Allen, Meadows Chosen Fair Grand Marshals

They’ve led countless parades and events, including an Orange Bowl parade in Miami, but being chosen as grand marshals of the 1999 San Fernando Valley Fair is an honor, say legendary entertainment couple Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows.

Allen, whose career has included being a television talk show host, composer of nearly 8,000 songs and author of 52 books, and his actress wife Meadows, who has appeared on Broadway, won an Emmy and been nominated for five others, will officiate June 10 at the fair’s grand opening at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank.

Serving as grand marshals has special meaning for the couple, both past honorary mayors of Encino, because “Nothing is as close to our hearts as the Valley,” Meadows said.

Indeed, Allen and Meadows have been quite active in the Valley, opening their Encino home numerous times to host benefits for Valley Presbyterian Hospital, Everywoman’s Village, and other places. When their son Bill was young, Meadows even did fund-raising for his Little League team.

Although she loves the Valley, Meadows couldn’t help being surprised when Allen bought their home in 1958 while she was performing in a hit play in New York.

“I said to Steve, ‘You bought a house in the Valley with all those cowboys?’ ” Meadows said. Allen said he thought, “If the Valley was good enough for Clark Gable and Gene Autry, it was good enough for me.”

The couple said they will attend as many events as possible during the four-day fair that runs June 10-13.