STEVE ALLEN - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH CO-SIGNED BY: JAYNE MEADOWS - HFSID 257326

STEVE ALLEN and JAYNE MEADOWS
Black and white publicity photograph of the couple out on the town, signed by both of them
Photograph signed: "Steve Allen" and "Best wishes,/ Jayne Meadows". B/w, 8x10 overall, image 7x7½ (one surface). The couple was married for nearly five decades. Breaking into showbiz as a radio disc jockey, the multitalented Steve Allen (1921-2000) learned that inserting humor would draw a lot more attention to himself than merely announcing. In order to supply himself with an endless stream of material, he memorized every joke book and "college humor" magazine that he could get his hands on; the result was his uncanny ability to conjure up precisely the right wisecrack at the right time. Allen received his first network exposure in 1949, and he was also featured in several films, including Down Memory Lane (1949) and I'll Get By (1950). Allen was nominated for six Primetime Emmys, although he never won one. In 1953, He was hired to host a local late-night program on New York's WNBC-TV, which later developed into the NBC network's Tonight Show. Allen was also an accomplished composer (he wrote over 7,400 songs, including his signature song This Could Be The Start of Something Big) and piano player, and he filled up his spare time by writing more than 50 books as well as plays and magazine articles. Stage and screen actress Jayne Meadows (1919-2015) began her film career in the mid-1940s as a contract player at MGM. She excelled as cold-blooded "other women", vitriolic divorcees and neurotic murderesses. One popular screen role was as the double- and triple-crossing Mildred Haveland in Lady in the Lake (1946). Meadows has appeared on dozens of variety programs and game shows. Her film credits include Casino (1995) and The Player (1992). Over the course of her career, she was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards in three different decades. She married multitalented comedian, actor, author and songwriter Steve Allen (1921-2000) in 1954. The two made guest appearances as a couple in a few different television productions until his death. Her sister was fellow actress Audrey Meadows (1922-1996). Lightly rippled. ¼-inch stain at upper right corner. Pencil notes (unknown hand) and stain on verso (no show through). Otherwise, fine condition.