"If for a few moments I can make someone laugh, forget his pain, his disappointments, his unhappiness, well...that's the whole bag.
That's what comedy and my performing are all about."
Marty Allen

[Photo Courtesy Stephen Thorburn (c) June 2007]

Marty Allen is one of the most versatile performers in show business. He has worked solo as a comedy headliner in nightclubs and as a dramatic actor in TV roles. He often presents a comedy-music-dance show with singer-composer Karon Kate Blackwell. His friendly "Hello Dere" greeting is known and imitated by fans throughout the world.
Marty was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Louis and Elsie Allen. His father owned a restaurant-bar. Marty grew up in an atmosphere of love and security. He found he enjoyed making people laugh and soon started dreaming about a career in show business. Marty often entertained his friends at parties. "I would break it up by doing record pantomimes and impressions," he recalled.

He graduated from Alderdice High School during World War 11, so he immediately joined the Air Force. He was stationed in Italy where he attained the rank of sergeant and earned a Soldier's Medal Of Valor. Marty was on guard duty while a plane was being refueled. Suddenly sparks set off a fire in the plane. Marty saw the potential for disaster and jumped into the cab of the fuel truck and drove it away, preventing an explosion. He then raced back to the plane, crawled into the bomb bay and rolled on the flames to extinguish the fire. In addition to the medal, his heroism earned him a full-dress parade.

After the war, Marty attended the University of Southern California where he studied journalism,. "I like to write, and I wanted to be a reporter so I could trenchcoat," he explained. He was still doing a comedy act in the small clubs, but to supplement his GI bill allotment, he hit on a novel idea. He became the first door-to-door dance salesman.

"I got the idea that women would love to learn to dance or just dance for the fun of it during their work day. So, for $10 a half-hour, I'd arrive at their door with a record player and records and we'd dance," he said. "I finally had to give it up. I was visiting 15 clients a day! It was costing me a fortune in new shoes and foot powder."

While working in the nightclubs, Marty polished his many comedy routines and developed a first-rate act. Eventually, the job offers he received became too lucrative for him to remain in college. He began to travel all over the country gaining experience and popularity. He did return to California briefly, to perform as the rear end of a dancing horse. "To this day, I still can't believe I actually had to audition for that job," Marty said.

During the 1950s, Marty worked in many of the top nightclubs in the country as opening act for established stars such as Sarah Vaughan, Eydie Gorme and many others, including the legendary Nat "King" Cole. It was during this time that he became part of the great comedy team of Allen & Rossi.

That association produced a string of hit comedy albums, dozens of television appearances, including 40 visits to the Ed Sullivan Show, and the theatrical motion picture "The Last Of The Secret Agents."

Eventually, Marty decided to try his hand at some strait dramatic roles. His debut as a serious actor came on "The Big Valley" TV series. In an episode titled "The Jonah," Marty played a character who was considered a jinx and blamed for a run of bad luck at the ranch. "I met two great ladies doing that show," Marty said, "Linda Evans was very nice to me, and when Barbara Stanwyk complimented me on my acting, I was in heaven." Marty appeared in several other dramatic productions, including the TV movie "Mister Jerico," and "The Ballad of Billie Blue" and a Rod Serling "Night Gallery" segment.

Helping others who are less fortunate is party personal credo. In 1968 he made a "Hello Dere" tour of military hospitals in the United States, paying for his own transportation and hotel costs. A commendation for his good deeds was placed in the Congressional Record. He repeated the tour yearly through 1972. On each tour, he spent long hours talking and entertaining the wounded soldiers who had just returned from Vietnam. He is also involved in a number of charitable causes including American Cancer Society, The Heart Fund, March Of Dimes, Fight For Sight, Cerebral Palsy, and is on the board of the Epilepsy Foundation. "I believe that if you have a talent and you use it to become successful, you should give back in return for the good fortune you've had," he said.

Throughout the 1970s and into the'80s, Marty made hundreds of TV appearances. "I went up and down the dial. I did all the talk shows and even became a regular on 'Hollywood Squares.'" He also appeared on "The Circus Of The Stars," "Password" and many other game shows plus 10 movies for television. " They used to call me 'the darling of daytime television.' I did everything except 'Sermonette.'" It was during this time he met Karon Kate Blackwell. The two began performing together, combining "Katie's" music and Marty's comedy.

Sunday, February 08, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
NORM: Comedy duo had unenviable task

The scene was almost as wild as Marty Allen's hair.

Forty years ago Monday, Las Vegans Marty Allen and Steve Rossi were at the epicenter of the Beatles' U.S. debut, an earthquake in pop culture.

"It was total pandemonium, pure electricity" recalled Allen. Every time Ed Sullivan tried to introduce the British boy band on Feb. 9, 1964, "all those girl went bananas. You knew this was going to sweep the country."

At the time, Allen and Rossi, six years into their act, were one of the hottest comedy teams of their era. They were making their 12th appearance on Sullivan's Sunday night TV show, then the entertainment world's greatest launching pad.

After the Beatles' five-song set before a then-record 73 million viewers, Allen and Rossi's dilemma was immediately apparent: How do you avoid bombing when you're following the most explosive act ever?

With a screeching teeny-bopper crowd drowning out Sullivan, Allen and Rossi stepped into the swirl.

"If we had done our comedy bit, we would have died," Rossi said.

The big-haired Allen, who earlier cracked up John Lennon backstage with, "A lot of people mistake me for you," went with his trademark opener, "Hello dere," and added, "I'm Ringo's mother."

Big applause. Then Rossi, an accomplished singer, launched into the Beatles' hit song "I Want to Hold Your Hand" as Allen ran up the aisle, dancing and clapping.

"Marty got them hand clapping. We won 'em over," said Rossi, who teamed up with Allen for almost 30 years, including 44 appearances on the Sullivan show.

They've gone separate directions but continue to entertain. Allen, who turns 82 next month, and his wife, Karon Blackwell, are cruise ship sensations. Rossi, six years younger, has been touring with Dean Martin's son Ricci.

And thanks to a little help from their friends, Allen and Rossi are getting royalties from the new Beatles DVD that is flying off shelves.

Allen & Rossi Comedy Special
with Karon Kate Blackwell