Tonight Starring Steve Allen was a talk show hosted by
Steve Allen. It was the first version of what eventually
became known  as The Tonight Show. Tonight was the
first late-night talk show, as well as the first late night
television series of any kind to achieve long-term
success. Allen’s run as host of the show lasted for
two and a half seasons, beginning in fall 1954 and
ending with Allen’s departure in January 1957.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen
(December 26, 1921 – October 30, 2000)