Steve Allen

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

02:26

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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." 

Highlights
Steve Allen on coining the phrase "bigger than a bread box" on What's My Line?
00:25
Steve Allen on Pat Weaver deciding to bring The Steve Allen Show to network and re-titling it Tonight
01:33
Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - The Question Man
02:21
Steve Allen on his annual invasion of Miami Beach for The Tonight Show
03:22
Steve Allen on Jack Paar and how Paar "invented the couch" on The Tonight Show
00:36
Steve Allen on how he'd like to be remembered
01:34
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
On

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
00:38

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
00:38

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
01:58

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
01:40

Meeting of Minds

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Steve Allen on creating Meeting of Minds and running into censorship problems
01:51
Steve Allen on censorship on Meeting of Minds
03:48
Steve Allen on his wife, Jayne Meadows Allen, and her roles on Meeting of Minds
02:15

Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz aka Stump the Stars

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Steve Allen on an early TV appearance on Pantomime Quiz
00:32

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
03:33

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
02:45
Steve Allen on the early days of The Steve Allen Show
06:58
Steve Allen on his first daytime show, The Steve Allen Show; on the crew, daily preparations, and the show's cancellation
20:39

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
05:37
Steve Allen on the sets of the nightly Steve Allen Show
04:51

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
01:33
Steve Allen on the comedy writing team of Herb Sergeant and Stan Burns on his Tonight Show
05:30
Steve Allen on the prime-time Steve Allen Show
11:24
Steve Allen on The Steve Allen Show (prime-time version) moving to Hollywood from New York
03:39

Steve Allen Westinghouse Show, The

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Steve Allen on the sketches and the crew of the syndicated Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
18:23

Today

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Steve Allen on Pat Weaver deciding to bring The Steve Allen Show to network and re-titling it Tonight
01:33

Tonight

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Steve Allen on Pat Weaver deciding to bring The Steve Allen Show to network and re-titling it Tonight
01:33
Steve Allen on the crew of his Tonight Show
10:18
Steve Allen on reaching a national audience on Tonight and his material for the show; on the first episode
11:57
Steve Allen on Tonight Show producer Bill Harbach; on the impact of the show; on booking talent and memorable guests
16:17
Steve Allen on the openings, stunts and skits on The Tonight Show
09:00
Steve Allen on The Tonight Show regulars - Andy Williams, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme
03:02
Steve Allen on musical guests on The Tonight Show - Duke Ellington, Tony Bennett, those in jazz and classical music
04:16
Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - The Question Man, Crazy Shots,
07:45
Steve Allen on interviews with the audience on The Tonight Show
10:09
Steve Allen on The Tonight Show tackling some tough issues - organized crime
02:54
Steve Allen on inspiring a section of the film My Favorite Year with his segment on organized crime on The Tonight Show
04:25
Steve Allen on shooting outside the studio for The Tonight Show; on censorship and the Blacklist
13:10
Steve Allen on realizing he would have to give up The Tonight Show to stay with his prime-time comedy show
01:40

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
00:36

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
00:36

What's My Line?

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Steve Allen on being a regular on What's My Line?
02:24
Topics

Bloopers

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Steve Allen on live television mishaps on The Steve Allen Show
00:52

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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Steve Allen on network involvement with Tonight
01:08
Steve Allen on censorship on The Tonight Show
03:17
Steve Allen on creating Meeting of Minds and running into censorship problems
07:54
Steve Allen on censorship on Meeting of Minds
03:23

Characters & Catchphrases

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Steve Allen on coining the phrase "bigger than a bread box" on What's My Line?
00:25

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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Steve Allen on role model Orson Welles
00:36

Criticism of TV

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Steve Allen on critical response to The Steve Allen Show
02:26

Hollywood Blacklist

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Steve Allen on the Hollywood Blacklist
05:13

Industry Crossroads

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Steve Allen on the Hollywood Blacklist
05:13

John F. Kennedy

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Steve Allen on John F. Kennedy's favorite joke
01:05

