Damn that Mailroom sketch at the end was brilliant...and yet again, serious whiffs of Tim & Eric. The real people, semi-contrived situations, and by God the awkward freeze-frames! I'd never seen that before Awesome Show...until now, 30 years before. And incidentally, Larry "Bud" Melman is surely the forerunner of Tim & Eric's signature move of making awkward older men do silly things in a serious way. Ah, just so much gravitas things in these old clips.
Mt Rushmore of late night talk show. Allen, Paar, Carson, and Dave. All radio guys and have the fine mix you look for not the gore you see now on late night. The lost art of conversation is where it was at. Dave took it with him folks.
thank you very much. Masters at work here. Dave was the rightful heir and those 4 lovechild. only one. no one. then again but hey you know this already! Schmock Schmock!
Always felt Allen was the overall most talented of the whole bunch but talk really wasnt his strong suit. Paar took it to the level it would become and its a shame NBC erased and recorded most of his Tonight shows because the show was unpredictable and moved fast for 1 hr and 45 mins. Paars Tonight Show had the same director as Lettermans Late Night show on NBC. I always maintained Paar laid the foundation on Tonight that Carson built his empire on.
@@DoctorEdgarMcQuack For drooling over anyone with female anatomy and talking to a robot? I think he's funny and not all that bad, but not in the same class.
This is amazing! The man who reinvented the late night talk show format interviewed the man who invented the late night talk show format. This is incredible! Can you think of anything that would be better than that? I don't know, but do you think that you can get Johnny Carson's appearance on Dave's show from 1985?
True, but because of Dave, all of the late night talk show hosts who are on TV right now are looking at and thinking about the late night talk shows differently. The only late night talk show host from the past fifteen years who was doing something totally different from everybody else was Craig Ferguson.
Wow! This is awesome! The first late night talk show host ever is on one of the first episodes of "Late Night with David Letterman" about 2 years after Dave's morning show was cancelled, but 2 years before David Letterman started doing stunts on "Late Night."
Nope. The first Dolby system (Dolby A) was for professional studio equipment and introduced in the late 1960's. The first consumer use of Dolby processing was in cassette tape recorders and players, and was introduced in the early 1970's. The Wollensak recorders being used by Steve Allen in this show are from the late 1950's. I had an audiophile level Teac reel-to-reel (10-inch reels) which I bought in 1971 - it did not have Dolby processing. That deck cost $350 which equals about $2,250 today. The first cassette deck I had with Dolby was a Yamaha TC-800GL cassette recorder/player with Dolby B purchased in 1977. That cassette deck cost $400 which is about $1,800 today.
It’s as simple as this: Steve Allen was a creative genius. Comedian, musician, writer of many books on a variety of topics, and still holds the Guinness book of world records for most songs composed by one person. Both Letterman and Carson borrowed a lot from him.
@@rsprockets7846 No borrowed is the proper term. All entertainers particularly comedians and musicians have been influenced by those that came before them. I don’t call that stealing at all. In fact it is paying homage to the great ones.
It seemed like Letterman picked up where Steve left off. Carson watched Letterman and tried to mimic some of the funny bits that Dave was doing, but it didn't have quite the same effect.
Steve Allen did start the Tonight Show and left it pretty quickly but that was so long ago baby boomers didn't see it. But he had another late night talk show in the early to mid sixties that was syndicated called, "The Westinghouse Show" that everybody saw. That's where Letterman saw him. Me, too. He was a fantastic amount of fun. That era seems so relaxed and laid-back, carefree and fun now. Never to be seen again, I fear.
Yes, that's my upload. I specified here that this was his first appearance on Late Night. October 23, 1980, was on Dave's morning show. Different beasts.
Wow without Steve Allen there would be no Carson, Letterman, Conan, Colbert, Kimmel, Fallon, Seth Myers, James Corden, and well, Jay Big Jaw Leno. I think more people should know about this guy and what he started.
ignorecorporatenews I believe there are just a few video recordings of full Steve Allen Tonight Show episodes in existence today. Of course, 50 years ago most Americans knew of him.
Interesting. Didn't know about Zappa, but I'm not surprised about Baker. Steve was a huge supporter of Lenny Bruce, and had Lenny on his show 3, 4 times.
Actually, it was his head writer Steve O’Donnell who nearly suffocated from the Alka Selzter fumes during rehearsal. For the show taping Dave was given a mouthpiece for protection, he was never in danger. Here’s the Suits collection - ua-cam.com/video/uJemQTiZph4/v-deo.html
Steve seemed 2 b certainly less acerbic. 50s. Family Eisenhower era. Yes Dave copied Steve's innovation. But added edgy characters really helped. Diverse musical guests also. And musical genius Paul. Dave's writing was so creative also. Brainy.
Dave was a real jerk in this interview. "It's wonderful work and I'm proud to be associated with the man who's doing it." That was just a straight insult. Particularly strange he'd act that way towards a man who's influenced him and whom he, presumably, respected.
