Posted by Munster Times, IN on April 14, 2008 at 10:10:35:
Art Linkletter a legendary host for the legendary Pillsbury Bake-Off contest
Hosting hero
There's always an element of drama and suspense when the winning recipe is unveiled at Pillsbury's annual Bake-Off contest. When that moment comes Tuesday, it will happen as is the tradition: with a drum roll as a huge domed tray is wheeled out on stage and the cover is lifted to reveal the $1 million recipe. The other part of that tradition is the famous hand that gets to lift the dome. Each year, Pillsbury selects a celebrity to handle hosting duties for the contest.
In 2006, it was Barbara Walters' "The View" cohost and comedian Joy Behar. Dick Clark did the honors in 2004. Other famous hosts and hostesses from past Pillsbury Bake-Offs include Arthur Godfrey, Willard Scott, Marie Osmond, Alex Trebek, Bob Barker, husband-and-wife team Gary Collins and Mary Ann Mobley, and Phylicia Rashad.
But for decades, it was always TV and radio personality Art Linkletter.
Linkletter, 95, is still fit as a fiddle, and he was happy to rub elbows with the contestants at the 41st Annual Bake-Off, when it was held in Hollywood and close to his downtown offices.
Yep, he still has an office, and he still likes to go into work each day.
Sherry Klinedinst, 44, of South Bend, who has her kitchen moment today whipping up her recipe for the official judging at this year's 43rd Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off, remembers the last time Linkletter visited South Bend.
Then 84-year-old Linkletter spoke to an audience of 960 people at the 1997 Michiana Senior Citizen Expo at the Century Center in South Bend.
These days, writing also takes up much of Linkletter's time.
His latest book, cowritten with author Mark Victor Hansen, was released in 2006; it's his 28th book.
True to form, he's as busy as ever, touring with speaking engagements, book signings and still using humor to make everyday life a little more colorful.
The title of his latest book written with Hansen is "How to Make the Rest of Your Life, the Best of Your Life" (2006 Nelson Books $24.99).
Finding a way to smile in the face of tragedy hasn't always been easy for Linkletter.
"Even if you have nothing else, you always have your sense of humor, which can get you through most anything," said Linkletter during a telephone interview from his office in Los Angeles.
He not only still keeps regular office hours, with the assistance of his secretary Jennifer, Linkletter also travels around the country giving anywhere between 55 and 70 lectures a year.
Linkletter said despite the difficult moments of his own life, he and his wife of 72 years, Lois, always look to "their life's brighter moments" to get through.
"I have a new favorite expression," he said.
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out."
He says it's this positive attitude that has helped him survive his most difficult times.
In 1969, Linkletter's youngest daughter, Diane, 20, leaped to her death from a sixth-story apartment window while under the influence of the drug LSD.
Three months earlier, the husband of one of Linkletter's other daughters, Dawn, committed suicide. And in 1980, his second oldest son Robert was killed in a car accident at age 35.
"I learned a long time ago you can't dwell on the tragedies of your life," he said.
"You also can't go through life with a Pollyanna attitude. It's always important to move on and think how you can help someone else. I always say: 'Making a living is what you get. Making a life is what you give.' "
Linkletter, an international icon of life's humor, long said he enjoys touring the country with his books and lectures to promote positive change for people's lives.
He first became a household name as the host of the radio/television shows "People Are Funny," "House Party" and "Life With Linkletter."
And, of course, his trademark exchanges with children featured as segments on his radio and TV shows, "Kids Say the Darndest Things," which eventually became the title of one of the top nonfiction best-sellers in the history of publishing and still ranks in 14th place on the list of all nonfiction books ever published in the United States.
"When getting the best answers while interviewing kids, I always found talking to children between the ages of 5 and 8 was best," Linkletter said.
"One of my favorite question and answers was when I asked a 7-year-old what religion he was. His response to me was: 'I can't remember, but I know I'm either Catholic or prostitute.' "
Linkletter likes to remind others that age is only a number and not a description for expected behavior.
"One of the things I'm quick to tell people is it's important we begin living better lives, because everyone is living longer," he said.
"When I was growing up, the expected lifespan of people was age 47. Today, most people live at least to age 80. That means people are living 20 percent of their lives after the age of retirement. People have to learn to have a positive attitude and not be pulled down by negative influences."
Linkletter said he travels 200,000 miles a year appearing at his speaking engagements.
"I think I represent what all senior citizens and people can be," he said.
"You need to have a healthy lifestyle and a purpose in life. I like to think of myself as a messenger of positive thinking and positive aging."
Linkletter's belief in spreading the good news was one of the reasons he teamed up with Hansen, who created the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book series, for his newest book.
"One of the first things you'll read in this book is a message right on the inside of the book jacket," Linkletter said.
"It explains how people can be more vital and alive at age 70 than they were at age 40. And it's true. If you think old age dooms you to sitting around in a rocker, complaining about new music and praying you don't outlive your retirement savings, you need to read the book about today's senior achievers."
Linkletter and his wife live in Bel Air, Calif. They have nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
"I know I'm getting older when my son Jack is now age 70," Linkletter said.
"But I look at it as we're not just getting older, we're getting better."
Linkletter said one of the highest compliments he receives is when he's asked to speak at a friend's funeral.
"I've been asked to speak at funerals for many of my friends, from Ann Miller to Steve Allen, and every time, someone comes up to me and asks me if someday I'll promise to speak at their funeral," he said.
"I always say yes. If you're 95 and you're at a funeral and you're the one still speaking, then you know you must be doing something right."
"Kids Say the Darndest Things"
One of Art Linkletter's entertainment trademarks has been interviewing children. In the past 60 years, Linkletter says he has interviewed 37,000 children. Here are some of his favorite children's comments:
* "Our dog isn't pedigree. We're Catholic." 7-year-old girl.
* When asked: What lesson was learned from the biblical story of David and Goliath?:
"Duck." 6-year-old boy.
* When asked: What lesson was learned from the biblical story of Noah's Ark?
"God took two of everything. So you'd better get married or you'll get left behind." 7-year-old girl.
* When asked: What happened on Easter morning?:
"That's the day Jesus came out of the cave after they had rolled a big rock in front of it. Jesus came out, and when he didn't see his shadow, he went back in." 7-year-old boy.
* When asked: What he was told by his mother "not to say?"
"My Mom said I can say anything I want. All she told me is not to get my shirt dirty, because it's new, it doesn't fit and we're taking it back." 7-year-old boy.
* When asked: What she was told by her mother what "not to say?"
"My Mom said I'm not supposed to tell you if you have bad breath." 6-year-old girl
Linkletter: "Well, do I?"
"I'd rather not say." 6-year-old girl
* When asked: If you could have two famous people for your parents, who would you pick?:
"We'd pick you, Mr. Linkletter, for our dad and Zsa Zsa Gabor for our mom." 7-year-old boy and girl
Linkletter: "Well, what made you pick us?"
"We think we'd have fun with you and you'd have fun with her." 7-year-old boy and girl