Having grown up with Steve Allen, I will simply state that, 62 years later, he is still a consummate giant whose work stands the test of time so very well. Thank you Steve; I love you!
What a kick to see this...I was 11 when this aired, & most likely my family watched this since my Dad loved Steve Allen.... I moved to Los Angeles in 1975 and in the late 80's had my own Public Access Show...I got Steve Allen to be a guest, and it was as FANTASTIC as I hoped it would be. I even rented a small piano for him to play & I sang SMILE to a friend of mine who had cancer for the 2nd time... Then when I got a local Los Angeles show STEVE was my FIRST GUEST.....
I was 10 years old at the time. I remember we had moved in with my grandparents when I was three years old and I used to sneak out of the bedroom and stand in the hallway to watch Steve Allen, Ernie Kovacs, Gary Moore and outer limits. These truly were the golden days of entertainment.
I was five then too. It was a wonderful time to have been alive. Seeing this presentation really gives a feeling of the 'texture' of that era. Most of the humor went right over my little head but I enjoyed watching my parents watch this show and others like it.
Hilarious show that I never new about! You've got to love UA-cam. Is this an inspiration for Monty Python starting in 1969 with crazy randomness and stock footage? An auto junk yard for a parking area. haha! These are all americana jokes, like stock footage of Calvary troops, but Python did things like that but with vikings and germans.
Steve Allen was considered liberal and enlightened regarding social issues. And yet, looking at this 1961 show 60 years later, there are a number of things considered today to be politically incorrect. I probably watched this in 1961 and found it then perfectly acceptable back then. I still enjoyed watching this episode today by putting it into the context of its time while knowing that many of us have evolved in our thinking. So before we criticize people and their actions of the past, we should look at ourselves first. And for young people today that might criticize our past actions, wait until you're older and wonder what you once thought was acceptable.
I believe that the announcer make a mistake when he said "Tom Conway". He should have said "Tim Conway". Steve was a fantastic comedian who had a big heart as he promoted many young talents on his programs.
That was comic Joey Forman doing double duty as the announcer, functioning much in the same way that Gene Rayburn did on the both original Tonight show and the Sunday night NBC series. And he was right when he said Tom Conway...who didn't change his name to Tim until a few months later. This was the problem: there already was a Tom Conway in Hollywood when Tim got there in '61, George Sanders' brother.
For my 2005 book, "Inventing Late Night: Steve Allen and the Original Tonight Show," Tim Conway explained to me how Rose Marie had discovered him doing a local daily movie show in Cleveland. She found him so hysterical that she brought a tape of his show back to Steve, who hired him for his new ABC series in the fall of 1961. When Conway made the move to Hollywood, he discovered that the name by which he had always been known -- TOM Conway -- was also the name of another actor, the brother of actor George Sanders. Conway explained, "You couldn't have two people in the union with the same name, and Steve quipped, 'Why don't you just dot the O'?" I'm not sure of the exact timeline, but at some point soon, Tom formally became known as Tim.
@@rayhoffmanonair6332 Thank you for that bit of information. I never knew that Tom was his real name. He was one of my favorites as his appearances on Steve's programs certainly do rank high on the list of classic comedy routines,
funniest thing I've seen in years - those were days of relative freedom - would you have more of Steve's shows including those with the beatnik "UFO" band skits ? - there's nothing quite as good as Louie Nye playing the ice tongs.....
The Westinghouse Steve Allen Show had the most continuous form of comedy that was unscripted. It is most unfortunate that its tapews were never released for UA-cam.
The Internet Archive has a serviceable lower resolution copy (with clear and dynamic sound) of Steve's "piano on a flag pole" episode with guests Slim Gaillard and Eartha Kitt - towards the end there's an absolutely stunning and electric blonde lady showing off mattresses - she also sings and with a great voice - should have been a "star" archive.org/details/THESTEVEALLENWESTINGHOUSETVSHOW19621_201501
That was his actual name. I didn't know he went by Tom before he changed it to Tim, though. He had to change his name to Tim because there already was a Tom Conway in Hollywood at the time. In fact, my aunt told me this because she was in realty back in the day in California and sold the Conways a house. She got to be on his then-wife's bridge club. She said he was hilarious --- greeting the ladies at the door in his underwear or wearing a dress!
