People Are Funny

People Are Funny

People Are Funny was a human interest radio show that went on the air in 1942 and had the audience participate in hilarious stunts. Producer and writer of the show, John Guedel, was homeless during the Depression, sleeping on the streets and later digging ditches. His big break came when he was chosen to write for Hal Roach.

As the show went on and gained in popularity, the stunts became more outrageous. Guedel was somewhat of an expert on human nature and knew that a great host was vital to the success of the radio show he was proposing. He needed someone who had a sparkling personality and who could ad lib with the audience.

Art Baker was one of the best know emcees on the air, but Guedel was also impressed with Art Linkletter (pictured). Linkletter was employed in San Francisco at the time, so Baker got the job. Guedel decided to bring Linkletter in for the first two weeks to co-host the show and let him see the man in action.

Baker was successful in moving the show to the top rung of the ratings, building a loyal audience and raves from the critics. The stunts made up the main part of the show and were designed to show the true personality of the participants. People were chosen from the audience randomly and sent out on a mission of some sort. After the “chosen one” left the earshot of the audience, Baker would reveal the plot – always conspired at the detriment of the participant.

The result was usually hilarious. As the participant was gone to fulfill his mission, Baker hosted other games with the audience and at the end, the participant was brought back in to the theater and the joke revealed. Laughs were abundant, prizes were awarded and everyone felt better for having been at or listened to the show.

Once, on the first season of People Are Funny, a man was sent out to register at the Knickerbocker Hotel with a trained seal that he introduced as his girlfriend. That was one of the more elaborate stunts of the show – and the most sensational.

Art Baker was dropped after 78 weeks on the show and Art Linkletter (17 July 1912 - 26 May 2010) was promptly hired as his replacement. Linkletter became the envy of the entire industry as his popularity rose and he proved that he could ad lib as well as the former host – perhaps even better. Art Linkletter was the quintessential host on the popular show that was first sponsored by Kool Cigarettes, but later Mars Candy took over as sponsor.

It’s been said that People Are Funny was a precursor to the reality shows of today such as Survivor and MTV’s Jackass -- all three shows have in common that they get people to participate in extreme acts for the amusement of their audiences.

Happy listening my friends,