About
"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."
In his six-hour 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 primetime 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, primetime, 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.
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
Steve Allen on Arthur Godfrey being one of the earliest radio personalities to venture into television
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
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
Steve Allen on the success of The Ed Sullivan Show and NBC always chasing its ratings
I've Got a Secret
Steve Allen on Goodson-Todman's Gil Fates asking him to host I've Got a Secret
Meeting of Minds
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
Steve Allen on an early TV appearance on Pantomime Quiz
New Steve Allen Show, The (1961)
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)
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)
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)
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
Steve Allen on the sketches and the crew of the syndicated Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
Today
Steve Allen on Pat Weaver deciding to bring The Steve Allen Show to network and re-titling it Tonight
Tonight
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
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
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?
Steve Allen on being a regular on What's My Line?
Topics
Bloopers
Steve Allen on live television mishaps on The Steve Allen Show
Censorship / Standards & Practices
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
Steve Allen on coining the phrase "bigger than a bread box" on What's My Line?
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Steve Allen on role model Orson Welles
Criticism of TV
Steve Allen on critical response to The Steve Allen Show
Historic Events and Social Change
Steve Allen on being drafted into World War II
Hollywood Blacklist
Steve Allen on the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Steve Allen on the Hollywood Blacklist
John F. Kennedy
Steve Allen on John F. Kennedy's favorite joke
Memorable Moments on Television
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
Steve Allen on role model Orson Welles
Pop Culture
Steve Allen on coining the phrase "bigger than a bread box" on What's My Line?
Television and the Presidency
Steve Allen on John F. Kennedy's favorite joke
Television Industry
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
Trash TV
Steve Allen on how television has changed over the years and appealing to the public good
War
Steve Allen on being drafted into World War II
We Celebrated
Steve Allen on sketches outside the studio on The Tonight Show
We Laughed
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
Steve Allen on being drafted into World War II
Professions
Comedian
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
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
Steve Allen on announcing wrestling for ABC television
Talk Shows
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
Woody Allen
Steve Allen on memorable guest stars on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
Fred Allen
Steve Allen on Fred Allen and Allen's view of television
Steve Allen on Fred Allen not liking television studios
Eve Arden
Steve Allen on replacing Eve Arden's show and having Groucho Marx and Jack Benny as his first guests
James T. Aubrey
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Jim Aubrey
Tony Bennett
Steve Allen on musical guests on The Tonight Show - Tony Bennett
Jack Benny
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
Steve Allen on his very famous babysitter, Milton Berle
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Milton Berle
Marlon Brando
Steve Allen on censorship on Meeting of Minds and Marlon Brando and Shirley MacLaine getting involved with him to protest capital punishment
Stan Burns
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
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
Steve Allen on Eddie Cantor
Bob Carroll, Jr.
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
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
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
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Rosemary Clooney
Tim Conway
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Tim Conway
Bill Dana
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
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Steve Allen on Sammy Davis, Jr. as a guest on Tonight - and Dwight Hemion placing Davis on the stage
Doris Day
Steve Allen on Doris Day not showing up for his late-night radio show
Bob Dylan
Steve Allen on memorable guest stars on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
Duke Ellington
Steve Allen on musical guests on The Tonight Show - Duke Ellington
Gil Fates
Steve Allen on Goodson-Todman's Gil Fates asking him to host I've Got a Secret
Betty Garrett
Steve Allen on recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist - not being able to book Betty Garrett and Larry Parks
Greer Garson
Steve Allen on Greer Garson as a guest on Tonight
Arthur Godfrey
Steve Allen on Arthur Godfrey being one of the earliest radio personalities to venture into television and Allen subbing for him
Mark Goodson
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Mark Goodson and Bill Todman
Eydie Gorme
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. with Emerson College
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Pat Harrington, Jr.
Dwight Hemion
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
Steve Allen on Skitch Henderson becoming the bandleader on Tonight
Charlton Heston
Steve Allen on a funny Charlton Heston sketch on Tonight
Don Hinkley
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
Steve Allen on seeing Bob Hope in the radio show "Command Performance"
Steve Allen on radio stars slowly transitioning to television
John F. Kennedy
Steve Allen on John F. Kennedy's favorite joke
Ted Koppel
Steve Allen on watching Ted Koppel
Steve Lawrence
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
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
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
Steve Allen on Jerry Lewis making a funny phone call with Steve Allen on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
Max Liebman
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Max Liebman
Shirley MacLaine
Steve Allen on censorship on Meeting of Minds and Marlon Brando and Shirley MacLaine getting involved with him to protest capital punishment
Groucho Marx
Steve Allen on replacing Eve Arden's show and having Groucho Marx and Jack Benny as his first guests
Jayne Meadows
Steve Allen on his wife, Jayne Meadows Allen
Daniel Melnick
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
Steve Allen on Kim Novak as a guest on Tonight
Louis Nye with Emerson College
Steve Allen on starting a new late-night show on WNBT with Louis Nye as a guest
Jack Paar
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
Steve Allen on crew members on his first daytime show, The Steve Allen Show
Larry Parks
Steve Allen on recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist - not being able to book Betty Garrett and Larry Parks
Elvis Presley
Steve Allen on booking Elvis Presley for his first major television appearance
Steve Allen on Ed Sullivan panicking when Steve Allen booked Elvis
Madelyn Pugh Davis
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
Gene Rayburn
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
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
Steve Allen on Burt Reynolds being a wonderful guest on The Tonight Show
Hubbell Robinson
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
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
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - David Sarnoff
Doc Severinsen
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Doc Severinsen
Allan Sherman
Steve Allen on Steve Allen Westinghouse Show producer Allan Sherman
Frank Stanton
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Frank Stanton
Leonard Stern
Steve Allen on bringing his Tonight Show staff to his prime-time Steve Allen Show and adding some writers
Mike Stokey
Steve Allen on an early TV appearance on Pantomime Quiz
Ed Sullivan
Steve Allen on Ed Sullivan panicking when Steve Allen booked Elvis
Bill Todman
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Mark Goodson and Bill Todman
Nick Vanoff
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
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
Steve Allen on role model Orson Welles
Mort Werner
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Mort Werner
Mae West
Steve Allen on booking Mae West on The Tonight Show
Esther Williams
Steve Allen on film stars appearing on The Steve Allen Show (prime-time version) when it moved to Hollywood
Andy Williams
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
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Jonathan Winters
Marvin Worth
Steve Allen on bringing his Tonight Show staff to his prime-time Steve Allen Show and adding some writers