600 MEMORIALIZE TALK SHOW PIONEER.Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Consummate entertainer Steve Allen, who created and hosted ``The Tonight Show,'' was remembered Sunday by family and friends for his wit, versatility and humanitarianism hu·man·i·tar·i·an·ism n. 1. Concern for human welfare, especially as manifested through philanthropy. 2. The belief that the sole moral obligation of humankind is the improvement of human welfare. 3. . Six hundred guests, including durable celebrities such as Debbie Reynolds For the Chief Veterinary Officer (UK) with a similar name, see . Debbie Reynolds (born April 1, 1932) is an Academy Award-nominated American actress, singer, and dancer. and Connie Stevens Connie Stevens (born August 8, 1938) is an American actress and singer. Biography She was born Concetta Rosalie Anna Ingoglia in Brooklyn, New York, a daughter of Peter Ingoglia (known as musician Teddy Stevens) and singer Eleanor McGinley. , packed the theater at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to pay tribute to Allen, who died Oct. 30 of an apparent heart attack at age 78. ``It was a marvelous, marvelous memorial service,'' said actress Shirley Jones Shirley Mae Jones (born March 31, 1934) is an Academy Award-winning singer and actress, perhaps best known for her role as "Shirley Partridge," the widowed single mother of five children, in the television series The Partridge Family as she left. ``He was a Renaissance man Renaissance man n. A man who has broad intellectual interests and is accomplished in areas of both the arts and the sciences. Noun 1. and a wonderful man, a wonderful performer, wonderful father and husband.'' Allen wrote 54 books and more than 8,900 songs, and he starred on Broadway, the silver screen and television. A member of the Television Academy's Hall of Fame, he was married to actress-singer Jayne Meadows for 46 years. Charlton Heston, Tim Conway Tim Conway (born December 15, 1933) is an American comedic actor. Conway was born Thomas Daniel Conway, but changed his first name to "Tim" to avoid confusion with actor Tom Conway. He was born in the Cleveland, Ohio suburb Willoughby and grew up in nearby Chagrin Falls. and Don Knotts Jesse Donald Knotts (July 21, 1924 – February 24, 2006) was an American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show (a role which earned him five Emmy Awards), and as landlord were some of the stars who spoke at Sunday's memorial, recalling fond memories of Allen, who spent more than 50 years in show business. Bill Maher William Maher, Jr., (pronounced: /mɑɹ/) (born January 20 1956) is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. , host of TV's ``Politically Incorrect politically incorrect adj. Disregarding or unconcerned with political correctness. political incorrectness n. Adj. 1. ,'' called Allen still the funniest guy around. In a taped tribute, comedian Billy Crystal said watching ``The Steve Allen Show'' was one of his greatest treats as a child growing up. Master of ceremonies Carl Reiner recapped Allen's contributions to the entertainment industry, intermingled with footage from the performer's TV shows, including one showing him mud wrestling with a woman. Bill Allen, Brian Allen and Steve Allen Jr. recalled their father as a man who never stopped learning. Brian Allen recalled a time in the mid-1960s when his relationship with his father was strained. He had dropped out of college and was living in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district when his father, disguised as a hippie - a bit from his show - came knocking. His father wanted to know more about the hippie culture and spent three days with him living in disguise, Allen said. The entertainer was always interested in social justice, participating in civil rights marches and supporting farm workers' movements before they became popular causes, said those remembering him. Allen was a sharp critic of increased sexual content and violence on television. ``I think one of the great things that have happened to me in my life is that I got to Hollywood in time to meet a lot of these pioneers, these great people,'' said actor Tony Danza. ``And, of course, the bad part is you lose them. ``He was really someone special. He was always sweet to me and an inspiration. And I think the best way to honor him is maybe Hollywood would admit that we have a responsibility in (that) things we put on TV and movies do have an effect, and we do have a responsibility. That would be the best way to honor him.'' CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Jayne Meadows, married to entertainer Steve Allen for 46 years before his death Oct. 30, is surrounded by friends Sunday in a standing ovation to her husband and her. (2) Norm Crosby admires a sculpture of Steve Allen after services. Evan Yee/Staff Photographer |
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