Always loved Steve Allen on What's My Line and I've Got a Secret. Clips of the original Tonight Show are hard to find but I did see a clip once that shows how quick Steve was. During a bit on the Tonight Show Steve was up in the audience letting people ask questions and he was answering them. A woman stands and says, "Steve, do they get your show in Seattle?" Without missing a beat, Steve replies, "They see it but I don't think they get it." Brilliance.
Agreed, I'm still looking for the SNL skit with Farley and Chris Rock as two rappers, Farley continually bouncing his head and doesn't say a word, it's hilarious.
@backdoorwolf666 and rock was referring to Farley as his homie, and rock ends it with calling Farley, "my daniel Boone, my Vidal Sassoon, my little boy blue and the Man in the mizzune"
I had no idea Steve Allen did Conan's first show. This is a pretty good find. For those not familiar, he was the original host of Tonight from 1954 to 1957. His announcer/sidekick during a lot of that time was a personality named Gene Rayburn. A lot of people probably know him from his later work on "Match Game".
Steve Allen was one smart, savvy, and quick-witted cookie. More than anyone, Allen deserves the title of late-night television's original pioneer, having paved the way for Parr, Carson, Cavett, Griffin, Douglas, and the other (mostly long-dead and forgotten) veterans of that medium. It's a great shame so few Tonight Show episodes from his 54-57 tenure survive today. The habit of making a film record of every episode hadn't become standard operating procedure for television production yet, and many Kinescopes from the early years of broadcast television would subsequently be lost or erased owing to the notoriously cavalier attitude the networks had on preservation. We lost many historic TV moments, including most of Carson's '62-72 NY run and nearly all of Parr's and Allen's respective Tonight Shows, because of this!
Steve Allen was also a prolific song writer having had written thousands, he was also a look alike for TV's clark kent and was actually used in that way in one of the Superman comic book episodes.
Tragic. Carson's shows had been being taped during the 1960s. A building manager ordered all the tapes thrown out to make space in that storage room. Carson didn't find out until he asked to look at one of the episodes. After that, Carson had it put in his contract that all the episodes would be saved.
i love that conan keeps saying that people didn't appreciate his take on late night until years later but here is a clip of the man who started it all saying conan is doing it correctly 1 month into his late night tenure
Wow this is (almost exactly) one month into Conan’s late night run! It’s impressive to see how composed and comfortable he looks, even though he’s definitely nervous
Steve Allen was my favorite talk show host. He was so naturally funny and such a nice person. I used to watch his show back in the 60's and it was always hilarious. I had the pleasure of meeting him and his beautiful wife Jayne when they came to AZ in 1992 for a book signing. It was so nice to see him again in this video. Thanks for sharing it! 🙋❤
Holy cow. That last guy interviewed... wether or.not he understood the question ... passed a huge morality test at a time when most people would have failed. God bless him
Steve Allen Last Gig Was In 2000 At The Alex Theatre In Glendale California Back Stage at The Alex Theatre is a Bronze Plaque Commemorating Steve Allen’s Last Show
I was too young too see his original stuff but I remember he had a late night comedy/musical show on Disney channel in its early days when the channel had a little something for all ages. Good stuff he was a very funny and talented guy.
Steve Allen's death was so sad. He was involved in a very minor accident while driving with his son. He didn't sense any serious injuries, continued on to his son's house and took a nap, dying in his sleep from hemopericardium. Just a freak accident.
I used to sneakily stay up late and watch Steve when I was a kid on his later "The Steve Allen Show." I loved his show, populated by comedy legends - Don Knotts, Dayton Allen, Louis Nye, Tom Poston, Bill Dana. It was like the Mad Magazine of TV. Great stuff.
Steve Allen had a number of shows after the Tonight Show, but Conan -unlike Letterman- was too young to see them. So I am not sure he was inspired directly, although maybe he learned about them, and certainly appreciated him as the founder.
Never knew Steve met Chris, and so wonderful to see him cackling with laughter at Farley. Comedy legends of different generations, enjoying a big laugh together.
My god, back then 30 years, thinking back to '53, is not the same as us looking back to '94. Aside from smart phones and computers(I'll get by on an Amiga, thank you) I could live the same back then ('94) as I do now.
Imagine a network show pulling in 30 million people! Remember the total population of the US was half the size it is now. His show was heard live by 15% of the entire nation. The days of network hegemony are over for good (in both senses of the phrase).
