Linn Sheldon(1919-2006)
- Actor
Linn Sheldon was a local radio and television personality in the
Cleveland (OH) area for many years; although a capable professional
comfortable on both sides of the camera and of the microphone, he was
best known as the host of the children's show "Barnaby & Me" which ran
on WKYC television from 1957 to 1990. After serving in the US Army
during World War II, Sheldon returned to his home area and first
appeared on Cleveland television in 1948. His character, "Barnaby", was
an elf with pointy ears, with a straw hat and wearing tights who lived
in the "Enchanted Forest" and showed cartoons to rapt audiences of
children. He soon became so popular that the show was on seven days a
week. He would end his shows with the catchphrase "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." Devo front man and
movie composer Mark Mothersbaugh, a native of the Cleveland area, grew up
watching Sheldon, and used the emotional effect with the Celeste as
found in the movie Rushmore (1998) based on the Celeste used when Barnaby would
say goodbye to his legion of fans.