Not sure how that can ben read as an insult. Steve had been a guest on both the Tonight Show when Dave guest-hosted and on the penultimate morning show in 1980. Dave's respect was genuine.
I'm hoping Dave was kidding and Steverino knew it---Dave's comment was actually what Steve himself would have said in that situation to a guest, and Steve knew that.
Not an insult at all. Dave himself often commented that Steve was his main influence. I think imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, on one show Dave became a human alka seltzer and said it was inspired from Steve's bits.
You're exactly right, Steverino was "The Human Teabag" with hundreds of teabags attached to his suit, he then jumped into a huge tank of steaming hot water!--as you say, Dave did the same gag but with hundreds of alka-selter tablets---if i recall correctly, Dave was overcome by the fumes from the bubbling!
Steve's funniest monologues always started out with "Let me get serious for a moment."
"all seriousness aside"
"Late Night" was only a month old here (5 weeks).
Pre Cosby and MUST SEE TV and Knight Rider
the CREATOR of The TONIGHT show and the talk show format.
Damn that Mailroom sketch at the end was brilliant...and yet again, serious whiffs of Tim & Eric. The real people, semi-contrived situations, and by God the awkward freeze-frames! I'd never seen that before Awesome Show...until now, 30 years before. And incidentally, Larry "Bud" Melman is surely the forerunner of Tim & Eric's signature move of making awkward older men do silly things in a serious way. Ah, just so much gravitas things in these old clips.
it's amazing how cyclical comedy is.
Mt Rushmore of late night talk show. Allen, Paar, Carson, and Dave. All radio guys and have the fine mix you look for not the gore you see now on late night. The lost art of conversation is where it was at. Dave took it with him folks.
You are absolutely correct.
thank you very much. Masters at work here. Dave was the rightful heir and those 4 lovechild. only one. no one. then again but hey you know this already! Schmock Schmock!
Kris Scanlon craig ferguson deserves a spot too
Always felt Allen was the overall most talented of the whole bunch but talk really wasnt his strong suit. Paar took it to the level it would become and its a shame NBC erased and recorded most of his Tonight shows because the show was unpredictable and moved fast for 1 hr and 45 mins. Paars Tonight Show had the same director as Lettermans Late Night show on NBC. I always maintained Paar laid the foundation on Tonight that Carson built his empire on.
@@DoctorEdgarMcQuack For drooling over anyone with female anatomy and talking to a robot? I think he's funny and not all that bad, but not in the same class.
This is amazing! The man who reinvented the late night talk show format interviewed the man who invented the late night talk show format. This is incredible! Can you think of anything that would be better than that? I don't know, but do you think that you can get Johnny Carson's appearance on Dave's show from 1985?
It's been uploaded by others several times. Here's one of them: ua-cam.com/video/roJg0d_4CGw/v-deo.html
Don Giller Thanks for letting me know! I saw it already, and that was epic.
actually Lettermann didn't re-invent much; he basically just copied Steve Allen's style
True, but because of Dave, all of the late night talk show hosts who are on TV right now are looking at and thinking about the late night talk shows differently. The only late night talk show host from the past fifteen years who was doing something totally different from everybody else was Craig Ferguson.
thanks SO much for posting this. if you have anymore "lost" Steverino shows, please post!
Wow! This is awesome! The first late night talk show host ever is on one of the first episodes of "Late Night with David Letterman" about 2 years after Dave's morning show was cancelled, but 2 years before David Letterman started doing stunts on "Late Night."
Looked like the 2 tape recorders were Wollensak, which was the 1st one to incorporate dolby?
Cool!!
Nope. The first Dolby system (Dolby A) was for professional studio equipment and introduced in the late 1960's. The first consumer use of Dolby processing was in cassette tape recorders and players, and was introduced in the early 1970's. The Wollensak recorders being used by Steve Allen in this show are from the late 1950's. I had an audiophile level Teac reel-to-reel (10-inch reels) which I bought in 1971 - it did not have Dolby processing. That deck cost $350 which equals about $2,250 today. The first cassette deck I had with Dolby was a Yamaha TC-800GL cassette recorder/player with Dolby B purchased in 1977. That cassette deck cost $400 which is about $1,800 today.
3M.
Actually the book about his son in the cult was the best book he ever wrote. It was the most personal and dramatic. "Beloved Son," was the name of it.
Awesome post! Thanks!!
david does great commentary on the mailroom show! very slick...like a fast talking radio guy!
I grew up in the era of Steve Allen, Sid Caesar, and Ernie Kovacs.
Fun fun fun.
It’s as simple as this: Steve Allen was a creative genius. Comedian, musician, writer of many books on a variety of topics, and still holds the Guinness book of world records for most songs composed by one person. Both Letterman and Carson borrowed a lot from him.
As at least Letterman has repeatedly acknowledged.