I remember once Johnny Carson had the night off and he had a stand in for him Don Rickles broke his cigarette box. When Johnny came back they were filming and Johnny saw his broken cigarette box and asked what happened to it and Ed told him. So Johnny gets up and a cameraman followed him out of the studio and down the hall to the Sharkey studio and walked in while Don was doing a scene for Sharkey in front of a live audience and he confronted Don about it. Johnny really looked and acted like he was pissed. Don of course gave a lame excuse then Johnny finally left and went back to his own studio show. But I remember this because it was the first time that I saw a camera man showing this back in the hallways of this multi-studio building. But then I realized how Johnny got back at Don. By Johnny busting in on the Sharkey set, cost Don several hundreds of dollars by interrupting and basically shutting the filming down for a few minutes. I remember when Zsa Zsa was on his show and she had brought her beautiful, long haired, white Persian cat. Zsa Zsa asked Johnny if he would like to pet her pussy. Johnny said, "Sure, move the cat".
"Mr. Allen, umm, do your remember that time when, umm, you asked people on the street if they'd vote for a hetereosexual President?" "Yes, Chris, I do." "That was awesome."
Conan "Jokes"" that everyone has a show now, more than a decade before Podcasts and UA-cam were a thing People in the street not even knowing what Heterosexual means The good old days 😂
Farley: "Steve, it's great to meet ya, sir!"
Steve: "It's great to be met."
Sharp as a tack, that guy!
Always loved Steve Allen on What's My Line and I've Got a Secret. Clips of the original Tonight Show are hard to find but I did see a clip once that shows how quick Steve was. During a bit on the Tonight Show Steve was up in the audience letting people ask questions and he was answering them. A woman stands and says, "Steve, do they get your show in Seattle?" Without missing a beat, Steve replies, "They see it but I don't think they get it." Brilliance.
I think I remember that show. He was amazing!!
so cool to see the Tonight Show's first and final hosts together ❤️
Final?
Jay Leno (2010-2014) and Jimmy Fallon (2014-present) succeeded Conan.
@@acerjuglans383pretty sure they don’t like Fallon.
Because they do, and they are.
Because he and Carson were boomers lmfao
This is really special, and finding a clip of Farley that I've never seen before is like Christmas
Agreed, I'm still looking for the SNL skit with Farley and Chris Rock as two rappers, Farley continually bouncing his head and doesn't say a word, it's hilarious.
@@paulstewart6203 I remember something like that. They did a talk show sketch together and one joke was it was sponsored by Bullet-hole tampons.
@backdoorwolf666 and rock was referring to Farley as his homie, and rock ends it with calling Farley, "my daniel Boone, my Vidal Sassoon, my little boy blue and the Man in the mizzune"
@@paulstewart6203 You mean this one? ua-cam.com/video/8h_MFzx3Mug/v-deo.html
I bet theres a few more in the Conan Vault! He made a quite a few appearances Conan first couple years.
Steve was 72 years old and has no missteps.
And why would he? 72 is young today.
@@jessewolf7649this was 30 years ago.
Steve Allen was a genius such a quick witted gentleman
I had no idea Steve Allen did Conan's first show. This is a pretty good find.
For those not familiar, he was the original host of Tonight from 1954 to 1957. His announcer/sidekick during a lot of that time was a personality named Gene Rayburn. A lot of people probably know him from his later work on "Match Game".
Steve Allen was one smart, savvy, and quick-witted cookie. More than anyone, Allen deserves the title of late-night television's original pioneer, having paved the way for Parr, Carson, Cavett, Griffin, Douglas, and the other (mostly long-dead and forgotten) veterans of that medium. It's a great shame so few Tonight Show episodes from his 54-57 tenure survive today. The habit of making a film record of every episode hadn't become standard operating procedure for television production yet, and many Kinescopes from the early years of broadcast television would subsequently be lost or erased owing to the notoriously cavalier attitude the networks had on preservation. We lost many historic TV moments, including most of Carson's '62-72 NY run and nearly all of Parr's and Allen's respective Tonight Shows, because of this!
Steve Allen was also a prolific song writer having had written thousands, he was also a look alike for TV's clark kent and was actually used in that way in one of the Superman comic book episodes.
Tragic. Carson's shows had been being taped during the 1960s. A building manager ordered all the tapes thrown out to make space in that storage room. Carson didn't find out until he asked to look at one of the episodes. After that, Carson had it put in his contract that all the episodes would be saved.
It must’ve meant the world to Chris to have Steve Allen laughing with him and applauding him!
Steve Allen was a genius. If you were there at the time, you know what I mean.
