Art Baker (born Arthur Appleton Shank) was born on January 7, 1898. He was an influential American actor in film, television, and radio. Born in New York City, he initially pursued a singing career and served as a song leader in the U.S. Army during World War I, where his hair turned white, becoming his signature look. Post-war, he worked with evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson and owned an appliance store in Glendale, California.
Baker's radio career began at Los Angeles station KFSG, later working as a tour guide at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. He became the narrator of the popular radio show Tapestries of Life, which syndicated nationally and aired for two decades, during which he hosted numerous shows weekly. In 1936, he was cast as Captain Bob Baker the Bisquick Maker on CBS’s Hollywood in Person, a pioneering tabloidesque program conducting celebrity interviews using a mobile studio.
On September 8, 1938, Baker launched his beloved program, Art Baker's Notebook, on KFI, which continued for twenty years and became a staple with over 2,000 episodes. A notable publicity stunt in 1947 featured an interview with Jimmy Stewart, drawing substantial audience engagement through offers of free transcripts. From 1939 to 1941, he also worked on The Hedda Hopper Show and became the announcer for Bob Hope's The Pepsodent Show in 1941. His hosting of People Are Funny debuted on NBC on April 10, 1942, becoming the first game show to air repeats, though he was replaced by Art Linkletter in 1943. Additionally, Baker hosted CBS’s Meet Joe Public and served as the announcer for A Date with Judy in the mid-1940s.
By the 1930s and 1940s, Baker's voice resonated across all major U.S. markets, participating in numerous shows each week. In 1956, Time magazine featured him in an article titled "Radio: The Voice from Forest Lawn." Baker's film career included more than 40 appearances, often portraying executives, doctors, and senators, thanks to his unique appearance and genial voice.
His cinematic contributions included narrating Glendale on Parade in 1939, an important documentary showcasing Glendale’s history and landmarks. He also narrated Disney’s Academy Award-nominated Victory Through Air Power in 1943, a critical propaganda film for building public morale. In 1945, he had a role in Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbound alongside Gregory Peck and Ingrid Bergman. His collaboration with Loretta Young in The Farmer's Daughter (1947) was notable, as Young received an Oscar for her role. He also had title card credit in the 1949 film Cover Up.
Baker received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, dedicated on February 8, 1960, recognizing his contributions to radio and television. His personal life saw him marry and divorce multiple times, having four children with his first wife Marian Hill and later marrying Maida Waters, Broadway actress Alice Weaver, and finally magician Gerri Larsen, with whom he shared a high-profile marriage.
Baker was active in his community, serving as a Rotarian and participating in conventions. Living primarily in Glendale, he later moved to Palm Springs, California. Unfortunately, he died of a heart attack on August 26, 1966, in Los Angeles and is interred in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Glendale, marking the end of a significant career that started in the same location.
On September 8, 1938, Baker launched his beloved program, Art Baker's Notebook, on KFI, which continued for twenty years and became a staple with over 2,000 episodes. A notable publicity stunt in 1947 featured an interview with Jimmy Stewart, drawing substantial audience engagement through offers of free transcripts. From 1939 to 1941, he also worked on The Hedda Hopper Show and became the announcer for Bob Hope's The Pepsodent Show in 1941. His hosting of People Are Funny debuted on NBC on April 10, 1942, becoming the first game show to air repeats, though he was replaced by Art Linkletter in 1943. Additionally, Baker hosted CBS’s Meet Joe Public and served as the announcer for A Date with Judy in the mid-1940s.
By the 1930s and 1940s, Baker's voice resonated across all major U.S. markets, participating in numerous shows each week. In 1956, Time magazine featured him in an article titled "Radio: The Voice from Forest Lawn." Baker's film career included more than 40 appearances, often portraying executives, doctors, and senators, thanks to his unique appearance and genial voice.
His cinematic contributions included narrating Glendale on Parade in 1939, an important documentary showcasing Glendale’s history and landmarks. He also narrated Disney’s Academy Award-nominated Victory Through Air Power in 1943, a critical propaganda film for building public morale. In 1945, he had a role in Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbound alongside Gregory Peck and Ingrid Bergman. His collaboration with Loretta Young in The Farmer's Daughter (1947) was notable, as Young received an Oscar for her role. He also had title card credit in the 1949 film Cover Up.
Baker received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, dedicated on February 8, 1960, recognizing his contributions to radio and television. His personal life saw him marry and divorce multiple times, having four children with his first wife Marian Hill and later marrying Maida Waters, Broadway actress Alice Weaver, and finally magician Gerri Larsen, with whom he shared a high-profile marriage.
Baker was active in his community, serving as a Rotarian and participating in conventions. Living primarily in Glendale, he later moved to Palm Springs, California. Unfortunately, he died of a heart attack on August 26, 1966, in Los Angeles and is interred in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Glendale, marking the end of a significant career that started in the same location.
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