Steve Allen

Appears on a 44¢ USA commemorative postage stamp, issued August 11, 2009, in the Early TV Memories issue honoring "The Tonight Show". Allen hosted the first incarnation of the program, which was called simply The Tonight Show (1953).

Prolific composer/lyricist of some 2000+ songs, the best known of which are "This Could Be the Start of Something" (his theme song), "Pretend You Don't See Her" (a top-ten hit for Jerry Vale), "Impossible", and "Gravy Waltz" (a top-40 instrumental hit for Allen himself in 1962, and a jazz standard today).

Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith; pg. 12-13. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387.

Named to Academy of Television Arts and Sciences [ATAS/NATAS] "Hall of Fame" in 1986.

On just his second The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1951) program, as host, on July 1, 1956, Elvis Presley and Andy Griffith were on the show, but performed at different times during the program. Elvis sang "Hound Dog" to a Bassett hound wearing a top hat, on this program. The appearance of both entertainers on the same show skyrocketed the show's ratings.

First coined the question "Is it bigger than a breadbox?" when making an appearance as a panelist on What's My Line? (1950), 18 January 1953.

Attended Drake University, 1941 and Arizona State Teacher's College, 1942.

During his 1940-1941 school year, he transferred to Phoenix Union High School from Hyde Park in Chicago. In spite of a late start he still received credit in the yearbook for the Annual Staff, Journal Staff, Mor Follies, Entertainment Committee, Scribble and Blot. His trademark glasses are missing from his senior picture. Following high school, he attended Arizona State University Tempe in 1942 when it was the State Teacher's College. In a matter of months his parent's vaudeville blood got the better of him, and he dropped out to work as a disc jockey at KOY radio in Phoenix.