MAYNARD SLOATE Maynard Jay Sloate, age 95, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 4, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was born October 31, 1924 in Los Angeles, to Joe and Gertrude Sloate. Maynard began his career as a jazz drummer, who played with such greats as Stan Getz, Errol Garner, Barney Kessel and Buddy de Franco. Sloate went on to become a talent agent and represented such stars as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Dinah Washington and Count Basie. From there, he owned and operated night clubs in Los Angeles such as Strip City, Jazz City, The Crescendo and the Avant Garde. He then became a personal manager who represented a great number of talents, including Anita O'Day, Charo, Jerry Colonna and the Vagabonds. During this time, He also produced and directed musical reviews for the Riverside Hotel in Reno. In 1965, Sloate was retained as entertainment director and producer for the Blue Room at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. in 1968, he assumed these duties for the entire hotel, where he produced and directed two editions of the Folies Bergere which remained at the Tropicana for many years. In 1972, the Tropicana was sold, and Maynard went on to serve as entertainment director for the Union Plaza Hotel & Casino, where he produced and directed some 38 Broadway shows. In 1984, while still at the Union Plaza, Sloate also became show producer for the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City, where he remained until 1993 producing 27 Broadway musicals. During that time, he went on to become producer/director for both the Sahara and Hacienda Hotels in Las Vegas. He did Broadway plays and musicals for both hotels from 1985 to 1988 and in 1990, presented a musical at Harrahs in Lake Tahoe. From 1994 to 1997, Maynard assisted in the design of a 2000 seat Broadway type theater, and an 800 seat cabaret theater for the showboat hotel, who was building a new entertainment complex in Sydney, Australia. In all, Maynard has produced and/or directed 70 Broadway shows as well as 2 editions of the Folies Bergere and numerous musical reviews. He is survived by his daughters, Stacey and Nicole Sloate. Family, friends and other who's lives Maynard has touched, are invited to celebrate his life at the Palm Eastern Mortuary, Sunday, November 17th. Service will begin at 12pm with viewing hours before, and reception to follow.

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Published by Las Vegas Review-Journal from Nov. 10 to Nov. 13, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for MAYNARD SLOATE

Sponsored by Palm Eastern Mortuary & Cemetery.

13 Entries

Teri Thorndike

May 31, 2020

You were my first boss in Las Vegas at the Tropicana Resort in the Folies Bergere. You will always be in my thoughts. Much love and RIP Maynard.

Jane Briggeman

December 31, 2019

Maynard was a friend of many in "The Golden Days of Burlesque Historical Society." I got to meet him in the late 90s when he attended one of our gatherings in Venice, California. RIP Maynard; my condolences to your daughters.

Maynard Sloate, David Siegel ,owner Westgates Resorts, Dondino, producer Cowgirl to Showgirl documentary

Donna Melchiorre

November 24, 2019

Eva Nolan

November 18, 2019

A wonderful, talented man who contributed so much to Las Vegas show business history. He will be missed. RIP, Maynard. Thanks for giving me such a great job and for all the laughs.

mary goldwater

November 16, 2019

Maynard Sloate was a true talent and a true friend..He truly represented Las Vegas when it was just growing.He represented so many of the big names, like Billy Holiday,there have been books written about him..He really knew and loved Jazz. He was Mr Del Mar..Loved and owned those ponies!He and Mr Houssells could be seen handicapping @ the Del Mar Race Track and he would be off to Red Tractons for dinner..Maynard had a full and beautiful life..and I will miss him. My Condolences to his Daughters..Mary Goldwater

mike schaefer

November 14, 2019

Maynard was a regular at a monthly Old Timers history lunch arranged by Thalia Dondero and would sometimes attend Nelson Sardelli's FIORE group at the Italian American Club; he was egged on to be our Speaker once at each club, and what a charmer, optimistic, loyal to his friends; he's the reason many of us would attend, being at his table was the big event of the season.

In the 70s the Tropicana Marquee was always MAYNARD SLOATE PRESENTS the Follies Bergere, and years later I met the icon himself working out at a local gym. Maybe that contributed to him almost making the 100 mark!

Mike Schaefer
Entertainment Consultant
Member, Cal. State Board of Equalization
and decades long Las Vegan. I salute him and his family

Kathleen Manley

November 13, 2019

I became acquainted with Maynard in March of 1972. He hired me into the Folies Bergere as a showgirl and I will always be grateful for his decision. It was one of the most wonderful years of my life. I made friends who I'm in touch with today and I have memories that only women know through books and movies. Thanks and let there always be stage lights around you in heaven.

November 11, 2019

I had the pleasure of working with Maynard for many years at the Plaza. He was a wonderful man and a pleasure to be around. I don't know what to say except God Bless him and may he rest in peace.
Alan Abrams

a loved one

Sent Flowers

Roger Wagner

November 11, 2019

I met Maynard in 1983 when I engaged his services to experiment with a Broadway-style Musical policy for Del Webb's Claridge Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The experiment lasted 8 years with Maynard producing 23 separate musicals for me while providing wildly entertaining shows for the 1.6 million guests who attended his shows in the Palace Theater.
He put countless union musicians to work and gave many New York actors and dancers a new venue in which to promote their talents. When Maynard and I left the Claridge and our professional association ended, we remained friends right up to his passing. I was honored to have him call my wife and me his friend.

rod fernandez

November 10, 2019

simple nice person all the way, I work at the plaza in his days.

Michael Green

November 10, 2019

I got to know Maynard a little bit while working on a history project with him and the late J. Kell Houssels, Jr. He was an important part of our entertainment history and a treasure trove of information--and just a hilarious storyteller and a great character. My sympathies to his family and friends.