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
02:08
Steve Allen on announcing wrestling for ABC television
03:22
Steve Allen on announcing wrestling for ABC television and how his gift for ad-libbing helped
02:32
Steve Allen on Kim Novak as a guest on Tonight
01:23
Steve Allen on the openings of The Tonight Show
01:07
Steve Allen on dressing as a cop and going out onto the street for The Tonight Show
01:35
Steve Allen on sketches outside the studio on The Tonight Show
01:52
Steve Allen on the fake car accident stunt on The Tonight Show
00:45
Steve Allen on musical guests on The Tonight Show - Duke Ellington
01:48
Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - The Question Man
02:21
Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - Crazy Shots
03:59
Steve Allen on a tug-of-war with an elephant on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
02:00
Steve Allen on a tea-bag sketch on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
00:57
Steve Allen on funny phone call sketches on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
04:13

Pop Culture

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Steve Allen on coining the phrase "bigger than a bread box" on What's My Line?
00:25

Television Industry

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Steve Allen on network involvement with Tonight
01:08
Steve Allen on censorship on The Tonight Show
02:59
Steve Allen on creating Meeting of Minds and running into censorship problems
00:53
Steve Allen on censorship on Meeting of Minds
03:23
Steve Allen on how television has changed over the years and appealing to the public good
01:56

Television and the Presidency

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Steve Allen on John F. Kennedy's favorite joke
01:05

Trash TV

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Steve Allen on how television has changed over the years and appealing to the public good
01:56

We Celebrated

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Steve Allen on sketches outside the studio on The Tonight Show
01:52

We Laughed

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Steve Allen on Kim Novak as a guest on Tonight
01:23
Steve Allen on the openings of The Tonight Show
01:07
Steve Allen on dressing as a cop and going out onto the street for The Tonight Show
01:35
Steve Allen on the fake car accident stunt on The Tonight Show
00:45
Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - The Question Man
02:21
Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - Crazy Shots
03:59
Steve Allen on a tug-of-war with an elephant on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
02:00
Steve Allen on a tea-bag sketch on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
00:57
Steve Allen on funny phone call sketches on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
04:13

World War II

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Steve Allen on being drafted into World War II
01:16
Professions

Comedian

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Steve Allen on putting together a comedy act and bombing on stage
01:59
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
06:50
Genres

Late Night

View Genre
Steve Allen on hosting the second Steve Allen Show, a late-night show on WNBT
05:37
Steve Allen on the comedic talents of Dwight Hemion, Herb Sergeant and Stan Burns on his Tonight Show
04:56
Steve Allen on Pat Weaver deciding to bring The Steve Allen Show to network and re-titling it Tonight
01:33
Steve Allen on America becoming a late-night television audience and creating a new genre
02:36
Steve Allen on Tonight Show producer Bill Harbach; on the impact of the show; on booking talent and memorable guests
16:17
Steve Allen on the openings, stunts and skits on The Tonight Show
09:00
Steve Allen on The Tonight Show regulars - Andy Williams, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme
02:45
Steve Allen on musical guests, sketches, audience interviews, and tough issues on The Tonight Show
28:30
Steve Allen on shooting outside the studio for The Tonight Show; on censorship and the Blacklist
13:10
Steve Allen on the prime-time Steve Allen Show
11:24

Sports

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Steve Allen on announcing wrestling for ABC television
03:22

Talk Shows

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Steve Allen on the early days of The Steve Allen Show
06:58
Steve Allen on hosting the second Steve Allen Show, a late-night show on WNBT
05:37
Steve Allen on Pat Weaver deciding to bring The Steve Allen Show to network and re-titling it Tonight
01:33
Steve Allen on Tonight Show producer Bill Harbach; on the impact of the show; on booking talent and memorable guests
16:17
Steve Allen on the openings, stunts and skits on The Tonight Show
09:00
Steve Allen on The Tonight Show regulars - Andy Williams, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme
02:45
Steve Allen on musical guests, sketches, audience interviews, and tough issues on The Tonight Show
28:30
Steve Allen on shooting outside the studio for The Tonight Show; on censorship and the Blacklist
13:10
Steve Allen on The Steve Allen Show (prime-time version) moving to ABC in 1961 as the short-lived New Steve Allen Show
03:33
Steve Allen on the sketches and the crew of the syndicated Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
18:23
People

Fred Allen

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Steve Allen on Fred Allen and Allen's view of television
01:35
Steve Allen on Fred Allen not liking television studios
01:04

Woody Allen

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Steve Allen on memorable guest stars on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
00:57

