Linn Sheldon
Encyclopedia
Linn Sheldon was a Cleveland, Ohio
based American children's television host and actor, best known for his character "Barnaby", which was seen in Cleveland for over 30 years.
, Sheldon had spent the majority of his childhood either homeless or in foster care. He served in the U.S. Army
during World War II
, returning to his home town and working as a nightclub act, later starting on Cleveland, Ohio
television
in 1948. He became a well-known local radio and television personality in the Cleveland market, especially as the host of the children's show Barnaby.
with pointy ears, with a straw hat who lived in the "Enchanted Forest" and showed cartoons (mostly "Popeye
") to his audience of adults and children alike. He eventually became popular enough that his show was aired seven days a week (a supporting charcater on the show - "Woodrow the Woodsman
" - became popular in his own right and was spun off into his own series).
"Barnaby" aired on Cleveland NBC
affiliate KYW (now WKYC) channel 3 from 1957-1967. Sheldon would then reprise the character on then upstart independent Cleveland station WUAB
channel 43 (which is now Cleveland's My Network TV affiliate).
"Barnaby" aired on channel 43 from 1968-1990. The character was modified a bit in this new incarnation. He went from being an elf to more of a kindly older gentleman, who wore his trademark straw hat, an ascot
, a blue blazer, and kahki slacks. The program also switched from taking place in the "Enchanted Forest" to Barnaby's cottage (and towards the end "Barnaby Park", which was resembled a typical suburban park complete with park benches).
"Casper The Friendly Ghost
" cartoons became a fixture during Barnaby's WUAB tenure, as well as puppet characters such as:
The theme music for "Barnaby" was "A La Claire Fontaine," an old French lullaby.
Sheldon would famously end the show with: "If anybody calls, tell them Barnaby said hello. And tell them that I think you are the nicest person in the whole world... Just you." As a result, the character is remembered for the catchphrase "Tell them Barnaby said Hello".
During his entire time as "Barnaby", Sheldon would frequently make personal appearances, especially in hospitals to entertain and cheer up sick children.
During the 70's and into the early 1980s, Sheldon (while also doing Barnaby) co-hosted a daily morning talk show titled 43 A.M., which was WUAB's version of the popular Morning Exchange
airing on rival WEWS (Cleveland's ABC
affiliate).
Sheldon ended his run as "Barnaby" in 1990, and went into retirement. He released his memoir Barnaby and Me in 2003, and died in Lakewood, Ohio on April 23, 2006.
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
based American children's television host and actor, best known for his character "Barnaby", which was seen in Cleveland for over 30 years.
Biography
Born Linn Richard Sheldon in Norwalk, OhioNorwalk, Ohio
At the 2000 census, there were 16,238 people, 6,377 households and 4,234 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,950.3 per square mile . There were 6,687 housing units at an average density of 803.1 per square mile...
, Sheldon had spent the majority of his childhood either homeless or in foster care. He served in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, returning to his home town and working as a nightclub act, later starting on Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
in 1948. He became a well-known local radio and television personality in the Cleveland market, especially as the host of the children's show Barnaby.
Barnaby
The character "Barnaby" was originally an elfElf
An elf is a being of Germanic mythology. The elves were originally thought of as a race of divine beings endowed with magical powers, which they use both for the benefit and the injury of mankind...
with pointy ears, with a straw hat who lived in the "Enchanted Forest" and showed cartoons (mostly "Popeye
Popeye
Popeye the Sailor is a cartoon fictional character created by Elzie Crisler Segar, who has appeared in comic strips and animated cartoons in the cinema as well as on television. He first appeared in the daily King Features comic strip Thimble Theatre on January 17, 1929...
") to his audience of adults and children alike. He eventually became popular enough that his show was aired seven days a week (a supporting charcater on the show - "Woodrow the Woodsman
Woodrow the Woodsman
Woodrow the Woodsman was a local children's television program host in Cleveland and Detroit from 1961 to 1972, and again in 1997-2000. Lead actor J. Clayton "Clay" Conroy attended the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts, and later the New England Conservatory of Music, where his instrument...
" - became popular in his own right and was spun off into his own series).
"Barnaby" aired on Cleveland NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate KYW (now WKYC) channel 3 from 1957-1967. Sheldon would then reprise the character on then upstart independent Cleveland station WUAB
WUAB
WUAB, identified on-air as "My43 The Block, WUAB", is the MyNetworkTV affiliate in Cleveland, Ohio. The station is licensed to the suburb of Lorain, and it shares a studio in downtown Cleveland with sister station WOIO, Cleveland's CBS affiliate. Its transmitter is located in Parma, Ohio...
channel 43 (which is now Cleveland's My Network TV affiliate).
"Barnaby" aired on channel 43 from 1968-1990. The character was modified a bit in this new incarnation. He went from being an elf to more of a kindly older gentleman, who wore his trademark straw hat, an ascot
Ascot tie
An ascot tie, or ascot, is a narrow neckband with wide pointed wings, traditionally made of pale grey patterned silk. This wide, formal tie is usually patterned, folded over, and fastened with a stickpin or tie tack. It is usually reserved for wear with morning dress for formal daytime weddings and...
, a blue blazer, and kahki slacks. The program also switched from taking place in the "Enchanted Forest" to Barnaby's cottage (and towards the end "Barnaby Park", which was resembled a typical suburban park complete with park benches).
"Casper The Friendly Ghost
Casper the Friendly Ghost
Casper the Friendly Ghost is the protagonist of the Famous Studios theatrical animated cartoon series of the same name. As his name indicates, he is a ghost, but is quite personable...
" cartoons became a fixture during Barnaby's WUAB tenure, as well as puppet characters such as:
- "Long John" - the world's only invisible parrot (an empty birdcage which Sheldon supplied a voice for)
- "Clyde" - a little fellow who idolized Barnaby and wore a straw hat and sunglassess
- "O.T. the Other Terrestrial" - an alien character that had been created in the early 80's due to the popularity of the film E.T. the Extra-TerrestrialE.T. the Extra-TerrestrialE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 American science fiction film co-produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, written by Melissa Mathison and starring Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, and Peter Coyote...
(O.T. was made out of a pom-pom with ping pong ball eyes)
- "Ranger Rupert" - a dog puppet who was the park ranger at Barnaby Park.
The theme music for "Barnaby" was "A La Claire Fontaine," an old French lullaby.
Sheldon would famously end the show with: "If anybody calls, tell them Barnaby said hello. And tell them that I think you are the nicest person in the whole world... Just you." As a result, the character is remembered for the catchphrase "Tell them Barnaby said Hello".
During his entire time as "Barnaby", Sheldon would frequently make personal appearances, especially in hospitals to entertain and cheer up sick children.
Personal life
Sheldon made headlines in 1975 when he openly admitted his alcoholism, and went to seek treatment.During the 70's and into the early 1980s, Sheldon (while also doing Barnaby) co-hosted a daily morning talk show titled 43 A.M., which was WUAB's version of the popular Morning Exchange
The Morning Exchange
The Morning Exchange was a daily morning TV show that aired on WEWS-TV in Cleveland, Ohio from 1972 to 1999. The program is widely regarded as one of the most successful local programs in the history of U.S. television. On a typical day in the 1970s, over 2/3 of all TV sets in the Cleveland...
airing on rival WEWS (Cleveland's ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate).
Sheldon ended his run as "Barnaby" in 1990, and went into retirement. He released his memoir Barnaby and Me in 2003, and died in Lakewood, Ohio on April 23, 2006.