Steve Allen invented late night with the original "Tonight Show" which began in 1954 with a 90 minute format as "Tonight" show but over the years morphed into the "Tonight Show." Allen was the host until 1957. Since then there have been 6 official hosts. Johnny Carson is probably the most widely recognized with the longest run of 30 years. However, Steve Allen was the first host and he set the bar for nearly every future talk show.

Allen was an innovator whose comedic effects have persisted. His work is considered the precursor of the talk show monologue, the desk, breezy chats with celebrities, wacky stunts, comedy sketches, cameras roaming down the hall and outside the theater, off-the-cuff interviews with passersby, and playful banter with the audience...all of which can be attributed to Steve Allen. His very first monologue was given while seated at his piano and began with, "In case you're just joining us...this is Tonight...and I can't think of too much to tell you about it, except I want to give you the bad news first: this program is going to go on forever. I wouldn't call it a Spectacular...you might say it's more a Monotonous."

Steve Allen may be considered the father of the modern day talk show. Some of his regulars were: Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, Jonathan Winters, Don Knotts, Louis Nye, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Andy Williams, Tim Conway, the Smothers Brothers and his bandleader, Skitch Henderson. It is the world's longest-running talk show.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org