Art Baker (born Arthur Appleton Shank; January 7, 1898[1] – August 26, 1966) was an American film, television and radio actor.

[1] He initially planned to be a singer, and during World War I he was a song leader while serving in the United States Army.

His post-war occupations included touring with traveling evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, founder of the Foursquare Church, and operating an appliance store in Glendale, California.

[2] In 1936 General Mills cast Baker as Captain Bob Baker the Bisquick Maker to host the CBS show, Hollywood in Person, a first of its kind tabloid program in which a "studio on wheels" mobile production trailer would arrive at set locations to conduct candid interviews with celebrities about their gossip and rumors.

Also in 1943, Baker hosted CBS's Meet Joe Public, during which studio audience members expressed views on current events.

In the 1930s and 1940s Baker's voice could be heard in all major markets in the United States, and he was a part of as many as 22 aired shows, commercials, or productions a week.

In 1943, Baker narrated the Academy Award nominated, Walt Disney produced, propaganda documentary Victory Through Air Power.

This film was created to catch the attention of government officials and to build public morale among the U.S. and Allied powers.

In 1945 Baker was cast as Detective Lt. Cooley in Alfred Hitchcock's critically acclaimed and Oscar-nominated film Spellbound, starring Gregory Peck and Ingrid Bergman.

In 1949 Baker had title card credit in Cover Up starring William Bendix, Dennis O'Keefe, and Barbara Britton.

Baker hosted many television shows in his career but is best known for his work on a series he created in 1950 titled You Asked for It (for which he became affectionately dubbed, the "genie with the light, white hair").

The program helped unsuspecting people "who are in need of a push to make a success of their dreams, such as a chance to regain a sound footing in business".

[5] In 1920 Baker married Marian Hill and had four children: Virginia, who died of tuberculosis, Arthur (Bart), Robert, and Dorothy.