This week, Ira Sternberg spoke with Marty Allen and Karon Kate Blackwell.
Marty Allen has worked solo as a comedy headliner in nightclubs and as a dramatic actor in television roles. His friendly, “Hello Dere” greeting is known and imitated by fans throughout the world.
During the 1950s, Allen worked in many of the top nightclubs in the country as an opening act for such stars as Sarah Vaughan, Eydie Gorme and Nat King Cole. It was during this time he became part of the legendary 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.”
Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, Allen made hundreds of television appearances. He eventually became a regular on “Hollywood Squares.” He also made appearances on “Password” and many other game shows. They used to call him “the darling of daytime television.”
When Karon Kate Blackwell and Allen met in the mid 80s, the two began performing together, combining her music and his comedy.
Blackwell’s career began in nightclubs and showrooms throughout the country, opening for Wayne Newton in Las Vegas and Burl Ives in Reno.
Blackwell’s television credits include “The Tonight Show,” “The Regis Phibin Show,” and “Hour Magazine.”