Mr. Allen is so decent and likeable ... gotta love him. Thanks for the clip.
i love that conan keeps saying that people didn't appreciate his take on late night until years later but here is a clip of the man who started it all saying conan is doing it correctly 1 month into his late night tenure
Wow this is (almost exactly) one month into Conan’s late night run! It’s impressive to see how composed and comfortable he looks, even though he’s definitely nervous
He’s not nervous compared to an 8th grade dance where he got caught peeing his pants that morning in class
never thought I’d see Steve Allen and Conan together. 2 of my favorite comedy heroes 😂
God I loved Steve Allen. As a kid I knew he was special
Amazing that you knew Steve Allen as a kid! You must be very old so I'll turn this up ... CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT STEVE ALLEN AS A KID? 🤣
Even as a little kid in the '50s I enjoyed Steve Allen immensely.
Legends. Steve and Farley were true originals. RIP
Hearing Allen's laugh is great.
Steve Allan was a legend.
Steve Allen was my favorite talk show host. He was so naturally funny and such a nice person. I used to watch his show back in the 60's and it was always hilarious.
I had the pleasure of meeting him and his beautiful wife Jayne when they came to AZ in 1992 for a book signing. It was so nice to see him again in this video. Thanks for sharing it! 🙋❤
Holy cow. That last guy interviewed... wether or.not he understood the question ... passed a huge morality test at a time when most people would have failed. God bless him
Yeah, he misunderstood the word, but did get the answer right. 😎
He was allowing a disgusting creature to be a president.. that's immoral af 🤮
I forgot how quick, funny and classy he was. ⭐️
One of the things I most admire about Steve Allen is the fact that he wrote the song "This Could Be the Start of Something (Big)," words and music.
Wow didn't know that!
Seeing Steve Allen really takes me back.
Just when this interview couldn't get any better, Chris Farley enters
Steve Allen
Last Gig Was In 2000
At The Alex Theatre In
Glendale California
Back Stage at The Alex
Theatre is a Bronze Plaque Commemorating
Steve Allen’s Last Show
I was too young too see his original stuff but I remember he had a late night comedy/musical show on Disney channel in its early days when the channel had a little something for all ages. Good stuff he was a very funny and talented guy.
Steve Allen was multi talented. Excellent piano player and composer. Something I don't think other late night hosts can say.
Steve Allen's death was so sad. He was involved in a very minor accident while driving with his son. He didn't sense any serious injuries, continued on to his son's house and took a nap, dying in his sleep from hemopericardium. Just a freak accident.
Yes, it was incredibile and brutal.
Thanks for bringing up the sad stuff. I
Woooow. Someone read wikapedia
Two of my favorites.
Me Three ... (I'll add Conan to that awesome twosome!)
Street interviews have not changed in 50 years!
I used to sneakily stay up late and watch Steve when I was a kid on his later "The Steve Allen Show." I loved his show, populated by comedy legends - Don Knotts, Dayton Allen, Louis Nye, Tom Poston, Bill Dana. It was like the Mad Magazine of TV. Great stuff.
I thought MadTV was the Mad Magazine of TV.
Yup, I did that too. He was on for like 1 1/2 hours. I would love to see those shows again.
I love the photo of Ernie Kovacs and Edie Adams behind Steve Allen.
Outstanding. Wow, Steve Allen was SHARP! What a treasure. ❤🔥❤🔥❤🔥
If you haven’t seen Steve Allen’s Space Ghost guest appearance, it’s golden.
Steve Allen is an Icon!
Four simple letters .....
G.
O.
A.
T.
Nuff said
@@MoeMuzic13 Truth!
He endorsed Coco! Best interview ever
Love Steve's "on the street interviews", New Yorkers don't know "heterosexual", hilarious. Leno continued Allen's sketch with "Jay-walking".
steve allen is so friggin fast and hysterical. now I get why conan idolizes him. you can really hear how conan was inspired by his style too
Steve Allen had a number of shows after the Tonight Show, but Conan -unlike Letterman- was too young to see them. So I am not sure he was inspired directly, although maybe he learned about them, and certainly appreciated him as the founder.
This will be the equivalent today of watching Conan be a guest on a new talk show with a talented host.
Steve's high-pitched laughter! I hadn't heard that in a long time.
RIP Steve Allen My Idol!!!🙏🙏🙏
Never knew Steve met Chris, and so wonderful to see him cackling with laughter at Farley. Comedy legends of different generations, enjoying a big laugh together.
Cameras on the street reveal a lot of Archie Bunkers. 😂😂
Steve Allen and Chris Farley, man I miss them both.
Steve Allen actually outlived Farley by a few years, although he didn't quite make it to 80.
Steve was the best. Literate and funny. Grew up watching him.
Steve Wrote several Books...excellent..
I’m too young to remember Steve Allen. I never realized he was so quick witted.
I was 9 years old when this aired. Still hits! This is so great. Connan's OK too...
Steve Allen was the greatest!
I remember Steve asking a lady in the audience what she did for a living. She said "I'm a beautician". He said "Where do you beau-tish?"
Bring back Conan!
