Steve Allen Talks About How "The Tonight Show" Started | Letterman

[@Djm8520]

Steve, who was a devotee of progressive jazz, once defined it by saying: “We have a little light that comes on to warn us in case we are approaching a melody.” Love it!

[@tonyfromconey2164]

Late night hosts could actually be this funny, astute and erudite at one time. I miss Steve Allen.

[@blueskysailing]

I miss Steve, too!

[@BobLook-m1w]

When I was a kid, I thought Steve Allen was a funny, intelligent man. All these years, he never disappointed.

[@leonarddobens6070]

you can be sure in all these years your good taste has never faltered

[@doncheechako8084]

He is more nutty than you think. Serious!

[@photomanwilliams4147]

Steve Allen treats his audience better than any other talk show host, here is how I know. I lived in L.A. growing up. In those days it was easy to get into the studio audience when it wasn't tourist season. Free to get in, a chance to see famous people, needless to say I went to every show in town. Even New York based shows would do a west coast week once in a while. All this to say, Steve Allen went far above all others to be friendly, and interact with his audience even when the camera were off. His clean cut nice guy image is who who really is.

[@Nonduality]

I used to go to his shows in L.A. too, in the 60s. Like you, I was impressed how his interaction with the audience moments before going live on TV was exactly the same after the lights went on and the show began.

[@Ryan-on5on]

Carson was the exact opposite. By most accounts, he would become silent and sullen the minute the network went to commercials, leaving his guests, Ed, and the audience awkwardly waiting for the agonizing break to finish.

[@paulferranti8536]

Steve Allen was my first comedic hero. When I was 5,6,7, I thought he was the greatest and he always stayed current and funny. I never grew out of him like I did others.

[@hmich176]

Steve Allen was the best. The absolute best.

[@HolmanHal]

Absolutely.

[@cerph]

Steve was great- I used to watch his show a long time ago. He was always funny, and loved music.

[@relentlessflashbackin]

This interview is pure gold from so many points of view! It was a great choice to start the channel with the genius behind the "The Tonigh Show"! Thank you so much!

[@ronflatter1235]

I often have heard Dave credit the Steve Allen Westinghouse show for inspiring a lot of his comedy. If only everyone who borrowed from Steve were so respectful.

[@michaelklein5242]

I idolized this man growing up. I loved his clever play on words and to this day use many of his comical phrases.

[@dj33036]

Ferndock................Little Black Things

[@raymondm.9954]

"But all seriousness aside ..."

[@77news97]

I'm 70, as of August 2023, and when I was very young, I'd watch Steve late at night. I just totally loved him. I remember him doing backwards videos, and also playing piano using birds on telephone wires as music. People that rave about Carson (who I LOVED) seem to be forgetting Steve Allen.

[@joeybonin7691]

Steve Allen is infinitely entertaining. His show was truly one of variety. You never knew what he'd be up to from show to show.

[@jimbones155]

Always loved this man, and his laugh.

[@davidsparks6146]

What a multi-talented genius...Steve Allen invented the genre that David Letterman, Johnny Carson, Craig Fergusson... enjoyed and exploited... duplicated, but never exceeded Steve Allen's original show. Steve's music was nothing short of astounding... miss him. Smock Smock....

[@5400bowen]

Yes…you are so right. But, my friend, it’s SHMOCK SHMOCK!….I was waiting for it in the video clip. Too bad they didn’t do it, that would have given these kids a better taste of Steve Allen. Did you ever see Don Knotts on the original show? I saw a clip recently of Knotts playing a demolition/explosives expert that was just sweet.

[@blueskysailing]

@5400bowen I think Don Knott's played the nervous guy. 😉

[@PlanetRockJesus]

One of the first, and one of the last... late night giants. Love both of these guys.

[@mjwells100]

Steve Allen was an amazingly witty guy! I always loved listening to him speak.

[@thegoldendef398]

Anyone else notice how Dave's cadence and inflections somewhat mirrored Steve's?

[@FreihEitner]

There's a video somewhere on KZbin of an early Steve Allen bit on which I commented that I'm sure a young David Letterman was watching that night and said, in essence, "I want to do that". Dave may have taken things to a little bit more of extremes as television became more lax in the 1970s & 1980s, but it was clear to me that Dave learned everything from the great Steve Allen.

