Steve Allen

Actor / Host
Bob Hope Comedy Collection
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About
About this interview

In his six-hour Archive interview, Steve Allen (1921-2000) describes his transition from radio to television, working with writing team Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Carroll, Jr. on his prime-time radio show, The Steve Allen Show, and his first television appearance in 1949 as a wrestling announcer for ABC in Los Angeles. He fondly recalls hosting a multitude of Steve Allen Shows for television, in daytime, prime-time, and late-night, and shares his recollections of the classic Tonight!, also known as The Tonight Show with Steve Allen. He details the creation and hosting of PBS' Meeting of Minds, and describes working with an impressive array of talent over the years, including his wife, Jayne Meadows. Henry Colman conducted the two-part interview on November 25 and December 15, 1997 in Burbank, CA.

"I honestly don't think I would change anything. Some people say, 'I bet you wouldn't give up "The Tonight Show."' No, I would give it up as fast as I gave it up the first time. In fact, how Johnny Carson, how any human being, was able to stay behind that desk for 30 years, I could have never done that. It would have driven me crazy." 

People Talking About ...
Steve Allen
Highlights
Steve Allen on coining the phrase "bigger than a bread box" on What's My Line?
Steve Allen on Pat Weaver deciding to bring The Steve Allen Show to network and re-titling it Tonight
Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - The Question Man
Steve Allen on his annual invasion of Miami Beach for The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on Jack Paar and how Paar "invented the couch" on The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on how he'd like to be remembered
Full Interview

Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on his parents' Vaudeville act; on his very famous babysitter - Milton Berle; on his creative talents; on traveling the Vaudeville circuit with his mother when he was young and being drawn to comics
On reading and his education; on language; on watching movies and listening to radio as a youngster; on comedians he liked
On growing up during the Depression; on moving from Chicago to Phoenix at age 19 in 1940 - to help his asthma; on writing for the high school paper; on playing piano
On doing comedy in high school; on attending Drake University in Iowa; on learning radio broadcasting in college; on role model Orson Welles

Chapter 2
On attending Drake University for only one year; on attending what is now Arizona State University; on auditioning for radio jobs in Arizona; on leaving school for a radio announcer job; on putting together a comedy act and bombing on stage
On being drafted into World War II; on moving to Los Angeles; on Los Angeles during World War II; on seeing Bob Hope in "Command Performance"; on getting a radio job at KAFC
On reuniting with his comedy partner, Wendell Noble, and starting to write radio shows; on getting hired at radio station KNX; on his first late-night show for radio; on the popularity of the show and expanding it to 60 minutes; on beginning to interview people
On the radio version of The Steve Allen Show on CBS; on his first comedy writers: Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Carroll, Jr.

Chapter 3
On a routine for his radio show asking listeners who were driving to honk their horns; on replacing Eve Arden's show and having Groucho Marx and Jack Benny as his first guests; on the first time he saw television
On radio stars slowly transitioning to television; on announcing wrestling for ABC television; on Arthur Godfrey and Milton Berle venturing into television; on CBS bringing him to New York for a network talk show (The Steve Allen Show)
On the early days of The Steve Allen Show

Chapter 4
On the crew of his first daytime show, The Steve Allen Show; on how his television show differed from his radio show; on sight gags
On daily preparations for The Steve Allen Show; on critical response to show; on the show's cancellation
On being a regular on What's My Line?; on coining the phrase "bigger than a bread box"; on hosting the second Steve Allen Show, a late-night show on WNBT; on Louis Nye

Chapter 5
On the sets of the nightly Steve Allen Show, contd.; on live commercials for sponsor Knickerbocker beer; on NBC's Pat Weaver deciding to bring The Steve Allen Show to network and re-titling it Tonight; on reaching a national audience
On network involvement with Tonight; on Pat Weaver's contributions to Tonight; on the crew of his Tonight Show; on the comedic talents of Dwight Hemion, Herb Sergeant and Stan Burns; on memorable sketches with guests on Tonight (The Tonight Show with Steve Allen) - Greer Garson, Lily Palmer, and Kim Novak

