Art Linkletter Dead at 97

He got kids to say the darndest things
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 26, 2010 3:46 PM CDT

Art Linkletter, whose People Are Funny and House Party shows entertained millions of TV viewers in the 1950s and '60s and who remained active as a writer and speaker through his ninth decade, died today at age 97. Linkletter was known on TV for his funny interviews with children and ordinary folks. He also collected their comments in a number of best-selling books.

Art Linkletter's House Party, one of television's longest-running variety shows, debuted on radio in 1944 and was seen on CBS-TV from 1952 to 1969. Though it had many features, the best known was the daily interviews with schoolchildren. Linkletter collected quotes from children into Kids Say The Darndest Things, and it sold in the millions. (More Art Linkletter stories.)

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