Highlights of Steve Allen's Career

Some career highlights of comedian Steve Allen, who died Monday of an apparent heart attack. <br><br>â€”Created the ``Tonight Show'' and was its first host, 1953-57. <br><br>â€”Recorded 49 albums

Wednesday, November 1st 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Some career highlights of comedian Steve Allen, who died Monday of an apparent heart attack.

â€”Created the ``Tonight Show'' and was its first host, 1953-57.

â€”Recorded 49 albums and wrote pop songs, including ``This Could Be the Start of Something Big.''

â€”Wrote 53 books, with two more still to be released, and published two books of poetry.

â€”Starred on Broadway in ``The Pink Elephant,'' 1953.

â€”Starred as Benny Goodman in the 1956 movie ``The Benny Goodman Story.''

â€”Starred in NBC's ``The Steve Allen Show,'' 1956-60.

â€”Composer and lyricist of the stage musical ``Sophie,'' about Sophie Tucker, 1963.

â€”Was host of the CBS game show ``I've Got a Secret,'' 1965-67.

â€”Created the PBS series ``Meeting of the Minds,'' 1977-81.

â€”Appeared on ``The Big Show'' and ``The Steve Allen Comedy Hour'' on NBC in the 1980s.

â€”Critic of increased sexual content on television, accusing tabloid talk shows of ``taking television to the garbage dump.''