A lot happened in 1972. Don McLean’s hit song “American Pie” was No. 1, Richard Nixon was president, his administration was trying to cover up its involvement in the Watergate Scandal, NASA’s Space Shuttle program was officially launched, and Bob Barker, the host of a new game show called the Price is Right, was giving away brand new cars that were then valued at less than $4000.
Synonymous with The Price is Right, Bob Barker is an entertainment icon, a cross-generational household name, who hosted the popular game show for 35 years.
Growing up on an Indian reservation in South Dakota, Barker–a member of the Sioux Tribe–met his future wife, Dorothy Jo Gideon at an Ella Fitzgerald concert. He married Gideon, his high school sweetheart in 1945, when he was on leave from the United States Navy Reserve, where during World War II, he trained as a fighter pilot. He never served on active duty but did return to university and graduated with an economics degree.
Barker, now 99, was hosting a radio show in Los Angeles when he captured the attention of Ralph Edwards, a game show producer who was looking for a new host of Truth or Consequences, the first game show to be broadcast on TV. Hosting the hugely popular show from 1956 to 1975, Barker’s popularity was rising, and in 1967, he started hosting Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants.
But it wasn’t always that way.
In 1999, after experiencing what he described as clumsiness in his hand, Barker had surgery to correct a partially blocked artery and to reduce the risk of stroke. In 2002, he had a stroke and months later had prostate surgery. A sun lover, he’s also had several cases of mild skin cancer, a series of falls requiring more hospital visits, and major back problems.
Burnet explains her intervention, helping Barker, a long-time vegetarian, gain strength with supplements. “It was not to replace meals but to enhance everything. To take that in addition to his meals because he was not doing well. He was looking tired and kind of frail, not just not looking healthy. And, you know, if you’re going to be a vegetarian and vegan, you better know what you’re doing.”
After retiring his position on the Price is Right, now hosted by comedian Drew Carey, he’s had a few guest appearances, including in 2013 on his 90th birthday.
am really not ready to say goodbye to it. So, I think it’s a good time to say goodbye because I want to leave them wanting more.”
He left with some great memories, from Vanna White competing on Price is Right before she reached Wheel of Fortune fame, to women contestants losing their tops after jumping up and down in excitement.
But the greatest thing was that the show gave Barker a platform to bring awareness to the wellbeing of animals.
Barker is also known as an advocate for animal rights and his show-ending catch phrase, “This is Bob Barker reminding you to help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered.”
What an incredible century! In his almost 100 years, Bob Barker has had a huge influence on the world. We are so fortunate to have such passionate people like Barker, a paragon of power who uses his celebrity status to help innocent animals!