born July 17, 1912, Moose Jaw, Sask., Can.
Canadian-born U.S. broadcasting host.
He served as emcee for the variety show House Party (1943–67), which involved the audience in spontaneous contests and activities; he created the show's popular segment "Kids Say the Darndest Things." He hosted another audience-participation show, People Are Funny , on radio (1943–59) and television (1954–61). He wrote more than 20 books, including the best-selling Kids Say the Darndest Things (1957), I Wish I'd Said That (1968), and Old Age Is Not for Sissies (1988).