Steve Allen was an American actor, TV personality, pianist, composer, musician, radio personality, comedian, and writer. He is best known as the first ever host of ‘The Tonight Show,’ which began in 1954 and is still very much a part of TV entertainment. He started his career as a radio host in 1946, and moved to films and TV in 1949. He made his screen debut in the film ‘Down Memory Lane.’ His debut TV show was ‘Songs for Sale’ (1950 -1952). He became a regular panelist at the game show ‘What’s My Line’ (1953 – 1954). Some of his popular TV shows include ‘The Steve Allen Show’ (1956–61), ‘Match Game’ (1974), ‘Meeting of Minds’ (1977–1981), and ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch ‘(1998). Some of his films are ‘The Big Circus’ (1959), ‘The Comic’ (1969), and ‘The St. Tammany Miracle’ (1994). He has two stars on the ‘Hollywood Walk of Fame.’Â
Lewis and Clark were both famous comedians at a time during the vaudeville era. However, off-stage they immensely dislike each other. Although they have not spoken to one another for around twenty years, they are forced to put their differences aside and work together, when a producer wants a reunion of the duo for a TV special.
The Player is an American satirical black comedy film, which tells the story of Hollywood film producer Griffin Mill, who starts receiving threats anonymously. However, he is certain that David, a scriptwriter is behind it. He invites the latter to sort things out, but things take an ugly turn, and he ends up murdering him.
When a man pulls a gun on LAPD Sergeant Tom Valens during a stakeout, Valens fatally shoots him. This leads to trouble as the man he shot is Dr. Rustin, a respected physician with impeccable reputation, and also, no gun is found in the Coroner’s inquest. Suspended and charged with manslaughter, Valens has to find the missing gun to prove the truth.
This biographical film depicts some key events in the life of clarinetist Benny Goodman starting with him learning to play clarinet from a Chicago music professor at a young age. After playing for Ben Pollack's traveling band for years, he impresses jazz lover John Hammond and falls in love with his sister Alice, which upsets his mother.
The Comic is a 1969 comedy film revolving around a silent film comedian, whose talent is overshadowed by his ego. He cheats on his wife, bullies his friends, and makes a brief comeback on TV.
Over fifty of the best living comedians are invited for a party at the residence of Bob Hope. However, things get ugly when they are killed one after the other by someone, after which their bodies are thrown into the pool. Along with the remaining guests, Hope tries to figure out who the killer is, before anyone else is targeted.
Hank Whirling, owner of the big circus, is facing financial troubles after splitting from his corrupt partner. He tries to get heavy loan, for which he has to appoint their accountant Randy Sherman. But along with dipping finances, when a series of accidents plague the circus, Whirling starts suspecting the presence of some mysterious saboteur who seemed determined to destroy the show.
On November 9, 1965, when a mega-blackout hits the Northeast, Waldo Zane, a New York executive, who has just misappropriated his company’s millions, gets stranded with car-breakdown and ends up at a Connecticut cottage. The cottage-owner, actress Margaret Garrison, has angrily retreated to her cottage after witnessing her husband’s infidelity. More chaos follows when her husband finds the two together in bed.
This American comedy film tells the story of a few foreign spies who mistake a diner cook for a Soviet astronaut. The cook must now evade capture as well as prove his identity before it is too late.
Steve Allen Awards
| Winner | Best Original Jazz Composition | 1964 |
