During the flashy heyday of Chicago’s nightclub circuit, comedian Stu Allen was a master at working the crowd, whether it was one of his many packed houses or–the true test of a funnyman–the occasional empty room.
“It’s truly fun . . . to watch an old pro of a comedian walk out into a big room with seats for several hundred, find only three tables of patrons at ringside, and go to work to churn up the laughs,” wrote Tribune critic Will Leonard after catching one of his shows in 1975. “Stu Allen was absolutely brilliant. Before long, the camaraderie was as high as an elephant’s eye, and the friendly warmth in the room was infectious.”
Mr. Allen, 73, whose real name was Sanford Tabak, died of heart failure on Monday, March 27, in Holy Family Medical Center in Des Plaines.
During a Chicago stand-up career that lasted more than 50 years, Mr. Allen of Palatine performed regularly in the ’50s and ’60s at venues like the Playboy Club and the plush showroom of Mr. Kelly’s on Rush Street, legendary for its stage acts.
In the 1970s, he partnered with fellow comedian Sonny Mars to roast Chicago celebrities like Mayor Richard J. Daley, Mike Ditka and Walter Payton as well as comic icons Bob Hope and Milton Berle.
“But I always thought my dad was much funnier than those guys,” said his daughter, Stephanie. “And he never stopped being funny. He even had the nurses in the hospital cracking up. His act was a bit like Don Rickles, but more kindhearted.”
With cigarette in hand, a ring on his pinkie and a classy tux, Mr. Allen took his Vegas-style act to theaters and cruise ships, even strip clubs–any place that needed him to warm up the crowd. But originally he wanted to be a musician and an actor.
Born in Cleveland, Mr. Allen grew up idolizing band leader Glenn Miller, and he quickly learned how to play the drums. After attempts to launch a music career stalled, he decided to pursue acting and traveled to Hollywood to meet a producer friend of his father.
“When my dad got there, they really liked him,” his daughter said. “But they told him they just signed another `Hungarian-Jewish kid’ that week that looked just like him. It turned out to be Tony Curtis, the guy who took dad’s acting career.”
Mr. Allen continuously thought up events to raise money for charity. For many years, he performed Christmas shows for orphans, canvassing the city’s toy stores for donations and having his family help wrap the presents.
Other survivors include a son, Peter; a brother, Allen; and a grandson.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday in St. Edna’s Catholic Church, 2525 N. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights.
