monkey Pirate." And this one is rated "E." Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

Did you miss us? We hope so, after our extended break. Jonathan, Lisa and Gary are back with a look at what everyone did over the summer. For Plaza it was Super Bingo every month, lots of photos inside Studio 71, BCSlots winning big, Oscar Goodman resuming his Oscar Dinner series and much, much more. Producer Rich Johnson also shadowed Jonathan when he attended the Global Gaming Expo, and asks some detailed questions about slot machines. And the gang drops a few hints about what's coming up the rest of 2021.

A veteran of 11 years playing in the NHL, Shane Hnidy (pronounced NY-dee) has been with the Vegas Golden Knights as a TV analyst since Day One. Shane makes his first visit to Oscar's (but promises it won't be his last) to talk about his vagabond career, how he made the transition from the ice to the broadcast booth at home in Manitoba, and why he jumped at the chance to move to Las Vegas. NOTE #1: This was recorded before the newest mask mandate in Las Vegas, and before the Golden Knights traded away Marc-Andre Fleury. NOTE #2: The podcast is taking a summer vacation. We'll be back in September. It's a good time to catch up on past episodes! Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

Jonathan and Gary spend time with J Dapper, a Las Vegas native who's developed retail, office and residential spaces all over the valley. But his current passion has just begun: a three-year project to restore the Huntridge Theater and develop other nearby properties. The goal is to renew a historic, but neglected, part of downtown. J also presents Jonathan with a gift: a family document linked to one of the most infamous names in Las Vegas history. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Gary Vickery

Time to give the other Mayor Goodman some love - current Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman! She shares insights on being married to Oscar for nearly 60 years, as well as her early work in Las Vegas as a publicist and founder of the valley's first prep school. The Mayor also shares two examples of her experience with the high-profile and "in the weeds" aspects of public service: her duties as the "voice" of the region after the October 1 tragedy, and her long-term ongoing efforts to convince California to widen Interstate 15 between Barstow and the Nevada state line. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

It's going to be a legend within a legend: The Sand Dollar Downtown will open later this year inside Plaza! Rockin' for more than 40 years just west of The Strip, the Sand Dollar has been a favorite of those in the hospitality industry. Its intimate, old-school vibe is combined with an elevated but unpretentious bar program you don't usually find in live music venues. The Sand Dollar Downtown (which JJ's already nicknamed "The Downtown Dollar") will resurrect the energy of rock's golden era, and provide a comfortable, modern experience. It will be just off the casino floor, and have its own entrance on Main St. Joining Jonathan and Lisa are Sand Dollar co-owners Anthony Jamison and Nathan Grates, along with Plaza Food & Beverage Director Ryan Rowland. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

Quickly after he arrived to play Lonny in "Rock of Ages," Mark Shunock fell in love with Las Vegas. And it took him only about three months to put together a charity that is prospering to this day: Mondays Dark. Mark and wife Cheryl Daro call upon their performing friends every other Monday to put on a show, the proceeds benefiting a different Las Vegas charity every time. Since it began, Mondays Dark has raised more than $1.5 million. While "Rock of Ages" is gone, Mark is best known as the in-game MC for the Vegas Golden Knights. He's the guy up at the siren keeping up the energy between periods. And he's now branched into boxing, as a ring announcer for Top Rank Boxing cards. And, oh yeah: he was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for his work in the national tour of "The Lion King" on Broadway! Quite a bit, he says, for a kid from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario! Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

Jonathan, Lisa and Gary get a thorough education in sports betting with a three-decade veteran of the business, Station Casinos Vice President of Race and Sports Jason McCormick. Jason shares his lifelong fascination with sports betting, how it brought him to Las Vegas and how - unlike most in the business - he's been able to stay with one company for so long. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

It's a wild time with Las Vegas native and third generation pawnbroker Corey Harrison. He takes us behind the counter of Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, the home of one of the highest rated TV shows of the past decade. Corey talks about how he thought the show would never be the phenomenon it is. And he shares how he suddenly discovered how wrong he was, and how famous he'd suddenly become in a place he couldn't escape: a cruise ship! Advisory: This episode is rated 'E' for explicit. Yeah. Corey swears just a bit. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

House of Blues. Blush. Bare Pool Lounge. Daydream. Surrender. Encore Beach Club. Andrea's. On the Record. Those are just a few of the clubs and venues that Sean Christie has founded or managed during his more than 20 years in Las Vegas. He joins us to talk about all that, and what's new: Carversteak, a spectacular steakhouse scheduled to open in December at Resorts World. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

