FLAMINGO HOTEL - LAS VEGAS - 1971

Marty "Hello Dere" Allen earned a standing ovation upon the occasion of his recent premier in the main showroom of the Flamingo Hotel where he is the current headliner.
I am not a writer freely given to the use of the word hilarious, but in this instance it's the best way to describe his act.
It is interesting to note that many other comedians center their witticisms on relevancy with results that are far from satisfactory. Television bombed with relevant themes last season. It became monotonous and so are the standup routines of many of the comics appearing here.
But Marty Allen is not a standup comedian. He is a bounce-around comedian, entirely visual and the expressions on his face actually share billing with his well-delivered punchlines.
Helping Marty span the generation gap in satirical sketches such as "Dr. Dirty," "woodstock" and a telephone bit in which he unsuccessfully tries to get a date with a girl, is talented 22-year-old Kevin James, a handsome young man who "represents" youth and advises Marty how to be "in" and cope with today's permissiveness, etc.
The contrast between the tall blond long-haired youth and the somewhat plump bushy-haired Allen is startling and adds even further visuality to the act.
The result is here that a relevant act which presents a fresh new approach that pays off like an eight the hard way.
During our interview in the Flamingo coffee shop I asked Marty if he didn't think the telephone skit was a bit racy and been added just for Las Vegas?
"No. We use it every place and it goes over just as well in colleges as here," he said.
"By golly, you keep that sketch going and your liable to become America's new sex symbol," I kidded.
"Aw, c'mon. Nobody takes offense. It's all in the way the performer interprets the lines in the skit and delivers them, Me a sex symbol? No, to audiences I'm more like a stuffed teddy bear, A number of different ladies told me, however, they'd like to run up and hug me," said Marty not unhappily with a sly twinkle is his eye.
Towards the close of the act Marty whom noone is likely to confuse with Fred Astaire, does a solo dance routine depicting dances around the world. He is surprisingly agile and because nobody expects to see the comedian in such a rigorous routine it goes over exceptionally well.
"I never took a lesson," he quipped "But as a youngster around New York City I won about 40 dance contests and dancing was my first love," said Marty.
Like most truly talented stars who have made it, the words "overnight success" cannot be applied to Marty Allen. While at USC, Marty to supplement his GI bill allotment, began working in small clubs.
After "completing" one year of college he gave up his journalism studies, left college and did his act in small joints all over the country.
"I guess I was like a baseball player working the minor leagues to get to get to the majors. I did my act anywhere they'd pay me - and not much. I once even auditioned for a job in which I would play the rear end of a horse. That might look easy. But it's the guy in the back that has to do most of the dancing. It was all invaluable training..although I'd hate to go through it again," he grinned.
Eventually the late Nat King Cole discovered Marty and made him his protégé. And it was Nat who got Marty together with Steve Rossi. The team of Allen & Rossi was born and became an instant hit. Marty had reached the big time at last.
Some time later the pair made show biz headlines when they split up in 1968 following an engagement here at the Riviera Hotel. To each it meant giving up a six-figure annual income and setting out on an uncharted course.
"The parting was amicable. I felt I had gone as far as I could. I wanted to diversify, do other things, like movies, dramatic TV, etc. It was a big gamble, but my wife Frenchy went along with it and said 'what ever you want to do, well, that's ok with me.' What a woman!"
Marty is a World War 11 hero and has the Soldiers Medal of Valor. But he won't talk about it. He's also been written into the Congressional Record for a tour of American hospitals, 24 in 28 days. He has been cited for his work for young victims of epilepsy and for his appearances at drug symposiums for kids.
Without being sticky about it he will tell you: "Today everybody preaches about soul and love...I try to live it."
He guards his image as carefully as, say, a Glenn Campbell. Offered the star role in a motion picture recently he turned it dow. "Because it was pornographic," he told me simply. He added: "I have a great rapport with kids and I don't want to spoil it."
Marty has a three year contract with the Flamingo for eight weeks a year. He'll do a dramatic role in Rod Serling's Night Gallery television series and another strait dramatic role in the movie "Ballad of Billie Blue" to be released next month.
NEWS FLASH: It is not likely that Marty Allen will be seen as the rear end of a horse anymore.....
[A personal Interview by Allen Rich - 1971]

"DR. DIRTY"...in person of Marty Allen....he gives "enlightened" answers about sex.


YOUNG FIND - Kevin James "helps" Marty Allen span generation gap during Aquanaut skit.


MADCAP MARTY - Marty Allen, the human dynamo who features hairstyles by Mixmaster, punches modern fads and fashions in his hilarious new revue in the main showroom of the Flamingo Hotel. The revue introduces new singer-straightman Kevin James. Co-starring with Allen is delightful songstress Kaye Stevens.



FEBRUARY 1972