Editing Art Linkletter (section)

==Career==
===From radio into television===
After receiving his teaching degree Linkletter decided to go to work as a radio announcer at [[KLSD (AM)|KGB]] in San Diego, because radio paid better than teaching. He directed radio programs for fairs and expositions in the mid-1930s. Afterwards, he moved to San Francisco and continued his radio career. In 1943, Linkletter pleaded guilty to falsely claiming US citizenship;<ref>{{cite magazine | title = Linkletter Pleads |magazine  = [[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting and Broadcast Advertising]] | date = January 25, 1943 | page = 26 | volume = 24 | issue = 4 }}</ref> he was fined $500 and permitted to apply for citizenship.<ref>{{cite magazine  | title = Linkletter Fined | magazine  = Broadcasting and Broadcast Advertising | date = February 1, 1943 | page = 26 | volume = 24 | issue = 5}}</ref> In the 1940s, Linkletter worked in Hollywood with [[John Guedel]] on their pioneering radio show, ''[[People Are Funny]]'', which employed audience participation, contests, and gags. The series served as a prototype for future radio and television game shows.<ref name="NYTobit"/> ''People Are Funny'' became a television show in 1954 and ran until 1961.<ref name="LATimesobit">{{cite news
  | last = Oliver, Myrna
  | first = Nelson, Valerie J.
  | title = Art Linkletter dies at 97; broadcasting pioneer created 'Kids Say the Darndest Things'
  | work = [[Los Angeles Times]]
  | url = http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-art-linkletter-new-20100527,0,4664663.story
  | access-date = May 27, 2010
  | date=May 27, 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Alinkletter.jpg|thumb|right|[[Sam Berman]]'s caricature of Linkletter for NBC's 1947 promotional book]]

===Early television and film appearances===
Other early television shows Linkletter worked on included ''Life With Linkletter'' with his son Jack (1969–1970) and ''Hollywood Talent Scouts'' (1965–1966). He also acted in two movies, ''[[People Are Funny (film)|People Are Funny]]'' (1946) and ''[[Champagne for Caesar]]'' (1950). Following an appearance in ''[[No Greater Love (1960 film)|No Greater Love]]'' (1960), Linkletter ceased to appear in feature films.

Linkletter declined the opportunity offered by his friend [[Walt Disney]] to invest in the [[Disneyland]] theme park project, along with building and operating the [[Disneyland Hotel (California)|Disneyland Hotel]], due to Linkletter's doubts about the park's prospects. But, out of friendship for Disney, Linkletter volunteered his experience as a live program broadcaster to help organize ABC's coverage of the Disneyland opening in 1955 on what was his 43rd birthday. Besides being an on-air host, he recruited his two co-hosts: [[Ronald Reagan]] and [[Bob Cummings]]. The park opening experience convinced Linkletter that Disneyland was going to be a huge success. When Disney asked what he could do to show his gratitude for the broadcast's role in the successful launching of the park, Linkletter asked for Disneyland's camera and film concession for its first ten years, a request that was quickly granted. This turned out to be extremely lucrative.<ref>''[[The "E" Ticket]]'' #40 (2003)</ref>

In the 1950s, Linkletter hosted a 15-minute series for syndication titled ''Art Linkletter and the Kids,'' seen locally on Saturday mornings in some areas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UgLpRvX7Qk|title=Art Linkletter and the Kids 1 (1 of 2)|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfjD5a5AdRg|title=Art Linkletter and the Kids 2 (2 of 2)|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>

On February 23, 1961, Linkletter and his son [[Jack Linkletter]] appeared together in "The Bible Man," one of the last episodes of ''[[Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre]],'' which aired for five seasons on [[CBS]]. In the storyline, Linkletter is cast as the Reverend Albert Pierce, a traveling evangelist who is estranged from his grown son, Jimmy (Jack Linkletter), because he had tried to avoid telling Jimmy of the real circumstances of the death of Jimmy's mother. The son accused his father of causing the mother's death by burning down her house. However, she was already dead before the fire because a paramour had beaten her to death. The episode ends with the reconciliation of father and son. "The Bible Man" was Jack Linkletter's only dramatic acting appearance. It was the first of two dramatic television appearances by Art Linkletter. His second appearance came in episode 15, season 6 of the series ''[[Wagon Train]]'' in 1962 alongside [[Nancy Reagan]]. When on television, he otherwise played himself.{{Citation needed |date=June 2021}}

Linkletter appeared for two stints of two weeks each as a guest host of ''[[The Tonight Show]]'' in 1962 between [[Jack Paar]]'s sudden departure and Johnny Carson's arrival as its new host.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsfromme.com/2012/06/07/heres-not-yet-johnny/|title=News From ME – Mark Evanier's blog|website=www.newsfromme.com}}</ref>

===Toy and game promotions===
In the 1950s Linkletter became a major investor in and promoter of the [[hula hoop]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/christianmontone/4471385049/ |title=1950s Hula Hoop vintage photo Art Linkletter and kids &#124; Flickr Photo Sharing! |work=Flickr |date=September 25, 2012 |access-date=March 22, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0006/30/lkl.00.html |publisher=CNN | work=[[Larry King Live]] |title=Art Linkletter Discusses His Career in Television |date=June 30, 2000}}</ref> In 1963, Linkletter became the endorser and spokesman for [[Milton Bradley]]'s ''[[The Game of Life]]''. His picture appeared on the game's $100,000 bills and also on the box, framed by the statement "I heartily endorse this game."<ref>{{cite web |last=Zenobia |first=Jason |url=http://jasonzenobia.blogspot.com/2010/05/i-heartily-endorse-this-obituary.html |title=The Flaming Chef: 'I Heartily Endorse This Obituary' |website=Jasonzenobia.blogspot.com |date=May 26, 2010 |access-date=March 22, 2014}}</ref>