Steve Rossi and Marty Allen are the mystery guests on this Feb. 26, 1967 episode. It is interesting watching their interaction with guest panelist, Woody Allen.
Just saw Marty perform in Mill Valley on his 91st birthday and he's just as funny as ever. Afterwards he met with the audience and talked to them and posed for pictures. Great guy and a class act on and offstage!
I noticed when they signed in, Steve wrote "ROSSI" in large letters, and wrote "ALLEN" in very small letters -- then, as they were leaving the blackboard, Marty tried to rub out "ROSSI" with his hand. Some humorous rivalry, there. 😄
Marty Allen always reminded me of a cross between Jackie Mason and Harpo Marx. And Steve Rossi reminded me of Steve Lawrence. Their comedy may not seem funny to many today, but I remember them on variety shows growing up and they seemed funny to me then. It was definitely an era thing.
As a team, they parted ways in 1968, then periodically got together again after that. They parted for good once Marty remarried and decided to use his wife, Karon for much of their act. As for being an "era thing", Marty and Karon were just as funny as Allen and Rossi were, maybe more so. Marty redid some of the older jokes and added new material to keep their act fresh. Whereas Steve Rossi added the singing dimension to their earlier shows, Karon added her musician/singer dimension to the later ones, and she also acted as Marty's straight lady, just as Steve had acted as his straight man. They took the basic format and modernized it, and it worked very well.
Alan and Rossi and Woody Allen in one TV Show, live probably and unscripted, plus Phyllis Newman, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf, John Daly. What made What's My Line great. "I thought I would disguise myself." (straight face) "It looks like it was stolen from a rabbi." Too funny.
I was watching TCM last night and they showed Woody's appearance on the Dick Cavett show. At one point they showed a clip from "Take The Money And Run" where Woody is at a job interview and he starts acting like he's on "what's My Line"!
Still do. Until his death, Marty performed with his wife, Karon, and they filled and brought down the houses, every time. They even wowed audiences on cruise ships. We humans need spontaneous laughter, and that's what they gave us. Plus, Karon is such a gifted musician and singer. Together, they were unstoppable.
![What's My Line? - George Hamilton; Jim Backus [panel] (Jun 20, 1965)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/x5PkTEu53QE/mqdefault.jpg)
![What's My Line? - George Hamilton; Jim Backus [panel] (Jun 20, 1965)](/img/tr.png)
Just saw Marty perform in Mill Valley on his 91st birthday and he's just as funny as ever. Afterwards he met with the audience and talked to them and posed for pictures. Great guy and a class act on and offstage!
My cousin's Sweet 16 party was held at a club where Allen & Rossi performed. Their act was funny and we had a ball.
I noticed when they signed in, Steve wrote "ROSSI" in large letters, and wrote "ALLEN" in very small letters -- then, as they were leaving the blackboard, Marty tried to rub out "ROSSI" with his hand. Some humorous rivalry, there. 😄
Yesterday we lost Steve Rossi... Sad day for the world!
And sadly yesterday, we lost Marty Allen
Marty Allen always reminded me of a cross between Jackie Mason and Harpo Marx. And Steve Rossi reminded me of Steve Lawrence. Their comedy may not seem funny to many today, but I remember them on variety shows growing up and they seemed funny to me then. It was definitely an era thing.
As a team, they parted ways in 1968, then periodically got together again after that. They parted for good once Marty remarried and decided to use his wife, Karon for much of their act. As for being an "era thing", Marty and Karon were just as funny as Allen and Rossi were, maybe more so. Marty redid some of the older jokes and added new material to keep their act fresh. Whereas Steve Rossi added the singing dimension to their earlier shows, Karon added her musician/singer dimension to the later ones, and she also acted as Marty's straight lady, just as Steve had acted as his straight man. They took the basic format and modernized it, and it worked very well.
hello, I think they have been on What's My Line before, but as of now this is all I have - I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Are you a husband and wife team? Are you urbane sophisticated wits? LMAO. The smiles on Allen and Rossi's faces were priceless.
They were in "Last of the Secret Agents"
It really looks that way!
Alan and Rossi and Woody Allen in one TV Show, live probably and unscripted, plus Phyllis Newman, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf, John Daly. What made What's My Line great.
"I thought I would disguise myself." (straight face)
"It looks like it was stolen from a rabbi." Too funny.
Thanks for placing this vid. You know Marty still performs, so does Steve, but not as Allen & Rossi. martyallen dot n
OMG I jumped back from the computer when I saw that!
Marty is a good friend and still a hoot at 86
I love the fact that Marty carries a ladies handbag and wears a pillbox hat. With his Brillo pad hair and pudgy face he just IS funny.
I was watching TCM last night and they showed Woody's appearance on the Dick Cavett show. At one point they showed a clip from "Take The Money And Run" where Woody is at a job interview and he starts acting like he's on "what's My Line"!
now that I look at him, Marty Allen`s facial expressions remind me of Harpo Marx
At 3:13 for about half a second I swear I thought Phyllis Newman was removing her head from her body.
Looks like it's stolen from a rabbi. Reformed. I heart Woody Allen.
I don't think these guys ever made me laugh even once.
Their whole act was "HELLO DERE"! After that it was like watching two men drown and trying to make a funny.
Why is the clip title "Martin and Rossi". That's a bradn of cheap wine. They would be Rossi and Allen.
Actually, Allen and Rossi.
it did look like phyliss was removing her head from her body
They were low class, vaudevillians and living in a time warp but people needed and wanted what they had to offer, maybe still do.
Still do. Until his death, Marty performed with his wife, Karon, and they filled and brought down the houses, every time. They even wowed audiences on cruise ships. We humans need spontaneous laughter, and that's what they gave us. Plus, Karon is such a gifted musician and singer. Together, they were unstoppable.
do you have any other Allen & Rossi tv shows or memorabilia?
hellodere dot com
Marty is 90 and still performing..Steve is 80....google hellodere
@weightfeather1 ohhh i got chu
reflected deflecter uoy knaht
@weightfeather1 so ur saying they wherent funny 2 gether?