That's because he had just arrived from Cleveland as Tom Conway. But there already was a Tom Conway --George Sanders' brother-- and so shortly thereafter, he became Tim.
Having grown up with Steve Allen, I will simply state that, 62 years later, he is still a consummate giant whose work stands the test of time so very well. Thank you Steve; I love you!
What a kick to see this...I was 11 when this aired, & most likely my family watched this since my Dad loved Steve Allen.... I moved to Los Angeles in 1975 and in the late 80's had my own Public Access Show...I got Steve Allen to be a guest, and it was as FANTASTIC as I hoped it would be. I even rented a small piano for him to play & I sang SMILE to a friend of mine who had cancer for the 2nd time... Then when I got a local Los Angeles show STEVE was my FIRST GUEST.....
Nice story. Steve is the best. I'm a collector.
hopefully life will all work out, I sure have steve allen as an inspiration and this just inspires me more
What a great story!!
He was talented, kind, and thought-provoking. Did it get better than this? I do not think so.
I miss GOOD SHOWS like this!
This is a priceless blast from the past!
I loved watching Steve Allen when i was a kid. He could be funny almost without saying anything. 👍🤓🤣
Loved Stevo and his crew. Always liked the "man on the street" segment. Thanks for airing this.
I was 10 years old at the time. I remember we had moved in with my grandparents when I was three years old and I used to sneak out of the bedroom and stand in the hallway to watch Steve Allen, Ernie Kovacs, Gary Moore and outer limits. These truly were the golden days of entertainment.
How wonderful! When things were much more normal. Nice.
Mr. Steve Allen a great entertainer, enjoyed his TV show.
Steve Allen and his gang made tv so great back in the day. So much fun.
I was 5 back then the Christmas season was so wonderful in this era
I was five then too. It was a wonderful time to have been alive. Seeing this presentation really gives a feeling of the 'texture' of that era. Most of the humor went right over my little head but I enjoyed watching my parents watch this show and others like it.
Well, I also was 5 in 1951 (born October 26, 1946).
I was 6 and loved the black and white era of television.
R.I.P Steve Allen (1921-2012)
Steve Allen died in the year 2000 not 2012.
When Steve's neighbor started shooting at him, I saw precisely where a young David Letterman learned his comic style.
EXACTLY. Just what I was thinking.
Those puppets were adorable
This was all back in the good-old-days when you could shoot an injun and nobody asked any questions.
thank you so much for sharing this
Hilarious show that I never new about! You've got to love UA-cam. Is this an inspiration for Monty Python starting in 1969 with crazy randomness and stock footage? An auto junk yard for a parking area. haha! These are all americana jokes, like stock footage of Calvary troops, but Python did things like that but with vikings and germans.
Got to love a show sponsored by bowling alleys.
What a contrast between the World we live in now compared to then, When some Innocence could be enjoyed and rested in.
this could be the start of something. it should have been the theme song for the early 1960's.
Steve Allen was considered liberal and enlightened regarding social issues. And yet, looking at this 1961 show 60 years later, there are a number of things considered today to be politically incorrect. I probably watched this in 1961 and found it then perfectly acceptable back then. I still enjoyed watching this episode today by putting it into the context of its time while knowing that many of us have evolved in our thinking. So before we criticize people and their actions of the past, we should look at ourselves first. And for young people today that might criticize our past actions, wait until you're older and wonder what you once thought was acceptable.
Evolved or degenerated?
Keep in mind that in 1961, most Americans were sane, had a sense of humor, had common sense and were not thin skinned, none of which applies in 2023.
Tom before he became Tim Conway.
everybody was still alive then...
Except the people from other generations who were dead. Henry VIII, for example.
I believe that the announcer make a mistake when he said "Tom Conway". He should have said "Tim Conway". Steve was a fantastic comedian who had a big heart as he promoted many young talents on his programs.
