Steve Allen, at the piano, rehearsed with his wife, Jayne Meadows, and Louis Nye for "The Steve Allen Show,'' which premiered on TV in 1956. Associated Press photo by Bon Wands.

Allen hosted the first Tonight show on Sept. 27, 1954.He invented the format still used almost 70 years later – opening remarks, chat with bandleader, comedy sketch, chat with some audience ...