Veteran TV host Art Linkletter dead at 97

(Reuters) - Art Linkletter, the genial television host who specialized in getting kids to say "the darndest things," died on Wednesday at the age of 97, his assistant said.

Entertainment  |  People

Linkletter, a mainstay of American broadcasting in the 1950s and '60s with shows like "People Are Funny" and "Art Linkletter's House Party," died of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles' upscale Bel Air community, assistant Jennifer Kramer told Reuters.

Linkletter's shows sometimes featured conversations with celebrities but emphasized man-in-the-street interviews and comic conversations with children.

At one time in the 1960s, he was host of the Emmy Award-winning daily show "House Party" while also serving as emcee on the weekly shows "People Are Funny" and "Linkletter and the Kids."

One of his shows featured a regular spot called "Kids Say the Darndest Things," in which Linkletter elicited funny comments from children on topics ranging from history to their families.

The segment became wildly popular, thanks to spontaneous responses like the 8-year-old boy who said, "My mom is going to have a baby but my father doesn't know."

"My art," Linkletter once said, "is getting other people to perform ... People are more interesting to me than anything else."

DAUGHTER'S SUICIDE

In 1969, after the suicide of his daughter Diane was linked to LSD use, Linkletter campaigned against drug abuse. He also traveled the world on behalf of World Vision, a Christian charity, and served as a leader of Goodwill Industries, the Arthritis Foundation and the Los Angeles Orphanage.

He was born Arthur Gordon Kelley on July 17, 1912, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, but was abandoned by his biological family and adopted by the Linkletter family. His new father was an evangelist who moved the family to California.

He attended San Diego State College with the intention of becoming a teacher but drifted into radio. In 1942, Linkletter moved to Hollywood and launched "People Are Funny," a talk show that aired for 15 years on radio before moving to television.

Soon after, Linkletter started another of his most popular programs, "House Party," which aired for more than a dozen years on both radio and television.

He also found wealth as a businessman and investor, becoming involved in oil drilling, copper mining, an Australian sheep ranch and the Hula Hoop toy.

Linkletter wrote several books, and at age 94 published "How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life," which he said was his most important book because it was about the most powerful people in the world -- "old people."

With his wife Lois, whom he married in 1935, Linkletter also had two other daughters and a son, Jack, who produced TV programs, and a son Robert, who died in a 1980 automobile accident.

(Editing by Bill Trott and Cynthia Osterman)


http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64P61M20100526



Dan

Awww, it is sad but he was 97. I hope to live that long.


And yeah, I loved Kids Say The Darnedest Things. I know Bill Cosby revived the show a few years back.



Cat

He lived a long and good life, R.I.P Art :\'(

http://www.ecotopia.com/ases/solar98/images/art_linkletter.jpg

RIP Art.  :(

Art Linkletter rocked.  8)

When I was a kid we'd watch his show along with my Mum, every day.  Lots of good wholesome fun without the stupid things that seem to dominate kids' shows these days.  ::)

RIP Art, you did it right...  :)

Art Linkletter rocked.   8)

When I was a kid we'd watch his show along with my Mum, every day.  Lots of good wholesome fun without the stupid things that seem to dominate kids' shows these days.  ::)

RIP Art, you did it right...   :)



and I remember Children Say The Darndest Things.

and I remember Children Say The Darndest Things.

Yup, sad news...

I remember Art Linkletter's photo on one of the bills from the Game of Life.



Cat

I remember Art Linkletter's photo on one of the bills from the Game of Life.



Cat


What year was that from?  ???

What year was that from?  ???

Yeah..what year was that? ( I got "The game of life" in 1972 when I was 9. Wonder if his pic would have been on there)

Yeah..what year was that? ( I got "The game of life" in 1972 when I was 9. Wonder if his pic would have been on there)


I had the later version of Life.

Yeah..what year was that? ( I got "The game of life" in 1972 when I was 9. Wonder if his pic would have been on there)



It was the 1960s version.

http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_430xN.81801410.jpg


You can see his photo on the $100,000 and Milton Bradley's on the $50,000.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2358/2321986910_8095f74ac1.jpg



Cat

It was the 1960s version.

http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_430xN.81801410.jpg


You can see his photo on the $100,000 and Milton Bradley's on the $50,000.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2358/2321986910_8095f74ac1.jpg



Cat

I am pretty certain this is the version I had.

I am pretty certain this is the version I had.



So did we. Can you image how much it would be worth today?  This is why you NEVER throw anything away.  :D ;D ;D ;D



Cat

So did we. Can you image how much it would be worth today?  This is why you NEVER throw anything away.  :D ;D ;D ;D


Cat

It should be worth a lot. I just checked ebay and saw 1 for sale for $33. 
I kept many sports cards I had from that era and sold many a few months ago. 

Art Linkletter was a class guy and a great entertainer.  He will be missed  :\'(  :\'(  :\'(

R.I.P. Art Linkletter

So did we. Can you image how much it would be worth today?  This is why you NEVER throw anything away.  :D ;D ;D ;D



Cat


You can always check ebay.

You can always check ebay.

It should be worth a lot. I just checked ebay and saw 1 for sale for $33. 

Awww, it is sad but he was 97. I hope to live that long.


And yeah, I loved Kids Say The Darnedest Things. I know Bill Cosby revived the show a few years back.



Cat


That's when I knew about Linkletter...Cosby even had him on the 90's revival show!

There was no toxicological evidence that Diane Linkletter was under the influence of LSD at the time of her suicide. 

  From his name, I should know who this guy is, but it's not clicking.  I thought he was a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle...

  Probably thinking of someone else...

  Wait, I'm thinking of Herb Caen (1916-1997)...

  Don't know how I got those two mixed-up.  So RIP dude who I don't remember...

There was no toxicological evidence that Diane Linkletter was under the influence of LSD at the time of her suicide. 


Man,That's terrible for her to commit suicide.  :(

That's when I knew about Linkletter...Cosby even had him on the 90's revival show!


I remember seeing that version.