Memory bank, October 13

CBS Radio canceled "House Party," an audience-participation show hosted by Art Linkletter, on October 13, 1967, after a 23-year run. I never listened to the program on radio. In fact, I didn't know it was a radio show until a few minutes ago. But I did watch the TV version in the summers when I was a kid. It came on at 12:30 Monday through Friday. A hard worker, that Art Linkletter!

There were a lot of long-running features on the show. The doll house that had an item concealed in it. Every day a new clue was added and an audience member had a chance to guess what the item was. The most famous segment would have to be Art's interviews with school children. He'd have four youngsters sitting on chairs atop a ledge. Then he'd sit on the ledge and talk to each kid in turn.

Another audience participation gimmick Art Linkletter did was pick some lady from the audience and talk to her while the clock ticked. She was to tell him when 30 seconds had gone by in order to win a prize.

One of his favorite guests was designer Edith Head. That's really how I learned about her. We're watching "To Catch a Thief" tonight and the clothes are by Edith Head. Edith and Grace Kelly -- a match made in heaven.

Art Linkletter is still alive. He's 97 years old. He and his wife, Lois, will celebrate their 74th anniversary in November. Another match made in heaven, looks like.