
yes it was the norm for some of those shows.
Barb barker and Richard Dawson both did this all the time.
They were actually very much loved back in the day. They were considered good looking men. Plus very much loved cause they were always kind to women and men. Also black and latin folks loved Dawson and Barker. Cause even back in them days they were considered kind, respectful and even affectionate towards black and latin folks when that wasn't the norm in them days.
Thats also the reason dikk Clark was loved by black folks. I remember my mom saying how big it was when dikk Clark would have a black person on american bandstand in the 60s and say how they were handsome or beautiful (like the supremes). dikk would even get hate mail for doing this.
I consider it similar to how when Doug Williams won the superbowl and Keith Jackson was interviewing Doug and told him thank you. Coming from a old white man from the south we all knew what that meant.