That was comic Joey Forman doing double duty as the announcer, functioning much in the same way that Gene Rayburn did on the both original Tonight show and the Sunday night NBC series. And he was right when he said Tom Conway...who didn't change his name to Tim until a few months later. This was the problem: there already was a Tom Conway in Hollywood when Tim got there in '61, George Sanders' brother.
@@rayhoffmanonair6332 - I had also noticed the "Tom" Conway references and wondered about it...thanks for clearing that up!
SO DID STEVE???? HE CALLED HIM TOM,,,,
For my 2005 book, "Inventing Late Night: Steve Allen and the Original Tonight Show," Tim Conway explained to me how Rose Marie had discovered him doing a local daily movie show in Cleveland. She found him so hysterical that she brought a tape of his show back to Steve, who hired him for his new ABC series in the fall of 1961. When Conway made the move to Hollywood, he discovered that the name by which he had always been known -- TOM Conway -- was also the name of another actor, the brother of actor George Sanders. Conway explained, "You couldn't have two people in the union with the same name, and Steve quipped, 'Why don't you just dot the O'?" I'm not sure of the exact timeline, but at some point soon, Tom formally became known as Tim.
@@rayhoffmanonair6332 Thank you for that bit of information. I never knew that Tom was his real name. He was one of my favorites as his appearances on Steve's programs certainly do rank high on the list of classic comedy routines,
The current generation likes watching people on an island being cruel to each other. Pure entertainment.
Did this era really exist or did we just imagine it?
Compare that time to today's landscape with all of its attendant troubles.
There were plenty of troubles then too.
At that time,you could plan a future.Can you really do so now?@@marmaly
Smock smock !!
thanks
The singer Barbara Russell was a great talent
I was 14 years i when I watched this
funniest thing I've seen in years - those were days of relative freedom - would you have more of Steve's shows including those with the beatnik "UFO" band skits ? - there's nothing quite as good as Louie Nye playing the ice tongs.....
The Westinghouse Steve Allen Show had the most continuous form of comedy that was unscripted. It is most unfortunate that its tapews were never released for UA-cam.
I miss seeing episodes of the feud between Gypsy Boots and Professor Irwin Corey (still alive at 102).
The Internet Archive has a serviceable lower resolution copy (with clear and dynamic sound) of Steve's "piano on a flag pole" episode with guests Slim Gaillard and Eartha Kitt - towards the end there's an absolutely stunning and electric blonde lady showing off mattresses - she also sings and with a great voice - should have been a "star"
archive.org/details/THESTEVEALLENWESTINGHOUSETVSHOW19621_201501
karlsonkab51 So, do we know who this mystery blonde Wonen was ? I'll check the link .
@@karlsonkab51 Thanks for the tip!!
❤️
Can you imagine what would happen if Bill Dana did that Jingle Bells bit today? The Political Correct nut jobs would be outraged .
"Politically Correct nut jobs "
Is about right
I simply refer to them if I must as......idiots
“It’s just a flesh wound”…
In the minute 7:03 someone is run over by a horse. It looks like a serious injury to the head. Must be hurt a lot
Why did they call Tim Conway Tom Conway?
That was his actual name. I didn't know he went by Tom before he changed it to Tim, though. He had to change his name to Tim because there already was a Tom Conway in Hollywood at the time. In fact, my aunt told me this because she was in realty back in the day in California and sold the Conways a house. She got to be on his then-wife's bridge club. She said he was hilarious --- greeting the ladies at the door in his underwear or wearing a dress!
No sound.
I can't hear anything!
the audio is only on the right channel
Steve keeps calling a young "Tim" Conway, "Tom" for some reason.
That's because he had just arrived from Cleveland as Tom Conway. But there already was a Tom Conway --George Sanders' brother-- and so shortly thereafter, he became Tim.
Good thing SJW's don't have any culture or they'd be blowing up this comment section about how offensive playing cowboys and indians is.
TheBigMclargehuge I'm surprised you aren't bitching about him taking a job away from an American. Get a life.
The puppets really sucked.
Even by 1961 standards this was a lame program.
You should have kept it "long-lost" - so not funny.
The Cowboys and indians is hilarious
dont be so negative it is merely historical footage
@@anonoyingmuck8071 Just a miserable troll. :)