Linn Sheldon

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Linn Sheldon
Born
Linn Richard Sheldon

(1919-09-20)September 20, 1919
Norwalk, Ohio
DiedApril 23, 2006(2006-04-23) (aged 86)
Lakewood, Ohio
OccupationLocal children's TV host

Linn Sheldon (September 20, 1919 – April 23, 2006) was a

children's television
host and actor, best known for his character "Barnaby," which was seen in Cleveland for over 30 years.

Biography

Born Linn Richard Sheldon in

Cleveland, Ohio television
in 1948. He became a well-known local radio and television personality in the Cleveland market, especially as the host of the children's show Barnaby.

Barnaby

The character "Barnaby" was originally an elf with pointy ears, with a straw hat who lived in the "Enchanted Forest" and showed cartoons (mostly "Popeye") to his audience of adults and children alike. He eventually became popular enough that his show was aired seven days a week (a supporting character on the show - "Woodrow the Woodsman" - became popular in his own right and was spun off into his own series).

"Barnaby" aired on Cleveland

CW affiliate).[2]

"Barnaby" aired on channel 43 from 1969 until 1990. The character was modified a bit in this new incarnation. He went from being an elf to more of a kindly older gentleman, who wore his trademark straw hat, an ascot, a blue blazer, and khaki slacks. The program also switched from taking place in the "Enchanted Forest" to Barnaby's cottage (and towards the end, "Barnaby Park", which resembled a typical suburban park complete with park benches).[3]

"Casper the Friendly Ghost" cartoons became a fixture during Barnaby's WUAB tenure, as well as puppet characters such as:

  • "Long John" - the world's only invisible parrot (an empty birdcage which Sheldon supplied a voice for)[4]
  • "Clyde" - a little fellow who idolized Barnaby and wore a straw hat and sunglasses
  • "O.T. the Other Terrestrial" - an alien character that was created in the early '80s due to the popularity of the film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
  • "Ranger Rupert" - a dog puppet who was the park ranger at Barnaby Park.

The theme music for "Barnaby" was "A La Claire Fontaine," an arrangement by Robert Farnon of an old French lullaby.

Sheldon would famously end the show with: "If anybody calls, tell them Barnaby said hello. And tell them that I think you are the nicest person in the whole world... Just you." As a result, the character is remembered for the catchphrase "Tell them Barnaby said Hello."

During his entire time as "Barnaby," Sheldon would frequently make personal appearances, especially in hospitals, to entertain and cheer up sick children.[4][5]

Awards and honors

Personal life

Sheldon made headlines in 1975 when he sought treatment for alcoholism.

During the '70s and into the early 1980s, Sheldon (while also doing Barnaby) co-hosted a daily morning talk show titled 43 A.M., which was WUAB's version of the popular

WEWS (Cleveland's ABC
affiliate).

Sheldon ended his run as "Barnaby" in 1990 and went into retirement. He released his memoir Barnaby and Me in 2003 and died in Lakewood, Ohio on April 23, 2006.[4]

References

  1. ^ 1960s Barnaby print ad
  2. ^ Sheldon's death - WKYC.com
  3. ^ Barnaby finale (opening) - Cleveland Classic Media.com
  4. ^ a b c Sheldon profile - Cleveland Seniors.com
  5. ^ Barnaby catchphrase - Pinterest.com
  6. ^ Sheldon wins Silver Circle Award - NATAS LGL.org
  7. ^ Sheldon inducted into Cleveland Broadcasters HOF - CAB Cleveland.com

Further reading

Sheldon, Linn (2004). Barnaby and Me. Cleveland, OH: Gray & Company, Publishers.

ISBN 978-1-886228-42-9

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Linn_Sheldon&oldid=1165146989"