[@PikesvilleAl]

because Steve Allen is Letterman in disguise

[@mattheweagle223]

Everybody

[@bcats1309]

I remember that local show in Los Angeles! It was fantastic. I couldn't wait every night! Steve was great on that local show!

[@dj33036]

When I was a kid in the 60's, Steve was my hero. When I watched this video I got a little tear in my eye.

[@tennesseejermyn7705]

After late night show hosts retire, it seems they grow beards naturally

[@keefriff99]

Beards weren’t ubiquitous the way they are now either.

[@janetremsing6988]

👍🤣To grow a beard UNNATURALLY, would be weird and just plain, wrong! 🤣😂‼️

[@thekinarbo]

Of course, artificial beards are gauche.

[@J.P.Lindsay]

😂In some states, it's the law!

[@playedout148]

Having to shave every day.

[@bobothree]

Steve Allen was so smart and so funny. His show was so creative and unpredictable.

[@DanielWright-np3fq]

Watched Steve Allen since the 60's, he is always entertaining, intelligent and witty. He had that rare mix of fun and class, the kind of man you could admire while relaxing with him. One of a kind.

[@samhardy2038]

The best

[@mrjones9894]

I grew up watching Steve Allen he's the man

[@mediamannaman]

Shmock shmock! As a kid I watched the Steve Allen shows that ran in the late 60's and early 70's. LOVED his show. So funny. In one of these shows he was asked, if they could make him anything with ice cream, what would he want them to make him. He answered, "Make me a banana split." Suddenly, they picked him up, took off his pants and shirt, threw him into a tub and added ice cream, bananas, and cherries. It was hilarious. I cannot find a clip of that show anywhere, but I swear it happened. He also had a recurring bit where he would get someone to give him three notes on a piano and he would compose a unique song with those three notes on the spot. He was a talented musician and composer.

[@blueskysailing]

Yes! I remember both of those. He was amazing at the piano.

[@suziemills2201]

Loved Steve Allen . Genius

[@richardjohnson5979]

This guy was the funniest man on the planet. Funny, insightful, ridiculous, intelligent and with perfect timing. Somewhere, the Universe is wetting its pants listening to Steverino.

[@curbozerboomer1773]

I loved his humor...but he was sort of a prig, when it came to trashing modern popular music. He loved to lampoon the banality of Rock and Roll lyrics. He did not approve!

[@bahiras]

Steve was the best!

[@rongendron8705]

As a child, I remember the previous late night show "Broadway Open House", that Steve Allen mentioned, ca. 1950, with Morey Amsterdam & Dagmar, a sultry blonde! But, Steve Allen's "Tonight Show" was far superior! Allen was a true genius, who employed a cadre of other comedians, that never failed to entertain! His last attempt at a late night show, in the late 60's & on a independant channel, was absolutely hilarious!

[@PhilMoskowitz]

Shame so few people know of Steve Allen. He was truly a renaissance man. Every late night talk show host is doing what he established more than sixty years ago.

[@mr.k6148]

really wish there was a way to watch old Steve Allen Tonight Show episodes. or at least clips

[@skyebird3933]

I would never miss a Steve Allen tonight show. Fun times w the man-on-the-street part. It was good clean, funny stuff.

[@sobeeaton5693]

I loved when he'd put on a misshapen porkpie hat with a "PRESS" pin and read letters to the editor from the newspaper.

[@blueskysailing]

Right! I think he laughed most of the time while doing those skits. Too funny! 😄

[@williambaxter4628]

Steve Allen's Funny Phone Calls. My favorite comedy album ever.

[@peterbland7227]

I loved Steve Allen growing up in the 60’s

[@intradibles]

Steve Allen was a prolific songwriter and composer who made the surprising shift by inventing what we know today as late night television.

[@ytugtbk]

What a multi-talented guy Steve Allen was. Remember watching the series he produced for PBS where he and his wife and other professional actors would dress like famous people of old sitting around a large round table discussing contemporary trends.

