Linn Sheldon

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.