Steve Allen

Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen was an American television personality radio personality musician composer actor comedian writer and advocate of scientific skepticism In 1954 he achieved national fame as the cocreator and first host of The Tonight Show which was the first late night television talk show Though he got his start in radio Allen is best known for his extensive network television career He gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfreys Talent Scouts After he hosted The Tonight Show he went on to host numerous game and variety shows including his own The Steve Allen Show Ive Got a Secret and The New Steve Allen Show He was a regular panel member on CBSs Whats My Line and from 1977 until 1981 wrote produced and hosted the awardwinning public broadcasting show Meeting of Minds a series of historical dramas presented in a talk format Allen was a pianist and a prolific composer By his own estimate he wrote more than 8500 songs some of which were recorded by numerous leading singers Working as a lyricist Allen won the 1964 Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition He also wrote more than 50 books including novels childrens books and books of opinions including his final book Vulgarians at the Gate Trash TV and Raunch Radio In 1996 Allen was presented with the Martin Gardner Lifetime Achievement Award from the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry CSICOP He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Hollywood theater named in his honor