[@orbyfan]

"Meeting of Minds" was a great show that I enjoyed watching in the late '70s.

[@curbozerboomer1773]

That show was a lame attempt to "educate" the audience through theatre...I thought it was way too "intellectual", even for PBS,

[@JamesAllmond]

So amny forget, Steve Allen started the Tonight Show and the entire format Letterman used and other still use!

[@Johnnynbk]

the rare person who is super smart but also very kind and considerate...

[@gallery7596]

According to Steve in an interview with Bob Costas, had the network gotten their way, he would've been hosting a show at 12:30 on *NBC.* But when he heard about it, Carson nixed the idea and so Allen was out. Fortunately, Carson had no problem with the then little known David Letterman getting the slot after "The Tonight Show." Still, it must've been somewhat bitter sweet for Steve to be guesting on a show that originally had been offered to him.

[@Rob_Kates]

Yes, Network executive Fred Silverman wanted to put Steve Allen back on the air.

[@Thedearster]

Carson knew Allen would be good competition

[@Djm8520]

@@ThedearsterHe would FOLLOW Carson, so how could he be competition⁉️

[@Thedearster]

@@Djm8520 The Tonight Show formula was first developed by Steve. Not calling Carson a thief, but I think any average person would be a little sketch about the guy(who they replaced and used their formula) coming back into the mix.

[@Djm8520]

@@Thedearster Which has nothing to do with competition. Jack Paar preceded Carson and his show was very different from Allen’s, as Carson’s was from both of them. It was Letterman who blatantly stole from Allen, not Carson.

[@blueskysailing]

Great interview with Steve! I miss him and I miss Dave, too. 🙋

[@ToniFromBrooklyn]

As Steve said often: "Smok, Smok!"

[@richbacon1218]

And a hail and hearty Smock-Smock to you and all Smockers? everywhere.

[@curbozerboomer1773]

And do not forget, to feed the Smok-Bird!

[@susanschaffner4422]

David always loved Steve. This goes way back to high school, Broad Ripple.

[@danwaldis4553]

What an intelligent, witty, and articulate man. Very appropriate for him to be the one to start the Tonight Show tradition. He was also a fine musician, and played some pretty impressive piano on the show. He is one of three who will never be replaced. The other two were Jack Paar and Johnny Carson.

[@joemello7888]

I miss Steve Allen. Way way ahead of his time. Brilliant and funny. Can’t imagine how he would handle todays current events. 😢😢😢

[@infonut]

As did I. Fantastic wit. I sure miss him.

[@Nonduality]

He was a well-known conservative, but not like the hateful conservatives (or liberals) we have today.

[@garyspence2128]

I'm just old enough to remember him and Jack Paar, who proceeded Johnny Carson on Tonight Show. Steve never let his political views eclipse the basic entertainment offered by the show. Paar was the same way, although never hid his liberal leanings. Both were there to amuse and entertain the audience and viewers. The country was much different then, and only three networks on your TV. They weren't there to lecture the viewing audiences, and you couldn't afford to antagonize folks. Odd thong was those shows offered a wider range of artists than you see now. Everything from opera and Broadway play excerpts to music, dance, and the emerging rock-n-roll stars. Steve was the first to have young Elvis Presley on. Not Ed Sullivan on his variety hour. Allen also had Jack Kerouac come on to read beatnik poetry, while Steve accompanied him playing jazz. Also had an appearance by Frank Zappa, in 1962 or so. A real OG...

[@allendracabal0819]

​@@NondualityYes, there sure is a lot of hate these days. So pathetic.

[@thomassmith-s4i]

The greatest ever, on any show.

[@HolmanHal]

The greatest. Ever.

[@samhardy2038]

I’m there

[@cynthiamason4069]

Fink, fern and a 10lb bag of wet mice. I love this man. Don Knotts, "the nervous man", Louie Nye and Tom Postum, (not the healthly coffee substitute made from dirt)....brilliant silliness♡

[@jakeyell]

"Poston."

[@brianmoore5498]

very graceful and giving of Mr. Allen. iMO these two men could have traded chairs and it would have been seemless but just a bit funnier

[@pamelamays4186]

Steve Allen, one of the original kings of late night.