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
01:55

James T. Aubrey

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Jim Aubrey
00:50

Tony Bennett

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Steve Allen on musical guests on The Tonight Show - Tony Bennett
01:13

Jack Benny

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Steve Allen on the radio version of The Steve Allen Show, one year before the TV version
01:21
Steve Allen on replacing Eve Arden's show and having Groucho Marx and Jack Benny as his first guests
01:55

Milton Berle

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Steve Allen on his very famous babysitter, Milton Berle
00:55
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Milton Berle
00:53

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
01:55

Stan Burns

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Steve Allen on Stan Burns becoming a writer on the late-night Steve Allen Show
01:28
Steve Allen on the comedic talents of Dwight Hemion, Herb Sergeant and Stan Burns on his Tonight Show
02:24
Steve Allen on bringing his Tonight Show staff to his prime-time Steve Allen Show and adding some writers
00:40
Steve Allen on writer Stan Burns on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
00:37

Sid Caesar

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Steve Allen on attending Sid Caesar's last show on NBC
02:39
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Sid Caesar
00:38

Eddie Cantor

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Steve Allen on Eddie Cantor 
00:16

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
01:56
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis
00:38

Johnny Carson

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Steve Allen on Jack Paar and Allen prank calling Johnny Carson on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
00:14
Steve Allen on being in awe of how Johnny Carson stayed at The Tonight Show for thirty years
00:36

Bennett Cerf

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Steve Allen on being a regular on What's My Line?
00:19
Steve Allen on Bennett Cerf being charming on What's My Line?
00:24

Rosemary Clooney

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Rosemary Clooney
00:58

Tim Conway

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Tim Conway
00:54

Bill Dana

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Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - The Question Man
03:46
Steve Allen on bringing his Tonight Show staff to his prime-time Steve Allen Show and adding some writers
00:40

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
01:56
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Bob Carroll, Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis
00:38

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
01:04

Doris Day

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Steve Allen on Doris Day not showing up for his late-night radio show
01:29

Bob Dylan

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Steve Allen on memorable guest stars on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
00:42

Duke Ellington

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Steve Allen on musical guests on The Tonight Show - Duke Ellington
01:48

Gil Fates

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Steve Allen on Goodson-Todman's Gil Fates asking him to host I've Got a Secret
01:40

Betty Garrett

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Steve Allen on recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist - not being able to book Betty Garrett and Larry Parks
01:37

Greer Garson

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Steve Allen on Greer Garson as a guest on Tonight
00:25

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
02:41

Mark Goodson

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Mark Goodson and Bill Todman
00:52

Eydie Gorme

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Steve Allen on Eydie Gorme and her response to critics
00:58
Steve Allen on an appearance by singers Eydie Gorme and Steve Lawrence
00:50
Steve Allen on memorable guests on The Tonight Show - the singers
02:02
Steve Allen on The Tonight Show regulars - Andy Williams, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme
02:45

Pat Harrington, Jr.

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Pat Harrington, Jr.
00:43

Dwight Hemion

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Steve Allen on the talents of director Dwight Hemion, on the Tonight Show 
02:32
Steve Allen on an appearance by singers Eydie Gorme and Steve Lawrence
00:50
Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - Crazy Shots
03:59
Steve Allen on bringing his Tonight Show staff to his prime-time Steve Allen Show and adding some writers
00:40
Steve Allen on bringing his Tonight Show staff to his prime-time Steve Allen Show and adding some writers
00:40

Skitch Henderson

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Steve Allen on Skitch Henderson becoming the bandleader on Tonight
00:23

Charlton Heston

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Steve Allen on a funny Charlton Heston sketch on Tonight
01:14

Don Hinkley

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Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - The Question Man
03:46
Steve Allen on bringing his Tonight Show staff to his prime-time Steve Allen Show and adding some writers
00:40

Bob Hope

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Steve Allen on seeing Bob Hope in the radio show "Command Performance"
02:22
Steve Allen on radio stars slowly transitioning to television
00:30

John F. Kennedy

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Steve Allen on John F. Kennedy's favorite joke
01:05

Ted Koppel

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Steve Allen on watching Ted Koppel
00:28

