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
Series 2.
Scrapbooks
1948-1985
box 4
Art Baker's Notebook
1961 and 1962
box 4
Art Baker's Notebook
1963
box 4
Art Baker's Notebook
1966 and 1967
box 4
Art Baker's Notebook, Conservation
1966
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 2
Christmas and New Year's Season Edition
box 2
Miscellaneous programs (1)
box 2
Miscellaneous programs (2)
box 2
Miscellaneous programs (3)
Series 4.
Moving images
undated
item V12014/F1
Diane at Forest Lawn
undated