Guide to the Art Baker collection PA Mss 155

Finding aid prepared by Alizandro Barraza Mendoza and Zachary Liebhaber, 2019.
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara 93106-9010
special@library.ucsb.edu
2019 November 13


Title: Art Baker collection
Identifier/Call Number: PA Mss 155
Contributing Institution: UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 7.26 linear feet (2 cartons, 3 document boxes, 3 flat boxes, 2 16mm films)
Creator: Baker, Art, 1898-1966
Date (inclusive): 1912-1985
Date (bulk): 1938-1958
Abstract: Scripts from Art Baker's radio program Art Baker's Notebook (KFI, Los Angeles, 1938-1958), photographs, clippings, scrapbooks, as well as personal correspondence and memorabilia.
Physical Location: Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Research Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Research Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Research Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of Item], Art Baker collection, PA Mss 155. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Karen Sidney, 2019.

Biographical Note

Art 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 in 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. Baker hosted many television shows in his career but is best known for his work on a series he created in 1950 titled "You Asked For It" (for which he became affectionately dubbed, the "genie with the light, white hair"). The show debuted under the title of "The Art Baker Show" and aired on the DuMont Television Network. The style was a write-in format that allowed viewers to make requests as to what they would like to see. The show would travel the world fulfilling the requests of its viewers. In 1951 the shows name was changed to "You Asked for It" and was moved to ABC. It aired until 1959 and became the longest running show if its kind and established the format for future travel/variety shows. The show would become one of Art's greatest achievements and solidify his place in television history. During the last 20 months of the show, Baker was replaced by Jack Smith. Another Baker TV program, "End of the Rainbow," debuted January 11, 1958. The program helped unsuspecting people "who are in need of a push to make a success of their dreams, such as a chance to regain a sound footing in business..." The show was co-hosted by Bob Barker. Art Baker lived in Glendale, CA for most of his career and would later move to Palm Springs, CA. Baker died of a heart attack at a bank in Los Angeles August 26, 1966. "Art Baker." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Baker_(actor). Accessed on 8 November 2019.

Scope and Content

This collection contains scripts from Art Baker's radio program Art Baker's Notebook (KFI, Los Angeles, 1938-1958). Many of the scripts include annotations by Art Baker. Also included among the radio program scripts are miscellaneous shorts pieces on various themes, and poems.
The collection also contains scrapbooks, photographs, personal correspondence and memorabilia, and two 16mm film reels, one filmed at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into the following series: 1. Personal/Biographical, 2. Scrapbooks, 3. Scripts to Art Baker's Notebook radio program, 4. Moving images.

Related Archival Material

Stanley M. Kelton radio collection, PA Mss 120. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Milt Larsen variety theater collection, PA Mss 108. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Radio programs -- 20th century
Television programs -- 20th century
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence
Film reels
Memorabilia
Photographs
Radio scripts
Scrapbooks
Baker, Art, 1898-1966 -- Archives
Forest Lawn--Glendale (Cemetery : Glendale, Calif.)

 

Series 1. Personal/Biographical 1912-1966

box 5

Autobiography 1932

box 5

Clippings 1948-1981

box 5

Correspondence 1912-1966

box 5

Miscellaneous undated

box 5

Personal items 1916-1966

box 5

Photographs (1) undated

box 5

Photographs (2) undated

box 5

Ephemera 1956-1966

 

Series 2. Scrapbooks 1948-1985

box 4

Art Baker's Notebook 1961 and 1962

box 4

Art Baker's Notebook 1963

box 4

Art Bakers Notebook 1965

box 4

Art Baker's Notebook 1966 and 1967

box 4

Art Baker's Notebook, Conservation 1966

box 4

The Writer's Mailbag

flat-box 6

Scrapbook and other items 1948-1967

Scope and Content

Music Sheets, Radio Life and Television Magazine (x2), Genii The Conjurors Magazine, Official Souvenir Programs: Orange Countys Second Anuual Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular and Pageant, S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A, Newspaper Clippings/Scrapbook
flat-box 7

Wedding Scrapbook and other items 1956-1985

Scope and Content

Wedding scrapbook, "Wedding Greetings" telegram, wedding correspondence, miscellaneous photographs
flat-box 8

Art Baker's Notebook Scrapbook (West Lake Lions Club) 1950-1959

Scope and Content

Also includes The Mirror - Los Angeles Nov. 8, 1950 (Newspaper), Genii: The Conjurors Magazine - August 11, 1957, Video Visions: Your Guide to TV Entertainment
 

 Series 3. Scripts to Art Baker's Notebook radio program 1938-1958

box 1

1-49

box 1

50-92

box 1

93-122

box 1

123-149

box 1

150-199

box 1

200-230

box 1

231-262

box 1

263-294

box 1

295-324

box 1

325-345

box 1

346-368

box 1

369-400

box 1

401-435

box 1

436-474

box 1

475-510

box 2

511-549

box 2

550-575

box 2

576-600

box 2

601-627

box 2

628-649

box 2

650-675

box 2

676-700

box 2

701-727

box 2

728-754

box 2

755-758

box 2

Christmas and New Year's Season Edition

box 2

Miscellaneous programs (1)

box 2

Miscellaneous programs (2)

box 2

Miscellaneous programs (3)

box 2

Index to programs

box 3

Dog articles

box 3

Art Baker Filmaster [?]

box 3

Miscellaneous shorts (1)

box 3

Miscellaneous shorts (2)

box 3

Notes on patriotism

box 3

Poems

 

Series 4. Moving images undated

item V12013/F1

[Untitled] undated

item V12014/F1

Diane at Forest Lawn undated