Steve Stephens became an instant idol of teenagers across Arkansas in 1957, less than three months into his television career. Throngs of dancers greeted him with a chorus of "Hi Ho Steve-O" on Steve's Show--a popular dance party televised live on KTHV-TV Channel 11, six days a week for seven years. Teen-agers voted him the state's top television personality year after year, and in 1960, he came within a single vote of nailing down the national title from TV and Movie Screen Magazine.A documentary film, sponsored by AETN has been produced on the show;by award winning film maker, Sandy Hubbard of Morning Star Studio in Little Rock. It premiered at the 2003 Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival and will be shown on AETN on April 22nd at 9pm. Contact Hubbard at Morning Star Studio, 2701 Kavanaugh, Suite 205, LR, AR 72205. A book, "Fate Has Been My Friend-The Life & Times of Steve Stephens" was written by Chuck Cunning in 1998.  The year was 1957, and rock ‘n roll was in its infancy. So, were television and the career of Steve Stephens. The three came together in the form of the hugely successful "Steve's Show."  Stephens reminisced recently when he had the chance to return to the Channel 11 studios. "This very studio that we're in, I've got so many, so many wonderful memories," he said.  Stephens had been in TV for only about 10 weeks when the dance party began. And before it would end, he would help spark the popularity of legends like Johnny Cash and Conway Twitty.  The Newport native first found himself in front of a microphone at radio station KNBY after a tour with the Marines. One day, he tagged along with a rock ‘n roll band headed to Channel 11 in Little Rock. He remembers killing time, nosing around, when fate came knocking.  He recalls, "There was an open door, and it said program manager, and I pushed it open, and there was Jack Bomar. And I said, in my infinite smoothness, 'You don't need any announcers do ya?' And he said, 'You know, as a matter of fact I do.'"  Stephens was hired, and quickly learned that he could earn more money by appearing in front of the camera.  He says, "The first time I ever got on camera, I rode a unicycle—didn't say a word. They said, 'Can anybody ride a unicycle?' I said, 'I can! Do I get paid?'"  Countless commercials followed that appearance. And in addition to his role as a teen idol, Stephens was the weatherman and hosted a few news programs. But in 1965, a new chapter of his life began with a phone call from Senator John McClellan.  In talking about the senator, Stephens recalls, "he refused to call me a press secretary because it gave the impression he needed hyping. So he said, 'You're going to be my special assistant in charge of media relations.'"  Sen. McClellan chaired the Senate Committee on Investigations. The panel's hearings into Jimmy Hoffa's activities were being televised and the senator had discovered that TV could be a politician's best friend.  Stephens remembers, "And he said, 'And it dawned on me the power, the impact of television, and I want you to teach me how to use it.' And I said, 'Well, I can do that.' And so I worked with him with the teleprompter and with press conferences and things of that sort."  Stephens had arrived in Washington during a turbulent time, in the wake of JFK's assassination and at the height of the Cold War. He remembers a meeting in the Oval Office with the senator and President Lyndon Johnson.  "And as we were talking, this telephonic sound came on. And he said, 'Excuse me,’ the president, and he reached and pulled it out and it was a telephone. And he said, 'Hello, yes, Mac that's you? Yeah, fine. O.K., keep me apprised. And when things develop, well, call me back.' And he hung up and he said, 'That was [Defense Secretary Robert] MacNamara. He just landed in Moscow.' And at that moment it dawned on me why somebody wants to be president. It's because you're chairman of the board of the biggest corporation in the world!"