More like stole
@@rsprockets7846 No borrowed is the proper term. All entertainers particularly comedians and musicians have been influenced by those that came before them. I don’t call that stealing at all. In fact it is paying homage to the great ones.
It seemed like Letterman picked up where Steve left off. Carson watched Letterman and tried to mimic some of the funny bits that Dave was doing, but it didn't have quite the same effect.
Steve Allen did start the Tonight Show and left it pretty quickly but that was so long ago baby boomers didn't see it. But he had another late night talk show in the early to mid sixties that was syndicated called, "The Westinghouse Show" that everybody saw. That's where Letterman saw him. Me, too. He was a fantastic amount of fun. That era seems so relaxed and laid-back, carefree and fun now. Never to be seen again, I fear.
SMOK! SMOK! Every time Steve said that I found it soooo funny!
Not that it matters to anyone else but me, but I was twenty-seven when this aired some thirty-nine years ago. Still kick'n
Steve Allen was incredible
Maybe not the first appearance. Allen was on Letterman October 23, 1980, at least according to another UA-camr.
Yes, that's my upload. I specified here that this was his first appearance on Late Night. October 23, 1980, was on Dave's morning show. Different beasts.
That whistle is a dead giveaway.
Steve is using a dial telephone.
And a 1950ß. Ampex tape recorders
That’s where Mike & Sully started in the Mailroom at Monsters Inc..
Adorable man
Wow without Steve Allen there would be no Carson, Letterman, Conan, Colbert, Kimmel, Fallon, Seth Myers, James Corden, and well, Jay Big Jaw Leno. I think more people should know about this guy and what he started.
Steve wrote over 50 books, poetry, and was an accomplished jazz pianist, composer and lyricist.
Steverino!!
And the idea for the Alka Seltzer suit is born
Steve Allen: The original David Lettermann, only a great musician as well
The original Johnny Carson.
that too
ignorecorporatenews Steve Allen was better than Letterman and Carson.
True. So why don't most Americans even know who he is?
ignorecorporatenews I believe there are just a few video recordings of full Steve Allen Tonight Show episodes in existence today. Of course, 50 years ago most Americans knew of him.
Steve Allen brought people like Frank Zappa and Chet Baker into America's living rooms for the first time.
Interesting. Didn't know about Zappa, but I'm not surprised about Baker. Steve was a huge supporter of Lenny Bruce, and had Lenny on his show 3, 4 times.
And the great jazz pianist Bill Evans.
ua-cam.com/video/QwXAqIaUahI/v-deo.html&ab_channel=BillEvansArchive
Dial phones and real typewriters- that was late night comedy!
...and this was about forty years ago!!!
Dave did the alka seltzer stunt and suit of. Velcro nearly died from.fumes
Actually, it was his head writer Steve O’Donnell who nearly suffocated from the Alka Selzter fumes during rehearsal. For the show taping Dave was given a mouthpiece for protection, he was never in danger.
Here’s the Suits collection - ua-cam.com/video/uJemQTiZph4/v-deo.html
So crude yet graphic
Steve Allen was what's best in men.
Was Steve Allen before Jack Paar?
Jack was three years older than Steve, but Steve’s Tonight Show was before Jack’s.
@@dongiller - Thanks - I thought Paar was first
March 11, 1982 (the day Thora Birch was born)
What are the signs that you may have a beard?
Remember nightclubs and studio audiences?
It's too bad that Steve Allen didn't work more in the eighties.
Steve seemed 2 b certainly less acerbic. 50s. Family Eisenhower era. Yes Dave copied Steve's innovation. But added edgy characters really helped. Diverse musical guests also. And musical genius Paul. Dave's writing was so creative also. Brainy.
Steve had stupid pet tricks and trlhrowing stuff off build ings?
Dave was a real jerk in this interview. "It's wonderful work and I'm proud to be associated with the man who's doing it." That was just a straight insult.
Particularly strange he'd act that way towards a man who's influenced him and whom he, presumably, respected.
Not sure how that can ben read as an insult. Steve had been a guest on both the Tonight Show when Dave guest-hosted and on the penultimate morning show in 1980. Dave's respect was genuine.
It seemed to me that was a sarcastic comment, he was trying to say Steve was being silly (in a negative sense) and poking fun at him.
I'm hoping Dave was kidding and Steverino knew it---Dave's comment was actually what Steve himself would have said in that situation to a guest, and Steve knew that.
Not an insult at all. Dave himself often commented that Steve was his main influence. I think imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, on one show Dave became a human alka seltzer and said it was inspired from Steve's bits.
You're exactly right, Steverino was "The Human Teabag" with hundreds of teabags attached to his suit, he then jumped into a huge tank of steaming hot water!--as you say, Dave did the same gag but with hundreds of alka-selter tablets---if i recall correctly, Dave was overcome by the fumes from the bubbling!
wow, dave sure was a lousy interviewer back then
also...he was a little start struck...interviewing his idol.