'People Are Funny' Host Art Linkletter Dies at Age 97

By PopEater / Wire Services Posted May 26th 2010 03:30PM

Art Linkletter, who hosted the popular TV shows 'People Are Funny' and 'House Party' in the 1950s and 1960s, has died. He was 97.

His son-in-law, Art Hershey, says Linkletter died Wednesday at his home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles.

'Art Linkletter's House Party,' one of television's longest-running variety shows, debuted on radio in 1944 and was seen on CBS-TV from 1952 to 1969.

Though it had many features, the best known was the daily interviews with schoolchildren.

"On 'House Party,' I would talk to you and bring out the fact that you had been letting your boss beat you at golf over a period of months as part of your campaign to get a raise," Linkletter wrote.

"All the while, without your knowledge, your boss would be sitting a few feet away listening, and at the appropriate moment, I would bring you together," he said. "Now, that's funny, because the laugh arises out of a real situation."

Linkletter collected sayings from the children into 'Kids Say The Darndest Things,' and it sold in the millions. The book '70 Years of Best Sellers 1895-1965' ranked 'Kids Say the Darndest Things' as the 15th top seller among nonfiction books in that period.

The primetime 'People Are Funny,' which began on radio in 1942 and ran on TV from 1954 to 1961, emphasized slapstick humor and audience participation -- things like throwing a pie in the face of a contestant who couldn't tell his Social Security number in five seconds, or asking him to go out and cash a check written on the side of a watermelon.

The down-to-earth charm of Linkletter's broadcast persona seemed to be mirrored by his private life with his wife of more than seventy years, Lois. They had five children, whom he wrote about in his books and called the "Links."

But in 1969, his 20-year-old daughter, Diane, jumped to her death from her sixth-floor Hollywood apartment. He blamed her death on LSD use, but toxicology tests found no LSD in her body after she died.

Still, the tragedy prompted him to become a crusader against drugs. A son, Robert, died in a car accident in 1980. Another son, Jack Linkletter, was 70 when he died of lymphoma in 2007.

Art Linkletter got his first taste of broadcasting with a part-time job while attending San Diego State College in the early 1930s. He graduated in 1934.

"I was studying to be an English professor," Linkletter once said. "But as they say, life is what happens to you while you're making other plans."

He held a series of radio and promotion jobs in California and Texas, experimenting with audience participation and remote broadcasts, before forming his own production company in the 1940s and striking it big with 'People Are Funny' and 'House Party.'

Linkletter was born Arthur Gordon Kelly on July 17, 1912, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. His unwed mother put him up for adoption when he was a baby; when he was about 7, he and his adoptive parents moved to the United States, eventually settling in San Diego.

He recalled his preacher-father forced him to take odd jobs to help the family. So Linkletter left and became a hobo, hopping trains across the West, working where he could. He recalled later that he felt the religious faith instilled by his father had been a great gift.

After leaving daily broadcasting in 1969, Linkletter continued to write, lecture and appear in television commercials.

Among his other books, were 'Old Age is Not for Sissies,' 'How To Be a Supersalesman,' 'Confessions of a Happy Man,' 'Hobo on the Way to Heaven' and his autobiography, 'I Didn't Do It Alone.'

A recording Linkletter made with his daughter Diane not long before she died, 'We Love You, Call Collect,' was issued after her death and won a Grammy award for best spoken word recording.

"Life is not fair ... not easy," Linkletter said in a 1990 interview by The Associated Press. "Outside, peer pressure can wreak havoc with the nicest families. So that's the part that's a gamble.

"But I'm an optimist. Even though I've had tragedies in my life, and I've seen a lot of difficult things, I still am an optimist."

Linkletter is survived by his wife, Lois, whom he married in 1935, and daughters Dawn and Sharon.

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Comments

(101)

Wednesday 26 May

By bigtinylittle

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What a genuinely wonderful man Art Linkletter was. They surely make them like that anymore...at least where TV is concerned. He's been missed for years. Depsite so many family tragedies, hope he thoroughly enjoyed his retirement and such a long life.

By j

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I couldnt stand the man . I saw him most recently on Larry King . He couldnt stop talking about how wonderful he was .

Thursday 27 May

By chuckie

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His "interviews" with the kids on House Party were magical. Such a nice, gracious gentleman.

By George

A man of a by-gone era of clean living and wholesome television fare. R.I.P Mr. Linkletter, you brought joy to many people!

By Bruce Eder

I seem to remember that "People Are Funny" was popular enough to engender a parody in one of Walter Lanzt's cartoons, "People Are Phony."

By Jim

I think "People Are Phony" was actually a Warner Bros. cartoon, I remember Daffy Duck had to help an old lady cross the street as she was hitting him with an umbrella

By thatBobguy

The Warner Brothers cartoon was called "People Are Bunny." I'm not familiar with the Lantz parody.

By agwyn97710

I seem to remember that "People Are Funny" was sufficiently well known and popular to rate a parody in one of Walter Lantz's cartoons, "People Are Phony."

By Bob

RIP. Grew up listening to this man. Kids say the funniest things. So did Art. May God give you a prime time show for all the little angels!

By Frank

Art was truly one of a kind. He will be missed.

By sgreen6634

Mr. Linkletter was the kindest person I have ever known. In 1976, my 20 year old brother and his wife were killed in a motorcycle accident. We were heading home from the funeral in Washington and had a layover in Denver. Mr. Linkletter was in the same area as we were and my father started a conversation with him. He kindly listened to a heartbroken father grieving the lose of his son. When his plane was called for boarding, he apologized to my father because he had to leave. He seems genuinely sorry to have to leave. I will never forget him for that and I know that there is a special place in heaven for this man. God bless you Mr. Linkletter.

By cc

God Bless you Mr. Linkletter and RIP, you will be missed!! One of a kind describes you well. I have fond memories of watching you on TV as a child. Too bad they dont make them like you anymore!!

By Melanie

R.I.P. Mr. Linkletter. You gave us years of laughs and joy.

By Steven mark Pilling

Art Linkletter was a family TV staple when I was growing up. I remember that ragged copy of "People Are Funny" on the living room table, constantly read by both my parents. The tragedy of his daughter's drug related death actually proved a valuable inducement for me to steer clear of the drug scene when I was young- a fact that may have saved MY life. Linkletter remained involved in a number of social and patriotic causes throughout his long and productive life... including long leadership in the National Space Society. He may have been born in Canada, but he was as worthy an American as ever lived and a credit to the arts and entertainment field besides. A real Renaissance Man. We could use more like him now.

By vobox3343

I enjoyed the shows. He didn't appear to discriminate against children because of their color - made all of us feel human.

Thursday 10 June

By at1313blueview

I'm 63 and admired Art Linkletter first for his radio work in my childhood and later for his tireless energy, mental spryness and charity. Never retiring he believed in hard work and an active lifestyle.....and he reaped the benefits of it.

This was a MAN whose life should be an example to all of us.

By Danner

A true gentleman. The world could use a few more Art Linkletters. You will be missed sir. Condolences to Lois & the family.

By Dan

It's a shame that such truly good entertaining daytime TV has been replaced by Springeresque garbage.

By Rob

I was truly amazed to see that this talented man reach this milestone of age 97. My favorite memory is knowing that Art was one of Walt Disney's best friends and was the emcee of the opening of Disneyland in 1955 along with his sidekick for the day none other than Ronald Regan. I will always remember his Kids Say The Funniest Things TV show which was in itself one of the vert first,"reality" shows.
God bless you Art, you were a decent, loveable, respectful man we will all remember you for. My condolences to his wife and family.

By HG in MN

A legend, indeed. RIP.

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