The Late, Great Bob Barker

Bob Barker, the long-time host of classic game shows Truth or Consequences and The Price is Right, died today at the age of 99.

Bob Barker was born on December 12 1923 in Darrington, Washington. He spent much of his childhood on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in Mission, South Dakota. After his father died, his mother moved to Springfield, Missouri. There he attended high school and Drury College. In 1943, during World War II, he joined the United States Naval Reserve to serve as a fighter pilot, although he was never placed on active duty. He graduated from Drury in 1947.

It was while he was still in college that he got a job at radio station KTTS in Springfield where he read news and sports. He then got a job at WWPG in Palm Beach, Florida. From Florida he moved to California, where he hosted The Bob Barker Show on a Burbank radio station. Ralph Edwards, creator and producer of  the radio show and game show Truth and Consequences, discovered Bob Barker when Mr Barker was hosting an audience participation show on radio show KNX in Los Angeles. He hired him to replace Jack Bailey as the host of Truth or Consequences. Bob Barker remained the host of Truth or Consequences until the original television version ended in 1975.

In the Sixties Bob Barker was also the host of Dream Girl of '67 in addition to Truth or Consequences. He also began a long stint of hosting the annual Miss Universe pageant in 1967. He also appeared on the shows Here's Hollywood, I'll Bet, Today, The Family Game, You Don't Say, The Mike Douglas Show, The Woody Woodbury Show, The Ed Nelson Show, and Philbin's People.

It was in the Seventies that Bob Barker began his long stint host of The New Price is Right. He hosted the show from its debut on CBS in 1972 to 2007. He also continued to host Truth or Consequences. He also appeared on the shows The Pet Set, The Jerry Lewis MDA Labour Day Telethon, It's Your Bet, I've Got a Secret, Tattletales, The Cross-Wits, The Paul Ryan Show, The Jim Nabors Show, Match Game '73, Dinah!, and That's My Line.

In the Eighties Bob Barker continued to host The Price is Right. He appeared on such shows as The Tomorrow Show, The John Davidson Show, The New Hollywood Squares, and The Arsenio Hall Show. He hosted the Tournament of Roses Parade and continued to host the Miss Universe Pageant. In the Nineties he continued to host The Price is Right and appeared on the shows One on One with John Tesh, The Chuck Woolery Show, Family Feud,m Vicki!, The Suzanne Somers Show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Bailey Kipper's P.O.V., The Maury Povich Show, and The Rosie O'Donnell Show.

In the Naughts he continued to host The Price is Right and appeared on the shows The Wayne Brady Show, The Reichen Show, The Tyra Banks Show, The Early Show, Square Off, Ellen: The Ellen Degeneres Show, Late Night with David Letterman, Larry King Live, The Bonnie Hunt Show, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and WWE Monday Night RAW. In the Teens he appeared on The Bold and the Beautiful and, Stu's Show. He appeared on The Price is Right one last time in 2015.

Bob Barker also appeared as an actor, often playing himself, on the TV shows Bonanza, The Nanny, Something So Right, Martial Law, Futurama, Yes Dear, How I Met Your Mother, Family Guy, and SpongeBob Squarepants and the movie Happy Gilmore (1996).

To say Bob Barker was a legend may be something of an understatement. He was very much part of the fabric of the daily lives of Americans in the mid to late 20th Century. Many Gen Xers and Zoomers have memories of spending days when they were sick and home from school, propped up by 7Up (or Sprit or ginger ale) and crackers, watching The Price is Right. For myself, I remember coming home from school and watching Truth or Consequences. For a time during the Seventies I would see Bob Barker twice a day, once in the morning on The Price is Right and again on Truth or Consequences.

He certainly had longevity on American television. It seems to me that the length of his TV career may only be matched by Betty White. If Bob Barker was able to remain a game show host for so long, it is perhaps because he was ideal for the job. He had plenty of charm and a mischievous streak, and he was able to put people at ease, even in the often unusual situations in which people found themselves on Truth or Consequences. He also had plenty of patience, perhaps a necessary trait when getting mauled by contestants on The Price is Right.

Of course, he devotion to animal rights must also be noted. He always ended The Price is Right with a reminder of people to spay and neuter their pets. He supported such groups as  United Activists for Animal Rights, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.. In 1994 he founded the DJ&T Foundation, devoted to funding animal-neutering programs and funding animal shelters.

Many of us will always remember Bob Barker as a comforting presence, someone who was always there for us when we were sick and home for school. He was also a marvellous host who had a way of putting everyone at ease.