JAYNE MEADOWS

Funny, you don't think of Jayne Meadows without thinking of her sister or her husband Steve Allen.

Jayne did have solo credits, but as Steve liked to generously say, "she was one of the greatest straight women in the business." Or maybe he said "THE" greatest.

I just heard the news of her passing (September 27, 1919 - April 26, 2015). It was a long, long fifteen years ago that Steve died. He died after being bumped by a car. He was unaware that he had suffered some kind of internal hemorrhage. He'd refused medical attention, and some time later, decided to lie down because he was feeling tired. And he never got up.

So who knows how much longer their 46 year marriage would've continued.

Audrey died back in 1996. While the sisters didn't really work that much together (Steve and Jayne were a Las Vegas act back in the late 50's) they were always linked in the public's mind, and there was always that funny bit of trivia...that they were born in China. The original last name was Cotter ("Meadows" was their father's middle name). Audrey of course was "married" to Jackie Gleason and fans were quick to point out she was far from "frumpy" in real life. Jayne was the glamorous one, always elegant on the arm of Steve Allen. She added comedy and glamour to Steve's favorite pet project, "Meeting of the Minds." That was the show in which he interviewed great names from the past, including Cleopatra and Marie Antoinette.

Theirs, with the usual bumps along the way, was one of Hollywood's great love stories. Does anyone remember that Jayne was previously married? Back in 1949 when she was a hot Hollywood starlet, appearing in such films as "Enchantment,"a guy named Milton Krims. They divorced in 1952, and she married Steve in 1954. I remember one year at the BEA book convention, Steve was attending, having published yet another book. He sat at a table greeting the press, and "Jaynie-Bird" was next to him. Not only that, but when he signed review copies, he handed the book to her, and she signed as well, even though she had nothing to do with the writing. They were, simply, A COUPLE.

You can go to IMDB and find that Jayne has plenty of solo credits. It's just that after the marriage, this loving couple preferred to do things together. Well, except vote along the same lines; she was Republican and he was a Democrat. One of Jayne's last acting roles was, of course, with Steve, in a "Diagnosis Murder." She appeared in a few films after Steve's passing, including "City Slickers II" and "Casino."

People fondly remember Steve as Mr. Late Night in the 50's. Ironically, at the same time, and for more of the 50's, Jayne was a queen of quiz shows. She was a regular panelist on "I've Got a Secret" from 1952-1959 and "To Tell the Truth" (1957-1961). She exuded star quality, to the extent that she was always welcome on these talk and variety show; she had an accessible charm and a beauty that was unique.