Television personality Sloane dies

Longtime TV personality Alan Sloane, whose career included a stint at the former KVBC-TV, Channel 3, died Jan. 20. He was 85.

“He was a true professional, very dependable. He always kept his end of the bargain,” said Dave Courvoisier, news anchor at KLAS-TV, Channel 8, who worked with the one-time Los Angeles TV weatherman at Channel 3, when Sloane came to Las Vegas in the early 1990s. “He was one of the grand old men of broadcasting.”

Being a weathercaster in Las Vegas was only part of Sloane’s six-decade career that dates back to a radio DJ stint in Cleveland and included hosting a cooking show in Dallas and a talk show in New Orleans. He also served as emcee at ceremonies for a celebration of Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind” in Atlanta, where he interviewed the film’s producer, David O. Selznick, and co-star Olivia De Havilland.

In Los Angeles, Sloane joined KCOP-TV, where his tenure included hosting a variety of shows including “The Advocate,” “American West” and “This Exciting World,” and he was best known for hosting “Dialing for Dollars.” In 1969, he joined L.A.’s KABC-TV as weather anchor and covered special assignments for ABC Sports, including the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City and the 1972 Olympics in Munich.

Along with earning two Emmy nominations, he made guest appearances on “The Love Boat” before joining the Financial News Network as weather anchor, then semi-retiring to Las Vegas, joining Channel 3.

“He was a steady presence for years, and he always had great anecdotes, but he was never overbearing about it,” Courvoisier said. “After he left the station, we had gotten together a couple of times socially, not as much as I would’ve liked. But he was an engaging personality, and I loved picking his brain. There was an air about him that was kind of formal, but also friendly. He was a mentor. He really helped young people at the station. Just a good guy.”

Veteran Las Vegas newsman Bob Stoldal, formerly news director at Channel 8 and now news director at Channel 3, while never having worked directly with Sloane, noted that he “knew him over the years as a consummate professional from the old school of broadcasting. He was at the top of his game in Los Angeles and came to Las Vegas when he retired. (He) kept his hand in broadcasting because he loved it. It was in his heart and soul.”

Later in Las Vegas, Sloane turned back to radio to host “FYI The Radio Show” before relocating to Carmel Valley, Calif.

“I met him when I came to Las Vegas in 1991, as a relatively inexperienced reporter and anchor,” remembered Channel 3 news anchor Jim Snyder.

“Alan was always so kind and generous, going the extra mile to make me feel comfortable on the set. … He had a light in his eyes and a spring in his step, a guy who seemed to enjoy every moment of life.”