Chapter 6
On Tonight Show producer Bill Harbach; on the show's lack of competition in the beginning; on America becoming a late-night television audience and Allen creating a new genre
On booking talent for the show; on memorable guests on the show and The Tonight Show regulars
On the openings of The Tonight Show; on sketches outside the studio on The Tonight Show; on memorable stunts on the show
On The Tonight Show regulars - Andy Williams, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme

Chapter 7
On musical guests on The Tonight Show and promoting jazz; on sketches on The Tonight Show - The Question Man, and Crazy Shots; on other comedians using sketches and formats he created
On interviews with the audience on The Tonight Show - including those with The Rhyming Inventor, Dorothy Miller, and Mrs. Sterling
On The Tonight Show tackling some tough issues - organized crime

Chapter 8
On the film My Favorite Year, based on Sid Caesar, and how Allen inspired part of the film; on his Tonight Show segment on organized crime and the repercussions; on shooting outside the studio for The Tonight Show; on his annual invasion of Miami Beach for The Tonight Show
On censorship on The Tonight Show; on Mae West's appearance on the show; on the Hollywood Blacklist
On doing a prime-time show (The Steve Allen Show) for NBC; on realizing he would have to give up The Tonight Show to stay with his prime-time comedy show; on working with his comedy writers
On "The Man on the Street" bit

Chapter 9
On The Steve Allen Show (prime-time version) moving to Hollywood from New York; on more film stars appearing on the show; on the show moving to ABC as the short-lived New Steve Allen Show
On the syndicated Steve Allen Westinghouse Show - one of the wildest talk shows of all time; on syndicated vs. network shows; on producer Allan Sherman and the crew of the show
On tea-bag, wrestling, and funny phone call sketches on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show; on the cancellation of the show
On guest appearances and hosting I've Got a Secret; on film roles; on creating Meeting of Minds and running into censorship problems

Chapter 10
On censorship on Meeting of Minds (contd.); on his creativity and writing; on how television has changed over the years and appealing to the public good; on the future of television
On then-current talk shows; on regrets; on how he'd like to be remembered
On his thoughts on colleagues through the years

Chapter 11
On his wife, Jayne Meadows Allen
Shows

Arthur Godfrey and His Friends

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Steve Allen on Arthur Godfrey being one of the earliest radio personalities to venture into television

Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts

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Steve Allen on Arthur Godfrey being one of the earliest radio personalities to venture into television

Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town

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Steve Allen on the success of The Ed Sullivan Show and NBC always chasing its ratings

I've Got a Secret

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Steve Allen on Goodson-Todman's Gil Fates asking him to host I've Got a Secret

Meeting of Minds

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Steve Allen on creating Meeting of Minds and running into censorship problems
Steve Allen on censorship on Meeting of Minds
Steve Allen on his wife, Jayne Meadows Allen, and her roles on Meeting of Minds

Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz aka Stump the Stars

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Steve Allen on an early TV appearance on Pantomime Quiz

New Steve Allen Show, The (1961)

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Steve Allen on The Steve Allen Show (prime-time version) moving to ABC in 1961 as the short-lived The New Steve Allen Show

Steve Allen Show, The (1950-52)

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Steve Allen on the radio version of The Steve Allen Show, one year before the TV version
Steve Allen on the early days of The Steve Allen Show
Steve Allen on his first daytime show, The Steve Allen Show; on the crew, daily preparations, and the show's cancellation

Steve Allen Show, The (1953-54)

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Steve Allen on hosting the second Steve Allen Show, a late-night show on WNBT
Steve Allen on the sets of the nightly Steve Allen Show

Steve Allen Show, The (1956-61)

