The collection, ranging from 1951 to 2000, consists of biographical material, cartoons, manuscripts, photographs, audio cassettes, sound recordings (long-playing records), awards, certificates, posters, plaques, drawings, and oil paintings. Monographs received with the collection were cataloged separately.
Identification:
MS SC AL
Language:
Material in English
Repository:
Arizona State University Library. Rare Books and Manuscripts P.O. Box 871006 Tempe, AZ 85287-1006 Phone: (480) 965-4932 E-Mail: archives@asu.edu Questions? Ask An Archivist!
Biographical Note
Steve Allen (1921-2000), comedian, composer, lyricist, musician, television pioneer, performer, and author, was born into a vaudeville family. His mother, a comedienne in her own right, performed under the name of Belle Montrose. He attended Arizona State Teachers' College in Tempe (now Arizona State University) in the fall of 1942 before beginning his entertainment career of over fifty years. In 1942, Allen left college to become a radio announcer for KOY in Phoenix. Arizona State University awarded Allen an Alumni Achievement Award in 1966 and an honorary doctorate in 1982.
Steve Allen pioneered late-night television talk shows, originating the format and hosting the first Tonight Show, which ran from 1953 to early 1957. Other highlights of his television career included The Steve Allen Show (1956-1960) and the game show I've Got a Secret. Allen also created and hosted the award-winning public television series Meeting of Minds (1977-1981), which featured imagined conversations between historical figures. In 1985 he wrote the words and music for a CBS-TV all-star production of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.
Allen composed over 4,000 songs, the most famous of which was This Could Be the Start of Something Big. He also wrote lyrics for such movie music as Picnic, Houseboat, and On the Beach. As a writer, Allen produced numerous novels, plays, poems, and magazine and newspaper articles. Steve Allen is survived by his wife, actress-comedienne Jayne Meadows, whom he married in 1954.
Scope and Content Note
The collection, ranging from 1951 to 2000, consists of biographical material, cartoons, manuscripts, photographs, audio cassettes, sound recordings (long-playing records), awards, certificates, posters, plaques, drawings, and oil paintings. Monographs received with the collection were cataloged separately.
Arrangement
This collection consists of twenty-nine boxes divided into five series:
To view this collection, make an appointment at least five business days prior to your visit by contacting Ask an Archivist or calling (480) 965-4932. Appointments in the Wurzburger Reading Room at Hayden Library (rm. 138) on the Tempe campus are available Monday through Friday. Check the ASU Library Hours page for current availability.
Copyright
Arizona State University does not own the copyright to this collection. We recognize that it is incumbent upon the researcher to procure permission to publish information from this collection from the owner of the copyright.
Access Terms
Personal Name(s)
Allen, Steve, 1921-2000 -- Archives.
Occupation(s)
Authors, American -- Archives.
Comedians -- United States -- Archives.
Musicians -- United States -- Archives.
Television personalities -- United States -- Archives.
[Identification of item], Steve Allen Papers, MS SC AL, Arizona State University Library.
Provenance
Steve Allen donated these papers to Archives and Special Collections between 1990 and 2000 (Accession Nos. 2003-03118, 2003-03111, 2003-03087, 2003-03082, 2003-03064, 2003-02995, 2003-02926, and 2003-02834).
Allen, Steve. Personal interview by Stan Singer, Assistant Professor, ASU Theatre Department at Mr. Allen’s office, Van Nuys, California,
1991 January 18 (Original and Copy)
Topic: Steve Allen’s mother, Belle Montrose, vaudeville star, who performed at the Orpheus Theatre in November of 1922.
14
Detailed Container List of "Songs by Steve Allen" (Vol. I-XIV; 27 Pages)
14
Unidentified Audiotape (Reel-to-Reel Tape)
Sent by Dr. Joyce Foster, ASU Development Office (retired). A recording of Mr. Allen at one of his appearances on the ASU campus.
14
Video Recording of Steve Allen in "Lights, Camera, Deacon!" on Amen. NBC Channel 12.
, 1991 January 12
See also prop, "paper chicken bucket", in Box 20 and shooting script of 1990 November 14 in Box 2, Folder 3.
City of New Orleans, Honorary Citizen,
1986 February 18
28
Pierce College, County of Los Angeles, Artist and Humanitarian Award
28
County of Los Angeles Award,
1989 January 26
28
California Legislature Resolution,
1986 February 24
28
Poster, Cinderella; Pantages Theater production with Allen and Jayne Meadows,
1990 December 12-30
28
Poster, State Farm 1989 Anniversary Party and I.S.U.,
1989 June 5
28
Placard, "Welcome to Hollywood Steve 'Tonight' Allen". From Salvation Army National Advisory Organizations Conference, Pasadena, Calif.,
1999 May 1
28
Poster, Wigwam Hotel, Book and Author Luncheon by Florence Brinton Litchfield Library Guild,
1996 April 3 (Matted Poster; Contains Color Photograph and Biography; Acc. #96.4)
Drawing, Ripley’s "Believe It Or Not" [Range 8, Section 1, Shelf 10]
Meeting of Minds "Shakespeare on Love" [Range 8, Section 1, Shelf 10]
Masquers Honor Steve Allen,
1959 December 4 [Range 8, Section 1, Shelf 10]
SPEC OBJ S-38
Sheraton-Regis, "Seymour Glick is Alive but Sick" (30" x 40"; Poster Advertisement)(Oversize XL Box 1; Mirror-Pak Upright)
SPEC OBJ S-39
Look Magazine Cover: SA, JMA, and Baby,
1958 March 4 (30" x 40")(Oversize XL Box 1; Mirror-Pak Upright)
SPEC OBJ S-40
Oil Painting: SA, JMA and Bill (as baby) (30" x 40"; Color by Franklin)(Oversize XL Box 1; Mirror-Pak Upright)
Steve Allen and JMA (Unsigned Color Photo; 28" x 32"; 2 Copies)(Oversize XL Box 2; Mirror-Pak Upright)
Poster: Michael's Pub - A Man and His Music (22" x 34")(Oversize XL Box 2; Mirror-Pak Upright)
Steve Allen Portrait,
1963 December 20 (Unsigned Oil Portrait; 20" x 24"; White Frame; labeled "#463" on Back)(Oversize XL Box 3; Mirror-Pak)
Steve Allen Portrait (24" x 28"; Gold Frame)(Oversize XL Box 3; Mirror-Pak)