Steve killed it here!
Steve Allen is younger in this clip than Conan is now.
Sheer brilliance!
In Steve's young Adult Life...a few set backs...
Taught him to be Humble...keen smart..
Steve Allen - A Masquers Club great!
Absolute legends.
Conan was the last Tonight Show host I watched.
Same here.
Same - I used to watch both Leno and Conan when I was still in middle/high school but once the shit hit the fan I lost any sliver of respect for Leno.
@@tjhall9377 Same.
You gotta check out Jimmy Fallon. He's having a lot of fun with The Tonight Show. Fallon just celebrated his 10th anniversary in charge of it, too. 👍
@@Jim_L HA! No thanks.
40 years later
I loved Conans show and it was because of the rough edges. Like the boom mic entering the frame 1:07
So much has changed since then. By which I mean the quality of men's wigs
Conan did the best he could.
Farley and Allen, this weekend at Foxwoods! 😊
Oh man, the rug on Steve’s head is wild - was he trying to match Conan’s hair?! 😂
Or did Conan model his hairstyle after Steve Allen's rug? Depends on which came first....I would suppose Steve's rug did😂
He's got all that cash and that's the best he could afford?! 😄
He wore it as a gag. If you see other interviews he did at the time his natural hair was grey and not nearly as huge.
Mr. Allen was also a hell of a musician.
Steve Allen was brilliant and so innovative
Before Steve's hair turned gray and before Conan's hair turned red.
Steve was so quick witted a genius !
My god, back then 30 years, thinking back to '53, is not the same as us looking back to '94. Aside from smart phones and computers(I'll get by on an Amiga, thank you) I could live the same back then ('94) as I do now.
Two television legends reminiscing about the genesis of talk shows, 30 yrs. previous... *41 yrs. ago!*
God Conan Laughing his ass off when Chris Farley appears
3:06 my man
Milton Berle said Allens mother was the funniest woman in Vaudeville.
Berle babysat Allen when his mom was working on stage.
Conan missed a golden opportunity for an "Italian Cement Mixer" bit.
Schmock!-Schmock! 🖖🏼
Hellava hair piece
Chris Farley is one of a kind!
"Keep your eye on the ball" lmao
so Conan subtracts 53 from 93 and comes up with 30 - AND NO ONE NOTICES!
I actually searched down the comments to see if anybody caught it, way to go. Looks like just you and me so far.
1:26 Conan predict the future.
Steve rockin the Conan Obrien $19.95 hair piece!😂
Steve Allen, inventor of the POG!
Imagine a network show pulling in 30 million people!
Remember the total population of the US was half the size it is now.
His show was heard live by 15% of the entire nation.
The days of network hegemony are over for good (in both senses of the phrase).
Hey, the Inventor of the Pog!
Steve should have prefaced the question by asking if they were Democrat or Republican!
Steve was the best!
Nice upload
I remember once Johnny Carson had the night off and he had a stand in for him Don Rickles broke his cigarette box. When Johnny came back they were filming and Johnny saw his broken cigarette box and asked what happened to it and Ed told him. So Johnny gets up and a cameraman followed him out of the studio and down the hall to the Sharkey studio and walked in while Don was doing a scene for Sharkey in front of a live audience and he confronted Don about it. Johnny really looked and acted like he was pissed. Don of course gave a lame excuse then Johnny finally left and went back to his own studio show. But I remember this because it was the first time that I saw a camera man showing this back in the hallways of this multi-studio building. But then I realized how Johnny got back at Don. By Johnny busting in on the Sharkey set, cost Don several hundreds of dollars by interrupting and basically shutting the filming down for a few minutes. I remember when Zsa Zsa was on his show and she had brought her beautiful, long haired, white Persian cat. Zsa Zsa asked Johnny if he would like to pet her pussy. Johnny said, "Sure, move the cat".
Why, he's the greatest talk show host from Atlantic to Pacific coast...
Steve Allen was the pioneer of the remote?
Conan misspoke when he said it was 30 years ago. This was 1993, and Steve said he started in 1953. That's 40 years.
Shmauk Shmauk
Chris Farley! 🙌
His toupee's double-sided tape was lookin' strong!
The yellow mustard set
He's the guy who tried to humiliate Elvis Presley. He doesn't deserve all the love that he's getting in this comment section.
Now I know where Rick Mercer got the idea.
🎉😂❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
"Mr. Allen, umm, do your remember that time when, umm, you asked people on the street if they'd vote for a hetereosexual President?"
"Yes, Chris, I do."
"That was awesome."
Conan "Jokes"" that everyone has a show now, more than a decade before Podcasts and UA-cam were a thing
People in the street not even knowing what Heterosexual means
The good old days 😂