Art Linkletter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Art Linkletter
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Linkletter in a promotional photo for People Are Funny in 1957
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| Born |
Arthur Gordon Kelly
July 17, 1912 Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada
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| Died | May 26, 2010 (aged 97) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Radio and television personality |
| Years active | 1933–2010 |
| Spouse(s) |
Lois Foerster
(m. 1935) |
| Children | 5, including Jack Linkletter and Diane Linkletter |
| Signature | |
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Art Linkletter (born Arthur Gordon Kelly; July 17, 1912 – May 26, 2010) was a famous radio and television host. He was born in Canada but later became an American citizen. He hosted two very popular shows: House Party and People Are Funny.
House Party was on CBS radio and TV for 25 years, and People Are Funny was on NBC radio and TV for 19 years. Art Linkletter was known for his friendly style and for talking to everyday people, especially kids. He even wrote books about the funny things children said on his shows.
Contents
Early Life: Where Did Art Linkletter Grow Up?
Art Linkletter was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. He wrote in his book, Confessions of a Happy Man, that he was adopted when he was just a few weeks old. His adoptive parents were Mary and Fulton John Linkletter, who was a preacher.
When Art was five, his family moved to San Diego, California. He finished San Diego High School when he was 16. During the Great Depression, he traveled around the country, working different jobs and meeting many people.
In 1934, he earned a college degree in teaching from San Diego State Teachers College, which is now San Diego State University. He played basketball and was on the swimming team there.
In 1935, Art met Lois Foerster, and they got married. Their marriage lasted for 74 years, until Art's death.
Career: How Art Linkletter Became Famous
From Radio to Television
After getting his teaching degree, Art Linkletter decided to work in radio because it paid better. He started as an announcer at KGB in San Diego. He also directed radio programs for fairs. Later, he moved to San Francisco and continued his radio career.
In the 1940s, Art Linkletter worked with John Guedel in Hollywood on a new kind of radio show called People Are Funny. This show was special because it involved the audience, had contests, and funny stunts. It became a model for many future game shows. People Are Funny also became a TV show in 1954 and ran until 1961.
Early TV and Film Appearances
Art Linkletter hosted other TV shows like Life With Linkletter with his son Jack, and Hollywood Talent Scouts. He also appeared in a few movies, including People Are Funny (1946) and Champagne for Caesar (1950).
Art Linkletter was good friends with Walt Disney. Disney offered him a chance to invest in the Disneyland theme park and run the Disneyland Hotel. Art wasn't sure about the park at first, so he didn't invest.
However, because of his friendship with Disney, Art helped organize ABC's TV coverage of Disneyland's opening day in 1955. He was a host for the event and even brought in Ronald Reagan and Bob Cummings to help. After seeing the park open, Art realized it would be a huge success. When Disney asked how he could thank him, Art asked for the camera and film concession for Disneyland's first ten years. This turned out to be a very profitable deal for him.
In the 1950s, Art Linkletter also hosted a short TV series called Art Linkletter and the Kids.
He appeared as a guest host on The Tonight Show in 1962.
Promoting Toys and Games
In the 1950s, Art Linkletter became a big supporter of the hula hoop. He also became the face of Milton Bradley's game, The Game of Life, in 1963. His picture was even on the game's $100,000 bills and on the box!
Art Linkletter's Kids: Funny Sayings from Children
Art Linkletter's Kids was a popular cartoon series in the 1960s. It was based on the funny things children said on his TV show. The cartoons were drawn by Stan Fine.
Later Years: What Art Linkletter Did Next
In the 1960s, Art Linkletter opened a dance school in California. He continued to be active in public life.
In 1988, he appeared as himself on the TV show Small Wonder. He also worked as a spokesperson for an insurance company.
Activism and Helping Others
Art Linkletter was a Republican and supported his friend Ronald Reagan for president. He also worked with the United Seniors Association, which helps older people. He believed in helping people stay active and curious as they got older.
In 2005, when he was 93, he helped celebrate the 50th anniversary of Disneyland. He had been there for the very first opening day in 1955! For his contributions, he was named a Disney Legend.
Giving Back: Philanthropy
Art Linkletter was smart with his money, which allowed him to give a lot to charity. He was a member of the board at Pepperdine University and a trustee at Springfield College. He even donated money to build a swimming center at Springfield College, which is named after him.
Awards and Honors
Art Linkletter received a special lifetime achievement award called a Daytime Emmy in 2003. He was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television. He received many honorary degrees from universities.
Personal Life: Art Linkletter's Family
Art Linkletter had one of the longest marriages in Hollywood history, lasting almost 75 years. He married Lois Foerster on November 25, 1935. They had five children: Arthur Jack, Dawn, Robert, Sharon, and Diane.
Sadly, Art and Lois outlived three of their five children. Lois Foerster Linkletter passed away about a year after Art, at the age of 95.
Art Linkletter passed away on May 26, 2010, at his home in Bel Air, Los Angeles, California. He was 97 years old. He is remembered as a kind and funny person who brought joy to many through his shows.
Film and TV Appearances
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | People Are Funny | Master of Ceremonies |
| 1950 | Champagne for Caesar | Happy Hogan |
| 1957 | The Snow Queen | Himself – English Prologue |
| 1960 | No Greater Love |
Television
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1942–1960 | People are Funny | Himself |
| 1945–1967 | House Party | Himself |
| 1950 | Life with Linkletter | Himself |
| 1955 | The Jack Benny Program | Himself |
| The Christophers | ||
| 1957 | Mr. Broadway | |
| 1957–1962 | General Electric Theater | Various Roles |
| 1961 | Zane Grey Theatre | Reverend Albert Pierce |
| 1962 | The Danny Thomas Show | Himself |
| Wagon Train | Sam Darland | |
| 1967 | Batman | Himself |
| 1968 | The Red Skelton Hour | Hobo |
| 1970 | Here's Lucy | Himself |
| 1998–2000 | Kids Say the Darndest Things | Executive Producer |
Selected Books by Art Linkletter
- Linkletter, Art (1947). People are Funny.
- Linkletter, Art (1957). Kids Say the Darndest Things!.
- Linkletter, Art (1960). The Secret World of Kids.
- Linkletter, Art (1960). Confessions of a Happy Man.
- Linkletter, Art (1962). Kids Sure Rite Funny!.
- Linkletter, Art (1962). Kids STILL say the Darndest Things!.
- Linkletter, Art (1965). A Child's Garden of Misinformation.
- Linkletter, Art (1968). I Wish I'd Said That! My Favorite Ad-Libs of All Time.
- Linkletter, Art (1968). Oops! Or, Life's Awful Moments.
- Linkletter, Art (1968). Linkletter Down Under.
- Linkletter, Art (1974). Women are My Favorite People.
- Linkletter, Art (1974). How to be a Super Salesman: Linkletter's Art of Persuasion.
- Linkletter, Art (1979). Yes, You Can!: How to Succeed in Business and Life.
- Linkletter, Art (1980). I Didn't Do It Alone: The Autobiography of Art Linkletter.
- Linkletter, Art (1990). Old Age is Not for Sissies.
- Linkletter, Art (2006). How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life.
See also
In Spanish: Art Linkletter para niños
