Looking forward to it! 

I'll be honored to see you and Bette, Midnite!

Ben 

Congrats and happy birthday.  That's quite an accomplishment on the book!

What cable channel for Arlene Peck's show?  I live in Los Angeles but have not heard of her show.

Thanks, *starshine*!  All I know is that we taped it at the Adelphia Cable studios in Santa Monica, apparently for broadcast to Adelphia subscribers.  Does this help?  Arlene Peck has had her talk show for several years and has attracted several guests from entertainment (Ed Asner, Gavin MacLeod), law (Gloria Allred), and other fields.  Steve Allen was a frequent guest and even wrote the theme song to her show (when he discovered that she didn't have one).

Ben

Thanks, Midnite, et al. for your birthday greetings and good wishes.  I'm sorry I couldn't make the Fest but was in L.A. a week earlier to do initial promoton for my book.  Does anyone get the cable show, "Wow! It's Arlene Peck," hosted by syndicated columnist Arlene Peck?  It airs mainly in southern California but gets picked up in a few other markets.  Jayne Meadows and I taped a half-hour interview with Arlene that will air sometime in October.

I will return to L.A. in early November for a series of media events.  Will keep you posted.  Thanks again!

Ben

Many congratulations to you on your completed book, Ben! We'll miss you at the Fest, but hope to see you next year.

Thanks, ProfStokes!  I remember that your numbers were showstoppers at the 2002 Fest!  I look forward to hearing similar reports from this year's program.

Ben

Hi, Everybody:

I, too, had to pick one of two choices, both of which involved traveling to L.A., but at different times.  I just finished writing a book that will come out in October, and I knew I would have to go to L.A. in July to do some pre-publicity.  Unfortunately, I could not get my meetings and interviews to coincide with Fest week, so I spent last week soaking up the unseasonably hot and humid L.A. weather.  Now I'm back in Chicago, fondly remembering playing at the piano party in 2002 at the Anaheim Marriott -- what a fun night that was. 

No doubt those of you who can make it this time will have a blast.  If this is your first time, you'll be in for lots of fun surprises and wonderful cameraderie among the folks who post here.  You're in good hands with Midnite!

Ben

P.S.  In case you're wondering, the title of my book is "Inventing Late Night: Steve Allen and the Original Tonight Show" (Prometheus Books, release date Oct. 1, 2005).  Foreword by Jay Leno.  It's already listed on the Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites.  For those of you in Southern California, Jayne Meadows (Allen's widow) and I taped an interview with talk show host/columnist Arlene Peck that will air some time in October on one of your local cable stations.

Thanks, Claude North, for all the hard work you put into sharing these images.  What a different look Grayson had here ... not only with the make-up and hair, but her facial expressions and demeanor are so un-Julia.  What type of character did she play on this NG ep?

Yes, no one can handle the phone like Grayson.  Nor can anyone can handle gloves like she did in her ever-so-nonchalant way. 

Hi to John in SC!

Ben

Midnite, I hope you enjoyed every minute of your birthday and arel savoring every minute of the Fest.  I'd love to be playing "After Midnite" on the hotel piano and watching all our DS friends "let it all hang out."

Thank you for the many things you do, most of which we probably don't even see.

All the best,
Ben