We're back with highlights from another Oscar Dinner Series event. This time, Oscar told stories about his first client - a pro bono murder case that involved a lie detector and a prosecutor who wasn't living up to his deal. Then Oscar talks about the cases that cemented - rightly or wrongly - his reputation as a "miracle worker" among those in the Las Vegas sports betting community. Oscar, Jonathan and Lisa also talk about what's coming at the next dinner. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

Lip Smaking Foodie Tours is your ticket to sample some of the best restaurants in downtown Las Vegas, The Strip, the Arts District and more. Owner Donald Contursi and tour guide Tom Svoboda talk to Lisa and Gary about how the business started, how it's recovered from Covid and what's next! Hosts: Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery, Jonathan Jossel

Jonathan, Lisa, Gary and producer Rich Johnson look back on the challenges of the past year: closing the hotel during the pandemic, figuring out how to operate once it reopened, dealing with ever-changing and often-conflicting rules and guidelines, and setting a course for the future. All this as Plaza gets ready to celebrate its 50th anniversary! Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

In a town with a reputation as a transient media market, Jason Feinberg is an exception. He's been here for 15 years. He anchors the morning news at Fox5, and often covers the biggest events, parties and openings here in Las Vegas. Jason shares his career path, which included stops in Palm Springs, West Texas, Seattle and Los Angeles. And Jason tries again to get the fact that a Brit with nearly zero knowledge of American football won his fantasy football tournament last season! (Hint: the Brit's initials are J.J.) Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

He's back with more tales of old Las Vegas. Oscar Goodman, our steakhouse namesake, former mayor and legendary lawyer talks with Jonathan about the last Oscar's Dinner Series. At the dinner, Oscar tells the story of how he and Carolyn came to Las Vegas and recalls a couple of his early cases -- including the one that cemented his reputation as Las Vegas's premier 'mob lawyer' (his words!). Host: Jonathan Jossel (with a cameo appearance by producer Rich Johnson)

While the image is still "Sin City," the reality is that Las Vegas is "Convention City." And the man who makes that work is Steve Hill, CEO and President of the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. That's the organization that brings all the huge gatherings to Las Vegas - shows like CES, World of Concrete, the National Association of Broadcasters and countless other smaller events. The LVCVA is also the region's top marketing arm, and the organization behind "What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas." So why did it retire that famous phrase? Steve tells all! Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, LIsa Melmed, Gary Vickery

What is a casino host? We've discussed it in the past, and interviewed one of the most famous hosts in Las Vegas. Now we get "up close and Plaza" with our newest host, Aquarius Wilkinson. He shares the path he took to hosting - and to the Plaza. Aquarius also talks about his work week, his joy in dealing with Plaza guests, and how he prefers the Plaza to a higher-end property on The Strip. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

We're departing from our usual format this episode to bring two guests and a small slice of one of our favorite events: Oscar's Dinner Series. Oscar Goodman, himself, is on hand to talk about the first dinner in 14 months, and he's joined by Ben Jenkins, Executive Chef of Oscar's Steakhouse. Ben talks about his career and the changes he's made at Oscar's. Then you'll hear highlights from the dinner, in which Oscar told stories about being in the movie "Casino" - and hosting the stars for a dinner at his house back in 1996. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

If a picture is worth a thousand words, Paul Ryu's body of work is reaching to infinity and beyond. He's the guy behind RyuSauce, and can rightly claim the title of "food influencer." As head of the social media company JMPforce, Paul and his team help restaurants up their social media and digital marketing games. But his personal story about coming to America alone at age 13 will grab you -- much like his photos and videos of the finest food in Las Vegas! Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

Thirty episodes after his first appearance, Scott Roeben is back! The man behind the Vital Vegas blog shares some of his strong opinions about the region's post-Covid resurgence. Scott and Jonathan also take a deep dive into the history of Plaza's fractious relationship with the Fremont Street Experience - especially regarding construction of "Slotzilla," the zipline that terminates right on the corner of Main St. Rated 'S' for Strong Opinions! Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

Tony Hsieh wouldn't join a startup company called Shoesite unless Fred Mossler came along. Fred Mossler said he wouldn't sign on until Tony Hsieh did. Despite barely knowing each other, both said yes, and both turned Shoesite into Zappos -- and helped turn downtown Las Vegas into what it is today. Fred was also a co-founder of The Downtown Project and owns Nacho Daddy. Fred shares stories from those early days, and says downtown's progress is just beginning. But he won't reveal the source of the key ingredient in Nacho Daddy's signature Scorpion Shots! Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

Running the region's largest distributor of wine and spirits inevitably makes Larry Ruvo a player in Las Vegas. But Larry never rested on his wealth. After his father died from Alzheimer's Disease (which had been mis-diagnosed), Larry decided to do something about it. That "something" is the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, a world-class research facility in downtown Las Vegas. In this very special episode, Larry tells that story -- including how he talked superstar architect Frank Geary into designing the Center's unique headquarters. Larry also recounts coming to Las Vegas as a child, growing up here, and working in his parents' restaurant, The Venetian. And he tells the REAL story about how that name went from a family restaurant to one of the most famous hotel-casinos in the world. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