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Steve Allen on Pat Weaver deciding to bring The Steve Allen Show to network and re-titling it Tonight
Steve Allen on the comedy writing team of Herb Sergeant and Stan Burns on his Tonight Show
Steve Allen on the prime-time Steve Allen Show
Steve Allen on The Steve Allen Show (prime-time version) moving to Hollywood from New York

Steve Allen Westinghouse Show, The

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Steve Allen on the sketches and the crew of the syndicated Steve Allen Westinghouse Show

Today

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Steve Allen on Pat Weaver deciding to bring The Steve Allen Show to network and re-titling it Tonight

Tonight

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Steve Allen on Pat Weaver deciding to bring The Steve Allen Show to network and re-titling it Tonight
Steve Allen on the crew of his Tonight Show
Steve Allen on reaching a national audience on Tonight and his material for the show; on the first episode
Steve Allen on Tonight Show producer Bill Harbach; on the impact of the show; on booking talent and memorable guests
Steve Allen on the openings, stunts and skits on The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on The Tonight Show regulars - Andy Williams, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme
Steve Allen on musical guests on The Tonight Show - Duke Ellington, Tony Bennett, those in jazz and classical music
Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - The Question Man, Crazy Shots,
Steve Allen on interviews with the audience on The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on The Tonight Show tackling some tough issues - organized crime
Steve Allen on inspiring a section of the film My Favorite Year with his segment on organized crime on The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on shooting outside the studio for The Tonight Show, and on censorship and the Blacklist
Steve Allen on realizing he would have to give up The Tonight Show to stay with his prime-time comedy show

Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The

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Steve Allen on being in awe of how Johnny Carson stayed at The Tonight Show for thirty years

Tonight Starring Jack Paar aka The Jack Paar Show

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Jack Paar, and how Paar "invented the couch" on The Tonight Show

What's My Line?

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Steve Allen on being a regular on What's My Line?
Topics

Bloopers

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Steve Allen on live television mishaps on The Steve Allen Show

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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Steve Allen on network involvement with Tonight
Steve Allen on censorship on The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on creating Meeting of Minds and running into censorship problems
Steve Allen on censorship on Meeting of Minds

Characters & Catchphrases

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Steve Allen on coining the phrase "bigger than a bread box" on What's My Line?

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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Steve Allen on role model Orson Welles

Criticism of TV

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Steve Allen on critical response to The Steve Allen Show

Historic Events and Social Change

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Steve Allen on being drafted into World War II

Hollywood Blacklist

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Steve Allen on the Hollywood Blacklist

Industry Crossroads

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Steve Allen on the Hollywood Blacklist

John F. Kennedy

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Steve Allen on John F. Kennedy's favorite joke

Memorable Moments on Television

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Steve Allen on his early recollections of TV - Kathy Fiscus falling down the well and the idea of event television
Steve Allen on announcing wrestling for ABC television
Steve Allen on announcing wrestling for ABC television and how his gift for ad-libbing helped
Steve Allen on Kim Novak as a guest on Tonight
Steve Allen on the openings of The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on dressing as a cop and going out onto the street for The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on sketches outside the studio on The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on the fake car accident stunt on The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on musical guests on The Tonight Show - Duke Ellington
Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - The Question Man
Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - Crazy Shots
Steve Allen on a tug-of-war with an elephant on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
Steve Allen on a tea-bag sketch on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
Steve Allen on funny phone call sketches on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show

Pivotal Career Moments

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Steve Allen on role model Orson Welles

Pop Culture

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Steve Allen on coining the phrase "bigger than a bread box" on What's My Line?

