Famed TV Host Art Linkletter Dead at 97
Posted in The Morning Fun Barge at 05:44AM on 05/27/2010

Jeanie and I had the pleasure of Mr. Linkletter's company at a chamber function in Salina, Kansas many years ago.
 
Popular TV personality ART LINKLETTER, who hosted the long-running shows People Are Funny and House Party, died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. His son-in-law told the Associated Press that Linkletter had been ill in recent weeks. Linkletter was 97 years old. 

Linkletter, whose birth name was ARTHUR GORDON KELLY, launched People Are Funny on the radio in 1942. It spawned a TV version that aired from 1954 to 1961. On the show, Linkletter had audience members participate in silly stunts, like cashing a check written on a watermelon.  He was also the host of House Party, which premiered on radio in 1945 and aired on TV from 1952 to 1969. The show is best remembered for the humorous conversations he had with children. Linkletter compiled those chats into his best-selling book Kids Say The Darndest Things.  BILL COSBY hosted a TV show of the same name from 1998 to 2000, in which he interviewed kids as Linkletter did.

Linkletter also won a Grammy Award in 1970 for the anti-drug album We Love You, Call Collect, which he recorded with his daughter DIANE before she leaped to her death from an apartment at the age of 20. Believing that LSD was a factor in his daughter's death, Linkletter became an anti-drug advocate. 

Linkletter is survived by his wife of 75 years, LOIS, and two daughters.

 


Comments
While I was in the Army and stationed at Landstul Med Center in Germany, Mr. Linkletter came to visit the wounded that were brought there from Vietman. I was a Military Policeman and was assigned to be his escort for the day. It was a truly enjoyable day and he was an extremely nice person. One of the best memories of my service to country.
Posted by: Jerry Lauby on May 27, 2010 at 06:42 AM
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Stafford Thompson
Stafford Thompson was born and raised in Kearney and Johnson Lake, and is very familiar with the area. He graduated from Brown Institute of Broadcasting in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1983. Having met the beautiful, talented, lovely, intelligent, effervescent and brimming-with-life Jeanie, Stafford married her and hauled her off to his first radio job in Alliance, Nebraska. After a couple years, it was off to Salina, Kansas, where they lived for about 15 years, raising their three children Bryan, Logan and Mariah. Staff and the family moved back to Johnson Lake in 1998 and have every intention of staying forever. Full-circle. Back home. Stafford is proud to be your captain. All Aboard!

Pam Snyder
Pam Snyder is the Promotions Director and Announcer at KRVN AM/FM. Been here 25 years. Married to Frank. Live in Bertrand, Nebraska. Daughter Lindsey Robison, son-in-law Joey Robison and son Jarrod Hird. Love to ride horses, walk outside, attend rock and country concerts and watch NFL Football (especially the Minnesota Vikings).