Inventing Late Night: Steve Allen and the Original Tonight Show

I normally read a book in about one week. It took me a day and a half to read "Inventing Late Night" - I could not put it down! Ben Alba's book is hilarious, insightful, impeccably researched, sensitive and portrays an accurate accounting of the genesis of late night TV. He gives full credit to the genius of Steve Allen and is loaded with transcripts from many of Allen's side-splitting comedy bits. As a fan of Allen for over fifty years, I've read every accounting possible concerning his numerous contributions to TV. None is more poignant, dead on precise, humorous and intelligent than Alba's "Inventing Late Night".

Anyone who is old enough to remember the zany antics of the original Tonight Show with Steve Allen is sure to enjoy this wonderful book. Steve was a person with so many talents--comedian, writer, lyricist, composer--and we saw all of them in those early days. This book does a great job of showing how the Tonight Show--even today--has a heritage that goes back to the marvelous genius of Steve Allen!

Ben Alba has written a masterpiece that magically brings you back to the roots of television entertainment. I beleive that this book will not only remind older readers why they enjoyed Steve Allen & Company (what company!) but young readers will be left with a new appreciation of all those who have followed. It won't be long into this book before you realize that Leno, Letterman & Conan and many others did learn from the master.. Steve Allen. The musical talents that were part of this show from the beginning all went on to long successful careers. This powerful musical ensemble included Doc Severinsen, Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme' and Andy Williams... In Summary: A must read book will remind us how much enjoyment Steve Allen brought to our era and bring a hightened appreciation for all the shows that have followed.

A great read. As a long time fan of Steve Allen... having been a fan from the very beginning of his show... I believe this marvelous book will delight those who were around back then.. and will help those who were not around back then to know and appreciate Mr. Allen's very special and wonderful talents. Ben Alba's book is a flashback to the glorious, live television days of Steve Allen and the original and best Tonight Show. It not only caused me to recall fond memories but helped me to refresh memories starting to fade... and to fill in details not previously known. Such a shame that the great Steve Allen's Tonight Show film history was not saved. But... so great that this book was written to tell the story. I have already purchased multiple copies to give to family and friends this Christmas.

"Inventing Late Night: Steve Allen and the Original Tonight Show," by Ben Alba evokes an exceptionally rich chapter in the history of popular culture even as it restores recognition to the accomplishments of host Steve Allen and his many gifted collaborators. "Inventing," is indeed the operative term. At that time, there were many blank areas in the tv program schedule, including late night; and the "national" network, in an early stage of growth, had yet to extend beyond the Eastern Seaboard. Under Steve Allen's direction, the Tonight Show was the first network program to create a late night viewership; the revenues it brought in encouraged the spread of the network across the nation. That same success afforded host Allen much creative freedom in both the format and content of his show. The former has pop culture iconic status: opening monologue; celebrity interviews at the desk; roaming cameras; insane stunts. However, the content of the show, rarely imitated, has arguably never been matched by any tv program in the range of its appeal to the mind. A decade ago, the Lounge revival in music inspired a healthy reassessment of artists like Louie Prima, Keely Smith, as well as towering icons as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. It is intriguing to read about performers who were every bit as spontaneous, witty and jazzy as the rat packers; but who were from another world - that of New York City when high culture was still vibrant, every other layer of culture had its own appealing energy; and central to it all was nightlife. Many of the most stimulating artists of the 20th century appeared on Allen's prototypical Tonight Show. Jazz immortals like Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus and Thelonius Monk did extended sets. Occasional programs were devoted to a particular songwriter, with the composer himself at the piano -- including Richard Rodgers, Johny Mercer and others. Vocals were provided a fabulous small group of resident singers that included Andy Williams, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme. Though Steve Allen was a young man during his Tonight Show years, he displayed inspired judgment time and again. He is revealed as an exceptionally creative person who was intrigued by the immediacy and intimacy of the television medium - especially its stastonishing capacity to transmit an addictive antic energy. He also comes through as a fully principled individual unafraid to take on serious issues like capital punishment and organized crime. Author Alba writes in an engaging, transparent style. He has a mindful yet breezy perspective perfect for his subject matter. His book is filled with interviews with key figures from the early Tonight Show in which they are candid and fresh and sharp in their recollections. Though recurring editing problems are a minor annoyance, the book is a fully refreshing history of a show that provided virtually everybody connected with it with the best time in their lives.