Mark it and strike it, an autobiography

by Steve Allen

AUTOGRAPHED HARDCOVER BOOK

Genres: Biography

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Stephen Valentine Patrick William "Steve" Allen was an American television personality, musician, actor, comedian, and writer. Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best-known for his television career. He first gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. He graduated to become the first host of The Tonight Show, where he was instrumental in innovating the concept of the television talk show. Thereafter, he hosted numerous game and variety shows, including The Steve Allen Show, I've Got a Secret, The New Steve Allen Show, and was a regular panel member on CBS' What's My Line?

Allen was a "creditable" pianist, and a prolific composer, having penned over 14,000 songs, one of which was recorded by Perry Como and Margaret Whiting, others by Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Les Brown, and Gloria Lynne. Allen won a Grammy award in 1963 for best jazz composition, with his song The Gravy Waltz. Allen wrote more than 50 books and has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Reviews

[Phil Wujek · Rating 4 out of 5]

It must have been a challenge to write an autobiography at age thirty eight. He had many more decades of great work ahead of him at the time this book was written. This book is over four hundred pages, and roughly a third is not autobiographical unless you would file Mr. Allen's essays on such topics as organized crime, nuclear proliferation, and Communism as such. I am a big fan of the man, hence the four star rating. I'm not sure how I would categorize this work. All in all, still a good read!

[Victoria Orlando · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting. I learned so many things about him and his early years. I remember my grandmother liked him very much because of his piano playing. I knew about most of the people he spoke about too.

[Pat]

Inherited from my Mom. She loved Steve Allen.