The definition of a barker:  someone who stands in front of a theater and calls to passersby to attract customers.

How apropos that legendary TV host Bob Barker was born with that last name.

For over half of a century, from 1956-2007, Bob has been getting our attention to “come on down” to watch him on television every weekday hosting “Truth of Consequences” (1956-1975) and “The Price is Right” (1972-2007).

He won 14 Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Game Show Host—a record.  And in 2004 he was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.

I have always loved Bob Barker.  I first got to know Bob Barker when he was the host of “Truth or Consequences” (ToC) which was taped in Hollywood at KTTV, Channel 11 in Los Angeles and syndicated across the country.

What made Bob so special was his ad-libbing with contestants, his comic timing reminiscent of Bob Hope or Jack Benny.  He clearly enjoyed talking to people and he was so good at his job.

He also seemed like a genuinely nice man.

I was surprised to learn that only one book on Bob Barker has ever been published:  “Priceless Memories,” an autobiography co-wrote with Digby Diehl in 2009.  Honestly, it is not that engaging, hearing him explain how he got his jobs in television.  I got the Audible version with him reading the book.  While it’s pleasant hearing his voice, he is reading from a script.  Even if much of the book is from his own words, it comes across as stilted. 

A much better version of the same information can be found in a three-hour interview done on July 7, 2000.  One of the best sources of learning about TV history are these multi-part interviews called Emmy TV Legends that can be found on YouTube done a while ago; the interviewer is Fred Westbrook.

These are priceless interviews, capturing TV pioneers while they were still living.  For anyone interested in the history of television or movies, these are must-see interviews.

At the time of the interview, Bob was 76 years old.  He looks like he’s in his early 60’s.  His memory is sharp and he never stumbles as he speaks.  More importantly, the interview showcases his innate knack at telling engaging stories off the top of his head, the same skill that made “Truth or Consequences” and “The Price is Right” worth watching.  He comes across as genuine and funny.

It’s a shame that most of the “ToC” shows do not exist; you can find a handful online.  Unlike “Price is Right,” you don’t have to suffer through the over-exuberance of the contestants and frenetic pacing of the show.  There was a lot more of Bob being Bob in the “ToC” shows.

Fans have created YouTube videos such as “Best Moments of The Price is Right.”  Some of them are over two hours long.  Though the picture quality is often poor, you can’t stop watching these clips over the years just because of Bob Barker’s affinity with people.  You just have to fast-forward through the announcer reading ads for products to get to the few minutes of pleasure when Bob talks to the contestants.  Those impromptu moments that kept the show fresh and on the air for as long as it was, a reminder that these shows were taped live. 

Today Bob Barker is still around at age 99.  He hasn’t been seen in public for a number of years.  Here’s hoping his remaining days will be good ones.  This Dec. 12 he will turn 100.