Obit: Art Linkletter

26 May 10 - 03:53 PM (#2914829)
Subject: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: Rapparee

LOS ANGELES (AP) - 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.

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26 May 10 - 03:55 PM (#2914831)
Subject: RE: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: gnu

RIP and thanks... a lot.

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26 May 10 - 03:56 PM (#2914834)
Subject: RE: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: Willie-O

Wow, still alive and died at home...couldn't ask for much better. A beloved figure through the crazy times.

W-O

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26 May 10 - 03:56 PM (#2914835)
Subject: RE: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: pdq

He and his wife probably had the longest marriage in show biz history, being married in the mid 1930s.

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26 May 10 - 04:00 PM (#2914838)
Subject: RE: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: Wesley S

He probablly outlived a lot of the kids that said the darnest things.

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26 May 10 - 04:01 PM (#2914840)
Subject: RE: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: fretless

And if anyone is thinking of questioning why this appears in the music section, remember that one of the key components of Art's act was his ukulele.

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26 May 10 - 04:05 PM (#2914843)
Subject: RE: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: pdq

"... remember that one of the key components of Art's act was his ukulele."

Are you thinking of Arthur Godfrey?

Andy Griffith also played a ukulele.

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26 May 10 - 04:23 PM (#2914855)
Subject: RE: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: Wesley S

And his son Jack Linkletter hosted "Hootenanny".

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26 May 10 - 04:53 PM (#2914875)
Subject: RE: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko

His son passed away about a year ago.

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26 May 10 - 04:57 PM (#2914877)
Subject: RE: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko

oops... Jack actually died in 2007. Time flies.

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26 May 10 - 05:03 PM (#2914883)
Subject: RE: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: Ebbie

I must admit I had no idea he was still alive but I have many fond memories of what he gave us. RIP, Art Linkletter. (No ukelele though)

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26 May 10 - 05:14 PM (#2914891)
Subject: RE: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: catspaw49

His own life had many ups and downs with a daughter who committed suicide and a son killed in an auto accident but he had a strong marriage and the love he shared with his wife got them through some of those tough times.

He is an icon of the Golden Age of Television doing several shows with most famous being House Party and Kids Say the Darndest Things. The latter is a testament to the way of life in the 50's. Art primed the kids to say those darndest things and the show was soooo cute and sooooo naughty and we were soooo stupid that we tittered and giggled in our tight-assed way.

For whatever it was, Art was the man and his personality and ability made him an important thread in the warp and weave of the country.

Spaw

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26 May 10 - 05:36 PM (#2914902)
Subject: RE: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: Bobert

Only 97??? I thought he was in his 90s back in the 60s...

B~

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26 May 10 - 05:46 PM (#2914909)
Subject: RE: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: Bill D

I grew up with Art's programs...both on radio and TV...and I had a book he wrote on the "People Are Funny" theme as a metaphor for his career. I laughed for years at some of the stories.

He was amazing with kids.. His favorite question was "Is there anything your parents told you not to talk about today?"
It always got 'interesting' results.

...bye, Art...thanks

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26 May 10 - 06:38 PM (#2914940)
Subject: RE: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: Beer

I recall not wanting to miss his kids program. Great laughs.
Condolences to his love ones.
Adrien

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26 May 10 - 06:46 PM (#2914945)
Subject: RE: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: Bat Goddess

I just read his obit in the New York Times and discovered a LOT I hadn't known about him -- and I watched and enjoyed both "House Party" and "People Are Funny" in the '50s and '60s.

Here 'tis -- New York Times Obit

Linn

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26 May 10 - 08:25 PM (#2914988)
Subject: RE: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: Janie

R.I.P.

Funny, I know we watched his shows regularly, but while I remember very little of the visuals or the shows themselves, at any mention of him, I have always vividly recall the sound of his voice.

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26 May 10 - 10:28 PM (#2915040)
Subject: RE: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: Genie

Clickifying Gargoyle's link

I knew Art was still alive (unless somehow I'd missed his obit recently) and am happy to know he lived such a long and fruitful life. I didn't know about Jack's death or about the other family losses, but I will always have a fond place in my heart for Art's down-home humor and how he would bring out those hilarious quips (even if prompted) from the kids who said the darndest things.   Those days of radio and TV were still under the thumb of the Hays (sp?) Commission and you had to really rely on double entendre to get much 'risque' humor past the censors.   

Art was very conservative, politically, I understand -- though that may not have meant a lot of what so many people incorporate into that term in the US today -- but I know I shared a lot of his appreciation for just plain folks and simple humor.

Thanks for bringing so much laughter into our lives, Mr. Linkletter.

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26 May 10 - 10:36 PM (#2915045)
Subject: RE: Obit: Art Linkletter
From: Bill D

Yes, Art was quite conservative...especially in his older years. I pondered many years ago if his family troubles had affected his views....but shrugged and decided to just remember him for his humor and gifts.

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