[@HolmanHal]

One of?....THE.

[@johnnolan4312]

Remember watching this live, now I'm exactly Steve's age during the airing of this show, trippy

[@trusarmor4957]

Steve Allen 'wrote more than 8,500 songs, although only a small fraction of them were ever recorded. In one famous stunt, he made a bet with singer-songwriter Frankie Laine that he could write 50 songs a day for a week. Composing on public display in the window of Wallach's Music City, a Hollywood music store, Allen met the quota and won $1,000 from Laine. One of the songs, "Let's Go to Church (Next Sunday Morning)" became a chart hit for the duo of Jimmy Wakely and Margaret Whiting, hitting #13 pop and #2 country in 1950.'

[@chikkipop]

Wow! Never heard that story.

[@S0ngsyngr]

AND a good musician & pianist!!

[@blackbluestudio6338]

Legend.

[@Owlzindabarn]

Oh, I miss Steve Allen.

[@johnsilva9139]

Yes, Steve Allen was the original and all late night talk show hosts since have been doing his shtick. Didn't realize Letterman had him as a guest early on. He never seemed to get the recognition he deserved from those that followed in his footsteps. Glad to see Letterman paying respect to him and his legacy.

[@ChasOnErie]

Steve allen was the greatest …THE MARKET WALK at night !!!

[@BDUBZ49]

The Founder of the Feast. Truly humble and a great understanding of the entertainment biz to say that whoever got the jib would've done the same. He didn't count himself as special.

[@curbozerboomer1773]

Yes...he did have a towering ego...but hid it well.

[@robrussell5329]

Letterman's clearly intimidated but holding his own, despite a few dumb questions. Allen's challenging him to keep up, or else he'll lose interest and the interview will tank. Great to watch.

[@HolmanHal]

Good insight.

[@allendracabal0819]

I don't agree. Allen was a pro, and would have tried hard to make the interview work even if the interviewer was weak.

[@Lampshade51]

Letterman has always acknowledged that Steve Allen was a major influence on him.

[@jacobjones5269]

Yes, you were the first… But you were also the best..

[@williamweiss6128]

Liked Steve for years.

[@donlittle732]

Steve Allen was Letterman before Letterman was Letterman.

[@stevesmith291]

I remember seeing this interviewed when it was first aired, including the part about Jerry Lewis jumping into a vat of Jell-O.

[@allendracabal0819]

One thing I admire about Dave is the great rapport he had with ALL of his predecessors: Steve Allen, Jack Paar, and Johnny Carson. That was no small feat considering the wildly different personalities those men had. Dave even had a great rapport with Jay Leno until usurper Jay stole away the gig that Dave was in line for.

[@jarrodbarkley9061]

Steve Allen was always an attractive, intelligent, funny guy.

[@manyfeather2knives423]

Steve is the Kaye night show comedian all others should “try” to live up to.

[@Jim-pt8kk]

So charming

[@jarrodbarkley9061]

I absolutely LOVE that he (rightfully) called Scientology a cult and lumped it together with the Moonies and Hare Krishnas! Bravo, sir!! 👍

[@stevenholquin2127]

The Alex Theatre in Glendale California Has a Bronze Plaque Commemorating Steve Allen’s Last Gig Was At The Alex Theatre Before He Died in His Sleep 💤 The Plaque in Back Stage At The Alex Theatre 🎭

[@ronmcmartin4513]

Steve was quite Liberal, but like Mort Sahl, was an Equal Opportunity Offender. Much like Conservative Bob Hope. I watched him almost every night on KTLA, Los Angeles in the 1960s. He did a "Name that Tune" where someone would play 3 notes, and then he & the band would play a song based on those 3 notes. "End of the Line(or Road?)". I remember Nothing about the song, except it was the first Jazz tune that made me sit up and like this Jazz Stuff. My guess, probably like Bill Evans.

[@georgeforall]

About 61 years old here.

[@torgman]

I heard nothing about wearing cheap suits.

[@brucegilbert7243]

Steve would wear a cheap suit if they were going to dunk him into a vat of jello.

