About
"It was a great experience to have a part in the lives of 27,000 kids who've grown up."
In his three-hour interview, Art Linkletter (1912-2010) discusses his early years in radio and his business partnership with John Guedel, which resulted in many popular programs including Groucho Marx's You Bet Your Life. He talks about his first television series, Life with Linkletter. Linkletter then recounts some of his most memorable stories from the two television series he is most associated with, Art Linkletter's House Party and People Are Funny. Regarding these series, he talks about the shows' universal appeal and his humorous interviews with over 27,000 children. He also discusses his notable appearance as host at the opening of Disneyland (Walt Disney was a family friend) on the live televised broadcast in July of 1955. Sam Denoff conducted the interview on September 15, 1997 in Bel Air, CA.
Highlights

Art Linkletter on hosting various radio shows in the early 1950s, and on his first television show, Life with Linkletter

Art Linkletter on hosting "People Are Funny" on radio

Art Linkletter on the television version of People Are Funny

Art Linkletter on developing Art Linkletter's House Party (with producer John Guedel) and the kinds of segments that were featured on the show

Art Linkletter on what career he might have done without television and how he'd like to be remembered
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on moving to New York in 1929; on his first job in radio
On the World's Fair in San Diego and in San Francisco; on hosting "People Are Funny" on radio; on appearing in the feature film version of "People Are Funny"; on hosting various radio shows in the early 1950s and on his first television show, Life with Linkletter
Chapter 2
On developing House Party (with producer John Guedel) and the kinds of segments that were featured; on hosting Life With Linkletter, and on the methods of broadcasting live and on tape
On his duties as a commercial pitchman, and on filming an ad at Warner Bros. studios; on hosting Art Linkletter's House Party, and on working with children on the show
On the preparation that went into Art Linkletter's House Party; on the music and sponsors of Art Linkletter's House Party
Chapter 3
On winning an Emmy Award in 1954 and on the tragic death of his daughter Diane Linkletter; on interviewing children over the years on Art Linkletter's House Party; on how the format of Art Linkletter's House Party changed over the years, and on the writers of the show
On his son Jack Linkletter; on the cancellation of Art Linkletter's House Party
On the television version of People Are Funny; on the creative team of People Are Funny; on the music of the show
Chapter 4
On Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope; on the stunts of People Are Funny; on the cancellation of People Are Funny and the then-current state of television comedy
On his friendship with Walt Disney and on hosting the live broadcast of the opening of Disneyland; on hosting Inside Beverly Hills, and on Edward R. Murrow's Person to Person; on appearing on The General Electric Theater; on hosting The Art Linkletter Show and Art Linkletter's Hollywood Talent Scouts
Chapter 5
On hosting Art Linkletter's Hollywood Talent Scouts; on serving as commissioner general of the U.S. exhibition at the International Exposition in Brisbane, Australia in 1988; on his column in "The National Enquirer"
On the then-current state of television hosts; on what represents the best of television and how television audiences changed over the years; on the then-future of television
On what career he might have done without television and how he'd like to be remembered; on various people with whom he has worked in his career
Chapter 6
On various people with whom he's worked in his career; on his son Jack and wife Lois; on his then-future plans
Shows
Art Linkletter's House Party
Art Linkletter on developing House Party (with producer John Guedel) and the kinds of segments that were featured on the show
Art Linkletter on hosting Art Linkletter's House Party, and on working with children on the show
Art Linkletter on the preparation that went into Art Linkletter's House Party
Art Linkletter on the music and sponsors of Art Linkletter's House Party
Art Linkletter on interviewing children over the years on Art Linkletter's House Party
Art Linkletter on how the format of Art Linkletter's House Party changed over the years, and on the writers of the show
Art Linkletter on the cancellation of Art Linkletter's House Party by programmer Fred Silverman, and on his friendship with William S. Paley
