Steve Allen

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Steve Allen (December 26, 1921 - October 30, 2000) was an American television presenter, musician, actor, comedian and writer.

Allen started his career as a radio presenter, but is best known as the first host of "The Tonight Show" (1954-1957) and "The Steve Allen Show" (1956-1964).

Zappa's appearance on "The Steve Allen Show"

From local newspaper in Cucamonga, 1963

A young Frank Zappa was a musical guest in "The Steve Allen Show" on 14 March, 1963, where he introduced himself as a man "playing bicycle" and "the composer of the soundtrack to the world's worst movie: The World's Greatest Sinner". Video material of this episode is available on Youtube and the music itself can be heard as "Music For Two Bicycles & Low Budget TV Orchestra" on the bootleg Lumpy Gravy & Elsewhere. and as Cyclophony on Paul Buff Presents The Pal And Original Sound Studio Archives, Vol. 1.

Later career

On 29 January 1988 Zappa and Steve Allen organized a F.A. legal task force concert fundraiser, directed against Jim Bakker and Tammy Bakker, under the title: Let's Put Jim and Tammy In Their Place.

Other Steve Allen references

One of Zappa's earliest singles, How's Your Bird? (The Track) was a reference to a catch phrase of Allen.

See also