Art Linkletter

Art Linkletter
Linkletter in a promotional photo for People Are Funny in 1957
Born
Arthur Gordon Kelly

(1912-07-17)July 17, 1912
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada
DiedMay 26, 2010(2010-05-26) (aged 97)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Radio and television personality
Years active1933–1988
Spouse
Lois Foerster
​
(m. 1935)​
Children5, including Jack Linkletter and Diane Linkletter
Signature

Arthur Gordon Linkletter (born Gordon Arthur Kelly[1][2][3] or Arthur Gordon Kelly;[4][2][5][6] sources differ; July 17, 1912 – May 26, 2010) was a Canadian-born American radio and television personality. He was the host of House Party, which ran on CBS radio and television for 25 years, and People Are Funny, which aired on NBC radio and television for 19 years. He became a naturalized United States citizen in 1942.

Old clips from Linkletter's House Party program were later featured as segments on the first incarnation of Kids Say the Darndest Things. A series of books followed which contained the humorous comments made on-air by children. He appeared in four films.

  1. ^ Art Linkletter; Dean Jennings (1960). Confessions of a Happy Man. Bernard Geis Associates. p. 11. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly of Canada. They are my real parents, and I am their son, Gordon Arthur Kelly, better known in show business as Art Linkletter.
  2. ^ a b "Shifting styles after 22 years of bland fun" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 2, 1967. p. 83.
  3. ^ "The Art of Art Linkletter". Cincinnati Enquirer. February 5, 1967. p. 170. My maiden name was Kelly. I was born Gordon Arthur Kelly. I was adopted by a Baptist lay minister named Fulton John Linkletter.
  4. ^ "Art Linkletter Confesses 'I've Never Met My Real Parents'". Deseret News and Telegram. April 17, 1961. They are my real parents and I am their son Arthur Gordon Kelly, better known as Art Linkletter.
  5. ^ Ray Poindexter (1978). Golden throats and silver tongues: the radio announcers. River Road Press. p. 108.
  6. ^ Joseph F. Clarke (1977). Pseudonyms. BCA. p. 102.