Release Message:  A comedic history show hosted by Steve Allen, where he interviews people playing historical figures.

Description:  A comedic history show hosted by Steve Allen, where he interviews people playing historical figures. The series was filmed at television station KCET in Hollywood, California. As nearly as was possible, the actual words of the historical figures were used. The show was fully scripted, yet the scripts were carefully crafted to give the appearance of spontaneous discussion among historic figures. Guests included: Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, Cleopatra, Marie Antoinette, Florence Nightingale, Thomas Paine, Francis Bacon, Thomas Jefferson, Voltaire, Karl Marx, Charles Darwin, Daniel O'Connell, Catherine II, and Oliver Cromwell.[5][6] Typically, each episode would be split into two parts, broadcast separately, with most or all of the guests introduced over the course of the first part, and the discussions continuing into the second part. A total of 24 episodes (or 12 two-part episodes) were produced.[7] Actors made multiple appearances as different guests over the course of the series; this was particularly true of Allen's wife, Jayne Meadows, who appeared in 18 of the 24 episodes (playing nine distinct characters). There was also one major departure from the usual format, in which William Shakespeare was joined by several characters from his plays, with Meadows playing the role of the "dark lady" of his sonnets. Meeting of Minds Script with notations by Steve Allen. Collection held at Center for Inquiry, Amherst, NY The show won many awards, including an Emmy Award four Emmy nominations,and a Peabody Award. The scripts are available for public performance. Because of their educational nature, Allen did not attach a royalty to such performances.