[@davidszakacs6888]

"Schmock! Schmock!"

[@worldmikel]

I remember a story from one of his books recounting working at a radio station where he did the late night shift. Boring place and not bad, but no joy or excitement. Well, until he one morning. Steve last task for the night was to write a short morning newscast for the guy that came in at 5AM. The guy was never awake. Never pre-read copy, just winged it. Steve would set his alarm clock so he could wake up to hear the stuff he wrote. This one was a litany of nonsense including lines that read something like "putting his hand in a hot bowl of slime", which the guy read authoritatively as Steve would roll around in bed laughing uncontrollably. The announcer continued reading without a clue as to what he had read.

[@HolmanHal]

Typical Steverino.

[@jeffclement2468]

Irreverent cleverosity here folks. Nothing but admiration for this man.

[@TheBugkillah]

Steve or Dave: who wore the toupee better?

[@PrimarchX]

Is this Chris Hayes after an aging app has been applied?

[@tommunyon2874]

A woman in the audience was awarded a 6 ft. bologna by Steve. Her response, "Oh, Steve, that's bigger than my husband!"

[@ChasOnErie]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@cynthiamason4069]

Also, "Smock, smock".

[@surveyordave]

He doesn't seem too enthused about being there.

[@parkerwhite741]

I hope Mr. L went to Mr. Allen's funeral.

[@googoo-gjoob]

1. Steve Allen 2. Dave 3. Tom Snyder 4. Johnny 5. Conan

[@samhardy2038]

A good group. Loved Tom talking about his Mom at the home. Gone way too soon.

[@googoo-gjoob]

@@samhardy2038, cancer sticks will do that

[@waleyefish9026]

Looks like Steve is wearing a Rug on his head.

[@pheresy1367]

All that time I was waiting to hear about "cheap suits".... Silly me.

[@daniramc]

like tv father, like tv son (Dave's style always sermed to me closer to Steve's than Carson's imho)

[@marymarysmarket3508]

I like the beard.

[@aregularguy44]

I think it's interesting that the network would take a popular local show, put it on the network but then change the format which would fail miserably. It's a bit like the "Tomorrow" show with Tom Snyder that was so good they decided to put it in prime time. However, they changed the format, added another host, Rona Barrett, and basically destroyed all that had made the show so popular.

[@richardcoughlin8931]

This is like watching two fencers sparring verbally to score points, but no lethal blows. Classy and classic.

[@markatr6]

oh, the good ol days when we had some celebreties that were smart, multi-talented,funny,and spoke clear english...we've lowered standards since...

[@mattheweagle223]

Calling out scientology Waaaaay back when something could have been done

[@steveknutzen2830]

Steve shoulda brought the little black things

[@PikesvilleAl]

Jeff Richards?

[@LawriePaulGiven]

Jack Parr was first. Not Steve Allen

[@billtooke6642]

Steve Allen was 1st. 1954. Paar came later

[@MickeyDunaway]

Steve Allen what’s with the beard last time I saw you was in a cement truck

[@chuckw1021]

Fink University

[@rjnordin]

Interesting. Towards the end when discussing his son who had joined a religious cult, Allen stated his was a Christian family. I thought he was essentially a humanist and denied the existence of God.

[@Xristoforos41493]

I feel like lettermen has no moxie what so ever

[@HolmanHal]

He was intimidated by the greatness across the desk.

[@krisscanlon4051]

Allen was Dave's hero...same kinda of style...dry humor

[@Danburdick-lm5xt]

letterman needs to be greatful for steve or he'd be out of a job!

[@PikesvilleAl]

A guy wearing a mask

[@fluxcapacitor1621]

I lost my mother to Christianity. It's the biggest cult of all.

[@joshuaG_Sea]

Given there’s more believers of Islam in the world, I’d say Islam is the biggest

[@sullivanspapa1505]

Can’t imagine how many humans were slaughtered because they weren’t the “right” kind of Christian!

[@Mike1614YT]

pray tell. no pun

[@topsuperseven7910]

Steve Allen seems 'off' in this episode. now, that could be because of the book and family situation and going public so maybe he was just 'off' his usual self. I think the beard didn't work for him either.