He's an Emmy winner, a veteran of more than 40 years making people laugh, and the former resident comic at the Plaza. He is comic legend Louie Anderson! Louie talks about how much he loved playing Plaza's showroom and how he coped with the past year. And he drops a few hints about his future projects. Also: Jonathan, Lisa and Gary remember March 18th, 2020 - the day that Plaza and every other hotel/casino in Nevada shut down. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, LIsa Melmed, Gary Vickery

What's it like to make your living playing cards? Anthony Curtis did it for nearly two decades. Along the way, he became a publisher of gaming-centric books and a collector of great deals and value in Las Vegas. He shares stories of both counting cards and diving into discounts in this packed episode. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

In the early 2000s, nobody was going to East Fremont St. But veteran New York hospitality executive Paul Devitt saw something there, and decided to become the area's nightlife pioneer. Devitt opened Beauty Bar, a Vegas version of his successful New York bar and music venue. Other bars followed, inspired by Beauty Bar's success. While Beauty Bar is gone, Devitt is looking for new Las Vegas opportunities. Which brought him to town. Which inspired Jonathan to invite him on the podcast to talk about those wild early days of East Fremont. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

Lawyer, by day, foodie by night. And morning. And afternoon. And pretty much every waking hour. John Curtas has been blogging about the Las Vegas food scene before most people knew there WAS a food scene! John shares his thoughts about how downtown has improved, details his most memorable Vegas meal ever, and is not so kind when discussing how covering the food scene has now devolved into "influencers" looking for free meals and advertising. Bonus: John makes up for his not-so-complementary review of Oscar's 11 years ago by proclaiming it now has the best hamburger in Las Vegas. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

Why does one casino property flourish while the one next door flounder? That's one of the many subjects that Oliver Lovat has tackled in more than two decades of research into the business of Las Vegas and its unique real estate market. Along the way he's also become a Vegas historian and expert in how it all gets done. Oliver also shares some insights from his latest project: a deep dive into the history of The Plaza! Hosts: Lisa Melmed, Jonathan Jossel, Gary Vickery

For more than 30 years, Steve Cyr has defined and re-defined the job of Las Vegas casino host. He's still at it, taking high rollers and 'whales' on gaming adventures around the world. He shares how his plan to finish his degree at UNLV then manage the family motel in Salina, Kansas was suddenly derailed by meeting casino legend Michael Gaughan. From there, Steve took casino hosting to levels never considered by the old generation. And he looks ahead to what's coming in a career and life that are far from over. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Gary Vickery, Lisa Melmed

Jonathan and Gary spend a fast-paced 40 minutes with Vegas icon Frankie Scinta (pronounced SHIN-tuh), who's been performing since childhood. For nearly 20 years, Frankie's been headlining rooms from the Rio to the Sahara... to The Plaza. Frankie shares great stories from those wild times, gets serious about losing his brother and dealing with the Covid shutdown -- and caps it off with a performance on the spoons! Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Gary Vickery, Lisa Melmed

It may be a party every night in Las Vegas, but making those parties happen is hard work for Jason Strauss, one of the Managing Partners of Tao Group Hospitality. Jason shares his journey from organizing a party for fellow high school seniors in New York to running one of the most successful hospitality companies in the country. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

Wanna buy a casino? Do you have one to sell? If so, Michael Parks is your guy. He's put together some of the biggest casino deals in Las Vegas, Reno and beyond. Michael takes a deep dive into the complex, intriguing world of gaming properties -- including the sale of The Las Vegas Club. Also, Jonathan shares some thoughts about Vegas legend Sheldon Adelson, who died earlier this month. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

Is it a wolf? Is it a dog? You'll find the answer to that question, and more about one of the huge murals on the North Tower of The Plaza from the artist, himself. Jonathan, Lisa and Gary dial up New York City and talk to Patrick McNeil, half of the art collective known as Faile. Patrick recounts the fun - and peril - of painting one of the three Plaza murals that are visible for miles. Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery

The "Impresario Extraordinaire" of Las Vegas, Ross Mollison, joins Jonathan, Lisa and Gary. Actually, Ross is the founder of Spiegelworld, the company that brings us "Absinthe," "Opium" and "Atomic Saloon," three of the biggest shows on The Strip. Checking in from New York, Ross updates the status of the shows during the Covid closures. He and Jonathan share stories of ideas that never happened, and ideas that could still happen! Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed, Gary Vickery