Barnaby And Me [Paperback]

Linn Sheldon (Author), Nat Howard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 4, 2004

Linn Sheldon delighted Cleveland children with his "Barnaby" character and television show in the 1950s and Õ60s. His overwhelming popularity made Barnaby an icon of an era of childhoodÑa warm, lasting memory that thousands of Clevelanders hold on to still.

Now this master storyteller is ready to tell his most fascinating story of all; his own.

Behind the unusual character of a lovable six-foot-tall elf was an equally unusual man. Abandoned as an infant, the young Linn Sheldon quickly learned how to entertain as a matter of necessityÑin order to convince people to take care of him. He parlayed that skill into an early career in show business and, soon, a lucky break brought him local fame. Unfortunately, some of the other things Sheldon learned from his early years led him to destroy his chances for greater stardom in Hollywood.

Some might look back on a life that has swung from low to high and back and forth again with bitterness or longing. Linn Sheldon retains a beautiful sense of humor. That, along with an exceptionally good ear for a story and a deft touch with words make Linn Sheldon eminently qualified to tell this touching and very human tale.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

""Barnaby and Me" is anything but a traditional biography." -- AshtabulaStarBeacon

"An entertaining account of one of the more significant and enduring Northern Ohio TV pioneers." -- NorthernOhio Live

"Linn Sheldon has no peer as a story-teller." -- AshtabulaStarBeacon

"One of the most beloved figures in Cleveland entertainment history." -- The News-Herald

"The book has a lot of depth." -- WEREAMRadio

"[Barnaby and Me] is a series of true stories told by a master..." -- AshtabulaStarBeacon

"[Linn Sheldon] is a masterful story-teller whose turbulent and rewarding life is told in 29 stories in this fascinating memoir." -- Sun Newspapers --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 186 pages
• Publisher: Gray & Co (September 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886228426
• ISBN-13: 978-1886228429
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,327,893 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written stories about a remarkable life, November 17, 1999

By 

Elizabeth DeMio (cleveland, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Barnaby and Me (Ohio) (Hardcover)

Like millions of others in this region, I grew up watching Barnaby on TV. Linn Sheldon was on television for 32 years as Barnaby, the elfin-eared pal of children and parents alike. Left to fend for himself at the age of seven, he lived by his wits and with the kindness of sympathetic citizens in Norwalk, Ohio. As a teenager he hitchhiked across America playing the banjo for meals, spent three years on the MGM lot, and returned to the Cleveland area to begin a career as actor and standup comic. In 1948 he joined WEWS-TV in Cleveland, the first TV station in the region, and his accounts of early televion are fascinating. In time his fame spread well beyond Cleveland to Westinghouse TV markets, and he did extensive work in Texas as well. As his career developed, so did his need for alchohol. He made and lost a fortune, married four times, and had serious bouts with depression. His stories about his drinking days and his brushes with the psychiatric community are at once moving and hilarious. Now retired and healthy again, he looks back on his life with the same kind of joy and sensitivity he imbued in the character of Barnaby. Reading it made me feel like a kid again enthralled with the musings of this wonderful elf.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Barnaby & Me, November 26, 1999

By 

Laura M Kempert (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Barnaby and Me (Ohio) (Hardcover)

Although it is about the life of a television performer,one who was a pioneer in the industry, I feel that this book is an easy read, fun, and hard to leave alone...I find myself referring to favorite chapters many, many times. This is not a book about Cleveland, it is a book about everyone. Someone should do a musical or movie about this author.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS BOOK BRINGS BACK SOME GREAT MEMORIES, May 12, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Barnaby and Me (Ohio) (Hardcover)

I GREW UP WATCHING BARNABY FOR MANY YEARS AS A SMALL FRY. HE WAS AND STILL IS ONE OF MY HEROES. LINN SHELDON DOES A GREAT JOB DESCRIBING HIS LIFE, CAREER, AND ADVENTURES IN SHOW BIZ. HE IS VERY CREATIVE, HUMOROUS, DETAILED, AND WITTY. HE WRITES WITH CLASS AND DIGNITY. HIS TELLING OF THE DARK SIDE OF HIS LIFE (ALCOHOLISM) IS VERY HONEST, TOUCHING, AND HUMOROUS. I AM A RECOVERING ONE MYSELF. I CAN IDENTIFY WITH HIS FEELINGS AND EXPERIENCES. THIS IS A VERY TOUCHING LOOK AT A VERY LOVING AND CREATIVE MAN WHO BROUGHT A LOT OF JOY TO MANY CHILDREN IN CLEVELAND OVER A FEW DECADES. VERY VERY RECOMMENDED.