Steve Allen on The Tonight Show - Steven L. Stevens

[kerrlockhart]

Judging by the size of the stage and the technical complexity, this is more likely from the Sunday night primetime STEVE ALLEN SHOW than from the TONIGHT SHOW. But Steve was always great.

[MegaObserver1]

@kerrlockhart Actually considering that this bit used video tape and how old Steve looks, my guess is that this is from either Steve's 1961-62 ABC prime time show or his 1962-64 late night syndicated show

[KnickyNY]

This was great. Steve Allen was incredibly talented. This was a treat. Thank you.

[KnickyNY]

This was great. Steve Allen was incredibly talented. This was a treat. Thank you.

[pclinn]

does anyone know the name of the song by steve allen where he plays a solo piano and stops intermittently to laugh. it was on the radio in the early sixties.

[maitrejim]

Steve Allen NEVER failed to make me laugh on ANY of his late night shows. When he took over the "Steve Allen Playhouse" He really hit high gear in comedy. He could do EVERYTHING.. except play a trumpet well.. which he recorded and cracked up at hisself doin it. Still remember "Durandos Bar" at the end of La Mirada where he would sometimes do whacky comedy.. like parallel park an 18 wheel tractor Trailer.

[catholicpriest1]

This seems to come from a later date than the Tonight Show....maybe late 1950s or early 1960s. The show was in color by that time and this could be early Chromakey.

[ipmoic]

He was brilliant and oh so talented. But he had quite the ego and irritated many of his contemporaries.

As he got older he took himself OH so seriously. He had a show on PBS where he would "interview" historical figures. (Anyone remember the title?) And his last books were so pompous and filled with his world-changing ideas--they were almost unbearable.

But here he is at his best--a consumate entertainer. Great video!!

[robfilmer]

the show was titled "the Meeting of Minds"

[furtherdefinitions]

The show was "Meeting of the Minds".

[Cris43130]

So true. As much as I loved Steve Allen, the funniest thing I can think about him is Jack Paar's ridicule of his publicity piece (which are always ridiculously inflated even for celebrities of less inflated egos.)

[SalPedi]

In my opinion, there was nobody else like him!...I liked him best of all the late night show entertainers!.. and he was really the most talented of all those late night entertainers. He also did a lot of "Ad lib" which I found most entertaining...

[hourlynewscaster]

It's not easy to play piano against pre-recorded singing. Wow. He was a very special guy. Dennis

[wmbrown6]

I'd've sworn this was from after Steverino left "Tonight" in 1957. This type of trick would've come in the late 1950's/early '60's. The way Mr. Allen looked seems to suggest this preceded his taking over the reins of "I've Got a Secret" in 1964.

[blyshn]

Just Marvelous! He was one of my heroes as a kid. I will always remember Steve Allen visiting my junior high in L.A. and cracking up a bunch of kids, most of whom had never heard of him. He was one of a kind. Is there a video of him playing "The Gravy Waltz" on the piano?

[Synesthete78]

Leno and Letterman aren't the only one to have some parrallel with Steve Allen. Another Steve uses a similair bit, Stephen Colbert on his "Formidable Opponent" segment, where he debates himself.

[retrorex]

Was Steve Allen playing both parts? If so, how?

[buscemivj]

this will probably bore you, but when i was a kid, I HAD to watch Steve, cause I didn't sleep.. I'm 57, and I'd love to see more. God bless...v

[BocaFriend]

Thanks for posting this brilliant piece. I'd not seen it before in all the many compilations and specials "I've watched throughout the years. Too bad about the low audio, but it's better than not having it at all!

[pylgrym]

Very cool bluescreen/chroma-key stuff, brilliantly synchronized!

[thechurchofdave]

pylgrym : This is long long before blue screen. This is a process shot. It is a film screen with a rear projector. The film is then flopped before it is projected so that it looks correct on this side of the screen.

[bethelgirl36]

Blue Screen was developed in the 1930's, but I still don't think this is. It started being used more in the 1950's so it is possible.

[pdibello]

Excellent! But, can you boost the volume?

[philmfan]

I tried but I think the problem lies in the original. I plan to try again, any suggestions?

[UrbanTenant]

use virtualDub, where you can copy the video with no changes, while editing the audio's volume and other properties...