Television Industry

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Steve Allen on network involvement with Tonight
Steve Allen on censorship on The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on creating Meeting of Minds and running into censorship problems
Steve Allen on censorship on Meeting of Minds
Steve Allen on how television has changed over the years and appealing to the public good

Television and the Presidency

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Steve Allen on John F. Kennedy's favorite joke

Trash TV

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Steve Allen on how television has changed over the years and appealing to the public good

War

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Steve Allen on being drafted into World War II

We Celebrated

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Steve Allen on sketches outside the studio on The Tonight Show

We Laughed

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Steve Allen on Kim Novak as a guest on Tonight
Steve Allen on the openings of The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on dressing as a cop and going out onto the street for The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on the fake car accident stunt on The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - The Question Man
Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - Crazy Shots
Steve Allen on a tug-of-war with an elephant on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
Steve Allen on a tea-bag sketch on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
Steve Allen on funny phone call sketches on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show

World War II

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Steve Allen on being drafted into World War II
Professions

Comedian

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Steve Allen on putting together a comedy act and bombing on stage
Steve Allen on his first late-night show for radio - gradually talking more and playing less music and the show taking off as a comedy show; on the response he got to ad-libbing
Genres

Late Night

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Steve Allen on hosting the second Steve Allen Show, a late-night show on WNBT
Steve Allen on the comedic talents of Dwight Hemion, Herb Sergeant and Stan Burns on his Tonight Show
Steve Allen on Pat Weaver deciding to bring The Steve Allen Show to network and re-titling it Tonight
Steve Allen on America becoming a late-night television audience and creating a new genre
Steve Allen on Tonight Show producer Bill Harbach; on the impact of the show; on booking talent and memorable guests
Steve Allen on the openings, stunts and skits on The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on The Tonight Show regulars - Andy Williams, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme
Steve Allen on musical guests, sketches, audience interviews, and tough issues on The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on shooting outside the studio for The Tonight Show, and on censorship and the Blacklist
Steve Allen on the prime-time Steve Allen Show

Sports

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Steve Allen on announcing wrestling for ABC television

Talk Shows

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Steve Allen on the early days of The Steve Allen Show
Steve Allen on hosting the second Steve Allen Show, a late-night show on WNBT
Steve Allen on Pat Weaver deciding to bring The Steve Allen Show to network and re-titling it Tonight
Steve Allen on Tonight Show producer Bill Harbach; on the impact of the show; on booking talent and memorable guests
Steve Allen on the openings, stunts and skits on The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on The Tonight Show regulars - Andy Williams, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme
Steve Allen on musical guests, sketches, audience interviews, and tough issues on The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on shooting outside the studio for The Tonight Show, and on censorship and the Blacklist
Steve Allen on The Steve Allen Show (prime-time version) moving to ABC in 1961 as the short-lived New Steve Allen Show
Steve Allen on the sketches and the crew of the syndicated Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
People

Fred Allen

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Steve Allen on Fred Allen and Allen's view of television
Steve Allen on Fred Allen not liking television studios

Woody Allen

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Steve Allen on memorable guest stars on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show

Eve Arden

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Steve Allen on replacing Eve Arden's show and having Groucho Marx and Jack Benny as his first guests

James T. Aubrey

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Jim Aubrey

Tony Bennett

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Steve Allen on musical guests on The Tonight Show - Tony Bennett

Jack Benny

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Steve Allen on the radio version of The Steve Allen Show, one year before the TV version
Steve Allen on replacing Eve Arden's show and having Groucho Marx and Jack Benny as his first guests

Milton Berle

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Steve Allen on his very famous babysitter, Milton Berle
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Milton Berle

Marlon Brando

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Steve Allen on censorship on Meeting of Minds and Marlon Brando and Shirley MacLaine getting involved with him to protest capital punishment

Stan Burns

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Steve Allen on Stan Burns becoming a writer on the late-night Steve Allen Show
Steve Allen on the comedic talents of Dwight Hemion, Herb Sergeant and Stan Burns on his Tonight Show
Steve Allen on bringing his Tonight Show staff to his prime-time Steve Allen Show and adding some writers
Steve Allen on writer Stan Burns on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show

Sid Caesar

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Steve Allen on attending Sid Caesar's last show on NBC
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Sid Caesar

Eddie Cantor

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Steve Allen on Eddie Cantor 

Bob Carroll, Jr.

