Marty Allen 
is living proof that talent is ageless. The self-proclaimed “love child” of Phyllis Diller and Jackie Mason wastes no time in getting the audience laughing to the point of tears. .. Join us in celebrating Marty Allen’s 94 years along with the very talented Karon Kate Blackwell! Performance and Q & A afterwards with Johnny Steele. Read more in this recent article: Marty Allen-Karon-Kate-lasvegastribune.net 2016-02-18 12-36-38
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 television roles. Marty’s friendly Hello Dere greeting is known and imitated by fans throughout the world.
MARTY ALLEN Born in Pittsburgh, Marty grew up in an atmosphere of love and serenity. Upon graduating from high school during World War II, he immediately joined the Air Force. He was stationed in Italy where he attained the rank of sergeant and earned Solder’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, to sublimate his income, Marty hit on a novel idea. He became the first door-to-door dance salesman. For $10 a half-hour, Marty would arrive at women’s door with a record player and records and they would dance. He finally gave it up because he was visiting 15 clients a day and it was costing him a fortune in new shoes and foot powder.
During the 1950s, Marty 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 great and 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, Marty made hundreds of television appearances. He eventually became a regular on Hollywood Squares. He also made appearances on Passwordand many other game shows. They used to call him `the darling of daytime television.’
A Chicago show critic once wrote, “Marty Allen is mostly a clown, even though he tells a joke flawlessly. He’s all Three Stooges rolled into one, or, as he describes himself, “the love child of Phyllis Diller and Buddy Hackett.” “Kids don’t see me that way, though,” said Marty. “They think I am the original Troll Doll.”
KARON KATE BLACKWELL When Karon and Marty met in the mid 80s, the two began performing together, combining Karon’s music and Marty’s comedy.
Karon was born and raised near Ellisville, Mississippi. As a vocalist, she can glide effortlessly from country to rhythm and blues and gospel to a ballad by Irving Berlin or the Gershwins. As a musician, she can pound out a rock `n’ roll song on the piano Jerry Lee Lewis-style or take an old-fashioned ragtime tune and really make it swing. Many of the songs she sings are her own compositions.
Karon’s career began in nightclubs and showrooms throughout the country, opening for the likes of Wayne Newton in Las Vegas and Burl Ives in Reno. Karon’s television credits include The Tonight Show, The Regis Phi/bin Show, and Hour Magazine.
When Karon is on stage, there is never a dull moment. If all the energy that Karon Kate pours into her performance would be harnessed, the lights of Las Vegas and Atlantic City could run on that energy for a million years.
Karon’s boogie-woogie at the piano brings down the house very time. Karon sings a lot of old favorites, but she also includes a few of her own compositions such as Wedding Vows, a song she wrote for Marty on their wedding day. One of Karon’s singles entitled, I Can’t Laugh was a Cashbox “pick-of-the-week” selection in 1994.
Karon is presently in the studio recording a new version of Dusty Springfield’s I Only Want To Be With You.
Proceeds from the sale of her tapes, CDs and sheet music are donated to Childhaven, a home for battered and unwanted children in Las Vegas.
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 2, 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 trench coat,” 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 part of his 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 to 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.
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 girls 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.
Allen & Rossi have gone separate directions but continue to entertain. Allen, who just turned a very active and spry 88 in March, and his wife, Karon Kate Blackwell, are cruise ship sensations. … Over 600 shows in 10 years!
Since 1999, Marty and Karon have revamped the show biz act that made him famous. Marty has added new material to include present day events while Karon sings, plays the piano, and plays the straight person for Marty during their on stage comedy routine.
Marty and Karon still love performing. They travel extensively, routinely performing to sold out shows. After 25 years of marriage, Karon brings a new spark to the show with her Jerry Lee Louis style piano playing, remarkably gorgeous outfits, and lovely presence. Marty still has the wild hair, albeit, looking more like a human troll doll these days… but still bringing down the house with style and flair!
Marty and Karon prove during every show that great comedy and entertainment is timeless.