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Art Linkletter on winning an Emmy in 1954 and on the tragic death of his daughter Diane Linkletter
General Electric Theater, The
Art Linkletter on appearing on The General Electric Theater
Life With Linkletter
Art Linkletter on hosting various radio shows in the early 1950s, and on his first television show, Life with Linkletter
Art Linkletter on hosting Life With Linkletter, and on the methods of broadcasting live and on tape
People Are Funny
Art Linkletter on the television version of People Are Funny
Art Linkletter on the creative team of People Are Funny
Art Linkletter on the music of People Are Funny
Art Linkletter on the stunts of People Are Funny
Art Linkletter on the cancellation of People Are Funny and the then current state of television comedy
Person to Person
Art Linkletter on hosting Inside Beverly Hills, and on Edward R. Murrow's Person to Person
Tonight Show, The (1962)
Art Linkletter on being one of the interim hosts of The Tonight Show in 1962 between Jack Paar's departure and Johnny Carson's arrival, and on working with Steve Allen
Wonderful World of Disney, The aka Magical World of Disney, The
Art Linkletter on his friendship with Walt Disney and on hosting the live broadcast of the opening of Disneyland
Topics
Advertising and Sponsorship
Art Linkletter on the music and sponsors of Art Linkletter's House Party
Classic TV Series Episodes
Art Linkletter on his friendship with Walt Disney and on hosting the live broadcast of the opening of Disneyland
Emmy Awards
Art Linkletter on winning an Emmy in 1954 and on the tragic death of his daughter Diane Linkletter
Pop Culture
Art Linkletter on his friendship with Walt Disney and on hosting the live broadcast of the opening of Disneyland
Television Industry
Art Linkletter on the music and sponsors of Art Linkletter's House Party
Art Linkletter on the then-current state of television hosts
Art Linkletter on the then-future of television
Genres
Children's Programming
Art Linkletter on his friendship with Walt Disney and on hosting the live broadcast of the opening of Disneyland
Classic Anthology Series
Art Linkletter on appearing on The General Electric Theater
Comedy Series
Art Linkletter on hosting People Are Funny
Talk Shows
Art Linkletter on Art Linkletter's House Party
Art Linkletter on People Are Funny
Art Linkletter on being one of the interim hosts of The Tonight Show in 1962 between Jack Paar's departure and Johnny Carson's arrival, and on working with Steve Allen
People
Lucille Ball
Art Linkletter on Lucille Ball
Jack Barry
Art Linkletter on Jack Barry and Ralph Edwards
Dick Clark
Art Linkletter on Dennis James and Dick Clark
Perry Como
Art Linkletter on Perry Como
Charles Correll
Art Linkletter on Charles Correll
Bill Cosby
Art Linkletter on Bill Cosby and Stu Phelps
Bob Cummings
Art Linkletter on Bob Cummings and Norman Vincent Peale
Walt Disney
Art Linkletter on his friendship with Walt Disney and on hosting the live broadcast of the opening of Disneyland
Art Linkletter on Walt Disney
Ralph Edwards
Art Linkletter on Jack Barry and Ralph Edwards
John Frankenheimer
Art Linkletter on John Frankenheimer
Jackie Gleason
Art Linkletter on Jackie Gleason and Merv Griffin
Merv Griffin
Art Linkletter on Jackie Gleason and Merv Griffin
John Guedel
Art Linkletter on developing House Party (with producer John Guedel) and the kinds of segments that were featured on the show
Art Linkletter on John Guedel
Monty Hall
Art Linkletter on Monty Hall and Robert Kitner
Edith Head
Art Linkletter on Edith Head
Bob Hope
Art Linkletter on Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope
Dennis James
Art Linkletter on Dennis James and Dick Clark
Jack Haley, Jr.
Art Linkletter on Jack Haley, Jr.
Edward R. Murrow
Art Linkletter on hosting Inside Beverly Hills, and on Edward R. Murrow's Person to Person
Ozzie Nelson
Art Linkletter on Ozzie Nelson
Richard M. Nixon
Art Linkletter on Richard M. Nixon
William S. Paley
Art Linkletter on the cancellation of Art Linkletter's House Party by programmer Fred Silverman, and on his friendship with William S. Paley
Art Linkletter on Wiliam S. Paley
David Sarnoff
Art Linkletter on David Sarnoff
Fred Silverman
Art Linkletter on the cancellation of Art Linkletter's House Party by programmer Fred Silverman, and on his friendship with William S. Paley
Frank Sinatra
Art Linkletter on Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope
Danny Thomas
Art Linkletter on Danny Thomas
Rudy Vallee
Art Linkletter on Rudy Vallee
Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver
Art Linkletter on Sylvester L. Weaver