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Steve Allen on writers of the radio version of The Steve Allen Show, one year before the TV version
Steve Allen on Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Carroll, Jr. writing for his radio show
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis

Johnny Carson

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Steve Allen on Jack Paar and Allen prank calling Johnny Carson on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
Steve Allen on being in awe of how Johnny Carson stayed at The Tonight Show for thirty years

Bennett Cerf

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Steve Allen on being a regular on What's My Line?
Steve Allen on Bennett Cerf being charming on What's My Line?

Rosemary Clooney

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Rosemary Clooney

Tim Conway

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Tim Conway

Bill Dana

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Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - The Question Man
Steve Allen on bringing his Tonight Show staff to his prime-time Steve Allen Show and adding some writers

Madelyn Pugh Davis

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Steve Allen on writers of the radio version of The Steve Allen Show, one year before the TV version
Steve Allen on Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Carroll, Jr. writing for his radio show
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis

Sammy Davis, Jr.

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Steve Allen on Sammy Davis, Jr. as a guest on Tonight - and Dwight Hemion placing Davis on the stage

Doris Day

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Steve Allen on Doris Day not showing up for his late-night radio show

Bob Dylan

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Steve Allen on memorable guest stars on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show

Duke Ellington

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Steve Allen on musical guests on The Tonight Show - Duke Ellington

Gil Fates

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Steve Allen on Goodson-Todman's Gil Fates asking him to host I've Got a Secret

Betty Garrett

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Steve Allen on recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist - not being able to book Betty Garrett and Larry Parks

Greer Garson

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Steve Allen on Greer Garson as a guest on Tonight

Arthur Godfrey

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Steve Allen on Arthur Godfrey being one of the earliest radio personalities to venture into television and Allen subbing for him

Mark Goodson

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Mark Goodson and Bill Todman

Eydie Gorme

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Steve Allen on Eydie Gorme and her response to critics
Steve Allen on an appearance by singers Eydie Gorme and Steve Lawrence
Steve Allen on memorable guests on The Tonight Show - the singers
Steve Allen on The Tonight Show regulars - Andy Williams, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme

Pat Harrington, Jr.

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Pat Harrington, Jr.

Dwight Hemion

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Steve Allen on the talents of director Dwight Hemion, on the Tonight Show
Steve Allen on an appearance by singers Eydie Gorme and Steve Lawrence
Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - Crazy Shots
Steve Allen on bringing his Tonight Show staff to his prime-time Steve Allen Show and adding some writers
Steve Allen on bringing his Tonight Show staff to his prime-time Steve Allen Show and adding some writers

Skitch Henderson

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Steve Allen on Skitch Henderson becoming the bandleader on Tonight

Charlton Heston

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Steve Allen on a funny Charlton Heston sketch on Tonight

Don Hinkley

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Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - The Question Man
Steve Allen on bringing his Tonight Show staff to his prime-time Steve Allen Show and adding some writers

Bob Hope

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Steve Allen on seeing Bob Hope in the radio show "Command Performance"
Steve Allen on radio stars slowly transitioning to television

John F. Kennedy

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Steve Allen on John F. Kennedy's favorite joke

Ted Koppel

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Steve Allen on watching Ted Koppel

Steve Lawrence

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Steve Allen on an appearance by singers Eydie Gorme and Steve Lawrence
Steve Allen on memorable guests on The Tonight Show - the singers
Steve Allen on The Tonight Show regulars - Andy Williams, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme

Peggy Lee

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Steve Allen on Peggy Lee singing on his first daytime show, The Steve Allen Show
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Peggy Lee

David Letterman

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Steve Allen on the number of comedy writers nowadays
Steve Allen on David Letterman being a fan of the syndicated Steve Allen Westinghouse Show

Jerry Lewis

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Steve Allen on Jerry Lewis making a funny phone call with Steve Allen on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show

