Louis Nye Remembered

Cal Thomas | Syndicated columnist | Published: Oct 11, 2005

Louis Nye Remembered

October 12, 2005

Louis Nye died the other day.

If you are of a certain age, you recall the golden age of TV when the Steve Allen show reigned as the top comedy/variety show on television.

Louis Nye played a character called "Gordon Hathaway" who said he was from Manhattan.

"Heigh-Ho, Steverino" became his signature line.

It became a saying like "Sock it to me" and "Sorry about that" did later.

Nye, along with the nervous Don Knotts and Tom Poston, who never knew exactly what was going on, were part of a threesome known as "Man on the Street."


It was hilarious comedy and it was clean.

You could watch it with your children.

Allen never indulged in blue humor.

That's not only because he was talented; but also because he respected his audience.

He wanted to elevate people and their minds, not talk down to them, or appeal to their lower nature, unlike so much modern comedy.

I never met Louis Nye, though I did meet him every week on television.

His character never changed and neither did the high quality of the show with which he was identified and became famous.

Louis Nye was 92. I shall miss him.

In San Antonio, I'm Cal Thomas.


Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.

Louis Nye Remembered