Art Baker (actor)

Art Baker
Art Baker hosting 'You Asked For It' in 1951
Born	Arthur Shank (1898-01-07)January 7, 1898 New York City, New York, USA
Died	August 26, 1966(1966-08-26) (aged 68) Los Angeles, California, USA
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Occupation	Film, television and radio actor
Years active	1928–66

Art Baker (born Arthur Appleton Shank; January 7, 1898 – August 26, 1966) was an American film, television and radio actor of the 1920s 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

Baker was born January 7, 1898, in New York City. He initially planned to be a singer, and during World War I he was a song leader while serving in the United States Army. During his time on the Army, Art's hair turned prematurely white and would later serve as his trademark look. His post-war occupations included touring with traveling evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, founder of the Foursquare Church, and operating an appliance store in Glendale, California.

Baker's radio career began as an announcer on KFSG. Art was later employed at Forest Lawn Memorial Park as a tour guide. When it began a radio program, Tapestries of Life, Baker was chosen to be the narrator. He went on to work on as many as 22 shows per week. The show aired on KFI and would become syndicated nationally. Tapestries of Life aired for 2 decades. In 1956, Time Magazine would feature an article on Art Baker titled “Radio: The Voice from Forest Lawn.”

In 1936 General Mills cast Art as Captain Bob Baker the Bisquick Maker to host the CBS show “Hollywood in Person.” The show was a first of its kind tabloid show where a “studio on wheels” mobile production trailer would arrive at set locations to conduct candid interviews with celebrities about their gossip and rumors. The show was co-hosted by Miss Louise Roberts (Lois Collier) and ran for 2 years.

On September 8, 1938, Baker created "Art Baker's Notebook" on Los Angeles' KFI radio station, which lasted for two decades. The program was syndicated in over 57 markets via electrical transcription. The show would air uninterrupted for over 2,000 episodes. An innovative and widely successful publicity stunt was performed in 1947 on Art Baker’s Notebook when Art interviewed Jimmy Stewart about his upcoming film “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Art offered listeners a free transcript of the show and photo of him with Jimmy Stewart. The show received nearly 50,000 letters in the first week.