Steve Lawrence

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Steve Allen on an appearance by singers Eydie Gorme and Steve Lawrence
00:50
Steve Allen on memorable guests on The Tonight Show - the singers
02:02
Steve Allen on The Tonight Show regulars - Andy Williams, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme
02:45

Peggy Lee

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Steve Allen on Peggy Lee singing on his first daytime show, The Steve Allen Show
02:08
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Peggy Lee
00:13

David Letterman

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Steve Allen on the number of comedy writers nowadays
00:21
Steve Allen on David Letterman being a fan of the syndicated Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
00:55

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
00:46

Max Liebman

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Max Liebman
00:31

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
01:55

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
01:55

Jayne Meadows

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Steve Allen on his wife, Jayne Meadows Allen
02:26

Daniel Melnick

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Steve Allen on crew members on his first daytime show, The Steve Allen Show
02:22
Steve Allen on The Steve Allen Show (prime-time version) moving to ABC in 1961 as the short-lived New Steve Allen Show
03:33

Kim Novak

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Steve Allen on Kim Novak as a guest on Tonight
01:23

Louis Nye

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Steve Allen on starting a new late-night show on WNBT with Louis Nye as a guest
03:17

Jack Paar

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Steve Allen on some of Jack Paar's guests when Paar hosted The Tonight Show
00:19
Steve Allen on Jack Paar and Allen prank calling Johnny Carson on The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show
00:21
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Jack Paar
00:58

Joseph Papp

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Steve Allen on crew members on his first daytime show, The Steve Allen Show
00:28

Larry Parks

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Steve Allen on recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist - not being able to book Betty Garrett and Larry Parks
01:37

Elvis Presley

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Steve Allen on booking Elvis Presley for his first major television appearance
00:20
Steve Allen on Ed Sullivan panicking when Steve Allen booked Elvis
00:55

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
01:14
Steve Allen on his annual invasion of Miami Beach for The Tonight Show
02:09
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Gene Rayburn
00:32

Carl Reiner

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Steve Allen on appearing in Carl Reiner's film The Comic
00:15
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Carl Reiner
00:37

Burt Reynolds

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Steve Allen on Burt Reynolds being a wonderful guest on The Tonight Show
00:36

Hubbell Robinson

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Steve Allen on getting hired for CBS network television in NY by Hubbell Robinson
04:00
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Hubbell Robinson
00:15

Herbert Sargent

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Steve Allen on Herbert Sargent becoming a writer on the late-night Steve Allen Show
01:28
Steve Allen on the comedic talents of Dwight Hemion, Herb Sergeant and Stan Burns on his Tonight Show
02:24
Steve Allen on bringing his Tonight Show staff to his prime-time Steve Allen Show and adding some writers
00:40

David Sarnoff

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - David Sarnoff
02:58

Doc Severinsen

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Doc Severinsen
00:13

Allan Sherman

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Steve Allen on Steve Allen Westinghouse Show producer Allan Sherman
02:03

Frank Stanton

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Frank Stanton
00:22

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
01:43

Mike Stokey

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Steve Allen on an early TV appearance on Pantomime Quiz
00:32

Ed Sullivan

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Steve Allen on Ed Sullivan panicking when Steve Allen booked Elvis
00:55

Bill Todman

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Mark Goodson and Bill Todman
00:52

Nick Vanoff

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Steve Allen on Nick Vanoff asking him to introduce Pat Weaver at an awards show
01:23
Steve Allen on sketches on The Tonight Show - Crazy Shots
00:37

Sylvester L. Weaver

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Steve Allen on Pat Weaver deciding to bring The Steve Allen Show to network and re-titling it Tonight
01:33
Steve Allen on Pat Weaver's contributions to Tonight
02:53
Steve Allen on Pat Weaver encouraging NBC employees to have an informative/educational segment in their programs
00:43

Orson Welles

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Steve Allen on role model Orson Welles
00:36

Mort Werner

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Mort Werner
00:29

Mae West

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Steve Allen on booking Mae West on The Tonight Show
02:23

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
01:35

Andy Williams

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Steve Allen on memorable guests on The Tonight Show - the singers
02:02
Steve Allen on The Tonight Show regulars - Andy Williams, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme
02:45
Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Andy Williams
00:20

Jonathan Winters

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Steve Allen on his thoughts on colleagues through the years - Jonathan Winters
01:05

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
01:03

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