Nigel, that was wonderful. I did over 300 Steve Allen shows; mostly as a still photographer (live-did an E-6 slide process and used the film for cut-a-ways; sometimes, the liquid from the wash could be seen running down the image).

Zappa's "How's Your Bird" comment was repeated by Allen thousands of times on TV. It was silly, and no one knew what he was talking about. It drew a laugh every time. This could have been a hoax...Allen very well could have been well aware of Zappa. He did skits like this all the time.

My on camera character was "jazzman". After a long interview, I would play (complete wit jazz beret and bad looking wig) Ice, or melons....whatever....splattering things all over the studio. I broker a lens once.

I was influenced BIG TIME by Allen (and LOVED getting a hug from Jane Meadows, who was way taller than me and had big beautiful....well, you know!

Sometimes, I think I was the luckiest 16 year old in the world.


Russ