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MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SEMINAR SERIES, THE: STEVE ALLEN AND FRIENDS {LONG VERSION}

Summary

One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio. This seminar, conducted in conjunction with the Museum's exhibition "Steve Allen: A Retrospective" and moderated by the Museum's president, Robert M. Batscha, examines the career of entertainer Steve Allen. Joining Allen on the panel are his wife, actress Jayne Meadows, comedian Bill Dana, producer William O. Harbach, radio personality Mark Simone, and Allen's son, Bill Allen. After a presentation of clips from various Allen programs, Batscha asks each of the guests to relate an anecdote about working with Allen. The floor is then opened to questions from the audience, leading to discussion of the following topics: the process of doing a talk show compared to a prime time variety show; Simone's reflections about working with Allen on radio and learning that Allen's ad-lib artistry thrives on disaster; the effect that "Meeting of Minds" had on the Meadows-Allen household; the contrast between the "old school" and "new school" approaches to hosting a late-night talk show; the influence which Allen's mother, vaudeville comedienne Belle Montrose, Fred Allen, and Groucho Marx all had on Steve Allen's comic development; "The Bill Dana Show"; the contemporary emphasis on vulgarity in comedy; the comedians whose work Allen admires, including Lenny Bruce and Robin Williams; Dana's observation that "The Steve Allen Show" brought Jim Henson's Muppets to national attention, and helped revive the career of the Three Stooges; and Allen's willingness to book guests who were blacklisted during the McCarthy period. Finally, Allen stresses the importance of preserving television footage for cultural and historical value, noting that many programs from the 1950s, including most of his "Tonight" shows, have been lost forever.

Details

  • NETWORK: Paley
  • DATE: April 14, 1994 6:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:34:16
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:31938
  • GENRE: Seminars
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Television personalities
  • SERIES RUN: N/A
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Robert M. Batscha … Moderator
  • Steve Allen … Guest
  • Meadows, Jayne (See also: Allen, Jayne Meadows) … Guest
  • Bill Dana … Guest
  • William O. Harbach … Guest
  • Mark Simone … Guest
  • Bill Allen … Guest
  • Fred Allen
  • Lenny Bruce
  • Groucho Marx
  • Montrose, Belle (See also: Allen, Belle Montrose)
  • The Muppets
  • Three Stooges, The
  • Robin Williams