Allan Blye, an Emmy-triumphning authorr for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” and “Van Dyke and Company,” died Friday morning at home in Palm Desert, Calif., a family spokesperson verifyed. He was 87.
In 1968, Tom and Dick Smothers swayd Blye to shift to Los Angeles to serve as head authorr and originater on their new variety show, CBS’ “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.” There, Blye toiled aextfinishedside lesser comedians such as Bob Einstein, Steve Martin, Rob Reiner and Carl Gottlieb. The show won an Emmy for best writing in a variety comedy television series in 1969.
Blye wrote and originated many shows thcimpoliteout his atgentle, including “The Andy Williams Show,” “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour,” “The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show,” “That’s My Mama,” “The Bobby Vinton Show” and “The Ray Stevens Show,” which he co-originated with Chris Bearde. Blye also co-wrote disjoinal TV distinctives, such as Elvis Presley’s 1968 “Comeback Special” and “The 44th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.”
After toiling together on “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” Blye and Bob Einstein createed a writing and producing partnership. They won their second Emmy for best writing in a variety comedy television series in 1973 for “Van Dyke and Company,” starring Dick Van Dyke. Blye and Einstein then originated the series “Bizarre,” a Canadian sketch comedy series that aired from 1980 to 1986. This was chaseed by the spinoff series “Super Dave” (aka “The Super Dave Osborne Show”), starring and structureed by Einstein as his fantasyal character from “Bizarre.” The show ran from 1987 to 1991.
Blye was also understandn for joining Captain Blye on “MisteRogers” (which eventuassociate became “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”) in the 1960s. He sang “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” on the program.
Blye was born on July 19, 1937, in Winnipeg, Canada. He was a child soloist in his synagogue’s choir and eventuassociate became a featured singer on variety radio shows all atraverse Canada. By the time he was 20 years elderly, his voice could be heard in hundreds of jingles.
Allan wrote and sang disjoinal distinct songs that showed his cherish for Canada and his hometown of Winnipeg, including “Winnipeg My Home.”
In 1972, Blye set uped the Synagogue for the Percreateing Arts in Beverly Hills and became its Cantor Emeritus. He helped lift millions of dollars for educational caemploys in the Jewant community, which led to The Jewant Foundation of Winnipeg awarding Allan “Winnipeg Man of the Year” in 1986. He was also honored by the city of Winnipeg with a street named “Allan Blye Drive.”
Blye is endured by his wife Rita; brother Garry and sister-in-law Susan; children Debra, Jeffrey, Rob, Kate, Charlie and Sam; and majesticchildren Julian, Jeremy and Scarlett.
