He was a man who would do anything. Comedian. Author. Musician. Host Steve Allen didn’t just appear on TV; He basically invented the format for late night broadcasts. Born Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen on December 26, 1921 in New York City, he became one of the most recognizable faces in American entertainment before disappearing from the limelight in 2000.
Allen got his start in radio in the 1940s, honing comedy, when the airwaves were the primary source of home entertainment. But the move to television changed the game. In 1954, he took over as host of The Tonight Show. He just didn’t fill the slot. He created a model. Random interviews, musical guests, slapstick bits? That was all him. He hosted the show until 1957, handing over the reins to Jack Paar, but left an indelible mark on the industry.
Although he is best known for The Tonight Show, his career has been anything but a one-trick pony. From 1956 to 1960, he starred in his own prime-time variety program, The Steve Allen Show. For him it was a creative playground. He often appeared in drag, played the piano and did absurd sketches that exceeded the limits of television at the time.
His versatility went far beyond hosting. Allen was a prolific songwriter. It is estimated that he composed more than 3000 songs. Hits like “Picnic” and “Impossible” became standards and showed that he had more than just wit. He also acted and landed roles in films such as “The Benny Goodman Story” in 1955. Later in his career, he found success with “Meeting of Minds” (1977-1981), a historical sketch show in which he played several famous historical figures.
He didn’t just host shows. He defined the structure of television entertainment for decades to come.
Allen’s influence was so broad that every late night host since Carson, Letterman, Leno, Fallon, Kimmel or Meyers owes him something. He proved that television can be smart, silly and musical at the same time. He died on October 30, 2000 in Encino, California, at the age of 78. Late night is still a cultural institution to this day, but it all started with a man in New York who decided to keep the party going after the news ended. Who else could have filled those shoes? Probably not.