Max Liebman

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Max Liebman

Shirley MacLaine

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Steve Allen on censorship on Meeting of Minds and Marlon Brando and Shirley MacLaine getting involved with him to protest capital punishment

Groucho Marx

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Steve Allen on replacing Eve Arden's show and having Groucho Marx and Jack Benny as his first guests

Jayne Meadows

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Steve Allen on his wife, Jayne Meadows Allen

Daniel Melnick

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Steve Allen on crew members on his first daytime show, The Steve Allen Show
Steve Allen on The Steve Allen Show (prime-time version) moving to ABC in 1961 as the short-lived New Steve Allen Show

Kim Novak

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Steve Allen on Kim Novak as a guest on Tonight

Louis Nye

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Steve Allen on starting a new late-night show on WNBT with Louis Nye as a guest

Jack Paar

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Steve Allen on some of Jack Paar's guests when Paar hosted The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on Jack Paar and Allen prank calling Johnny Carson on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Jack Paar

Joseph Papp

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Steve Allen on crew members on his first daytime show, The Steve Allen Show

Larry Parks

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Steve Allen on recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist - not being able to book Betty Garrett and Larry Parks

Elvis Presley

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Steve Allen on booking Elvis Presley for his first major television appearance
Steve Allen on Ed Sullivan panicking when Steve Allen booked Elvis

Gene Rayburn

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Steve Allen on NBC wanting a segment on ski conditions added to The Tonight Show (Tonight), which Gene Rayburn announced
Steve Allen on his annual invasion of Miami Beach for The Tonight Show
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Gene Rayburn

Carl Reiner

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Steve Allen on appearing in Carl Reiner's film The Comic
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Carl Reiner

Burt Reynolds

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Steve Allen on Burt Reynolds being a wonderful guest on The Tonight Show

Hubbell Robinson

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Steve Allen on getting hired for CBS network television in NY by Hubbell Robinson
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Hubbell Robinson

Herbert Sargent

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Steve Allen on Herbert Sargent becoming a writer on the late-night Steve Allen Show
Steve Allen on the comedic talents of Dwight Hemion, Herb Sergeant and Stan Burns on his Tonight Show
Steve Allen on bringing his Tonight Show staff to his prime-time Steve Allen Show and adding some writers

David Sarnoff

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - David Sarnoff

Doc Severinsen

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Doc Severinsen

Allan Sherman

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Steve Allen on Steve Allen Westinghouse Show producer Allan Sherman

Frank Stanton

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Frank Stanton

Leonard Stern

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Steve Allen on bringing his Tonight Show staff to his prime-time Steve Allen Show and adding some writers

Mike Stokey

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Steve Allen on an early TV appearance on Pantomime Quiz

Ed Sullivan

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Steve Allen on Ed Sullivan panicking when Steve Allen booked Elvis

Bill Todman

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Mark Goodson and Bill Todman

Nick Vanoff

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Steve Allen on Nick Vanoff asking him to introduce Pat Weaver at an awards show
Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - Crazy Shots

Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver

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Steve Allen on Pat Weaver deciding to bring The Steve Allen Show to network and re-titling it Tonight
Steve Allen on Pat Weaver's contributions to Tonight
Steve Allen on Pat Weaver encouraging NBC employees to have an informative/educational segment in their programs

Orson Welles

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Steve Allen on role model Orson Welles

Mort Werner

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Mort Werner

Mae West

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Steve Allen on booking Mae West on The Tonight Show

Esther Williams

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Steve Allen on film stars appearing on The Steve Allen Show (prime-time version) when it moved to Hollywood

Andy Williams

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Steve Allen on memorable guests on The Tonight Show - the singers
Steve Allen on The Tonight Show regulars - Andy Williams, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Andy Williams

Jonathan Winters

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Jonathan Winters

Marvin Wolf

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Steve Allen on bringing his Tonight Show staff to his prime-time Steve Allen Show and adding some writers

All Interviews

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