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== History ==
== History ==
=== 1960s ===
=== 1960s ===
WGN-TV's first incarnation of the show was a live half-hour cartoon showcase titled ''Bozo'', hosted by character actor and staff announcer [[Bob Bell (actor)|Bob Bell]] in the title role performing comedy bits between cartoons, weekdays at noon for six-and-a-half months beginning June 20, 1960.<ref name=Timeline60>{{cite web|url=http://wgntv.com/station/bozotime/tln1960s.htm|title=Bozo Timeline-1960s|publisher=WGN-TV|accessdate=16 February 2011|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20010709002133/http://wgntv.com/station/bozotime/tln1960s.htm|archivedate=9 July 2001}}</ref><ref name=Obit1>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N-VJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FIUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1543,5845842&dq=bob+bell+bozo&hl=en|title=Bob Bell,75|date=9 December 1997|publisher=The Vindicator|accessdate=7 February 2011}}</ref><ref name=Obit2>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bOdEAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HbcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2595,1596190&dq=bob+bell+bozo&hl=en|title=Bob Bell, Clown|date=10 December 1997|publisher=The Albany Herald|accessdate=7 February 2011}}</ref> After a short hiatus to facilitate WGN-TV's move from Tribune Tower in downtown Chicago to the city’s northwest side, the show was relaunched in an expanded one-hour format as ''Bozo's Circus'', which premiered at noon on September 11, 1961. The live show featured Bell as Bozo (although he did not perform on the first telecast), host [[Ned Locke]] as "Ringmaster Ned," a 13-piece orchestra, comedy sketches, circus acts, cartoons, games and prizes before a 200+ member studio audience.<ref name=Obit>{{cite web|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-02-05/news/9201110369_1_mr-locke-wgn-ringmaster|title=Ned Locke of Bozo's Circus|author=Crimmins, Jerry|date=5 February 1992|publisher=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=6 February 2011}}</ref><ref name=Ringmaster>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotelevision.com/ringmasterned.htm|title=Ringmaster Ned: That's Him|publisher=Chicago Television|accessdate=6 February 2011}}</ref> In the early months of the series, a respected English acrobatic clown, "Wimpey" (played by Bertram William Hiles) worked on the show, providing some legitimate circus background and performing opposite Bell's Bozo in comedy sketches. Hiles continued to make periodic guest appearances on the show into the mid-1960s.
WGN-TV's first incarnation of the show was a live half-hour cartoon showcase titled ''Bozo'', hosted by character actor and staff announcer [[Bob Bell (actor)|Bob Bell]] in the title role performing comedy bits between cartoons, weekdays at noon for six-and-a-half months beginning June 20, 1960.<ref name=Timeline60>{{cite web|url=http://wgntv.com/station/bozotime/tln1960s.htm|title=Bozo Timeline-1960s|publisher=WGN-TV|accessdate=16 February 2011|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20010709002133/http://wgntv.com/station/bozotime/tln1960s.htm|archivedate=9 July 2001}}</ref><ref name=Obit1>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N-VJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FIUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1543,5845842&dq=bob+bell+bozo&hl=en|title=Bob Bell,75|date=9 December 1997|publisher=The Vindicator|accessdate=7 February 2011}}</ref><ref name=Obit2>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bOdEAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HbcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2595,1596190&dq=bob+bell+bozo&hl=en|title=Bob Bell, Clown|date=10 December 1997|publisher=The Albany Herald|accessdate=7 February 2011}}</ref> After a short hiatus to facilitate WGN-TV's move from the Wrigley Building in downtown Chicago to the city’s northwest side, the show was relaunched in an expanded one-hour format as ''Bozo's Circus'', which premiered at noon on September 11, 1961. The live show featured Bell as Bozo (although he did not perform on the first telecast), host [[Ned Locke]] as "Ringmaster Ned," a 13-piece orchestra, comedy sketches, circus acts, cartoons, games and prizes before a 200+ member studio audience.<ref name=Obit>{{cite web|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-02-05/news/9201110369_1_mr-locke-wgn-ringmaster|title=Ned Locke of Bozo's Circus|author=Crimmins, Jerry|date=5 February 1992|publisher=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=6 February 2011}}</ref><ref name=Ringmaster>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotelevision.com/ringmasterned.htm|title=Ringmaster Ned: That's Him|publisher=Chicago Television|accessdate=6 February 2011}}</ref> In the early months of the series, a respected English acrobatic clown, "Wimpey" (played by Bertram William Hiles) worked on the show, providing some legitimate circus background and performing opposite Bell's Bozo in comedy sketches. Hiles continued to make periodic guest appearances on the show into the mid-1960s.


In October 1961, [[Don Sandburg]] joined the show as producer and principal sketch writer, and also appeared as the mute clown "Sandy the Tramp," a character partly inspired by [[Harpo Marx]]. By November 1961, another eventual Chicago television legend joined the show's cast, actor [[Ray Rayner]], as "Oliver O. Oliver," a country bumpkin from Puff Bluff, Kentucky. Rayner was hosting WGN-TV's ''[[Dick Tracy]] Show'' (which also premiered the same day as ''Bozo's Circus'') and later replaced Dick Coughlan as host of ''Breakfast with [[Bugs Bunny]]'', later retitled ''Ray Rayner and His Friends''.<ref name=Timeline60/><ref name=Tribune>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-040121rayner-story,0,4988558.story|title=WGN personality Ray Rayner dead at 84|author=Hageman, William|date=21 January 2004|publisher=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=9 February 2011}}</ref> WGN musical director Bob Trendler led the WGN Orchestra, dubbed the "Big Top Band." <ref name=Timeline60/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20101006/article/10061012|title=Broadcasters looking to share their knowledge|author=Walukonis, Joy|date=6 October 2010|publisher=Herald-Tribune|accessdate=24 February 2011}}</ref>
In October 1961, [[Don Sandburg]] joined the show as producer and principal sketch writer, and also appeared as the mute clown "Sandy the Tramp," a character partly inspired by [[Harpo Marx]]. By November 1961, another eventual Chicago television legend joined the show's cast, actor [[Ray Rayner]], as "Oliver O. Oliver," a country bumpkin from Puff Bluff, Kentucky. Rayner was hosting WGN-TV's ''[[Dick Tracy]] Show'' (which also premiered the same day as ''Bozo's Circus'') and later replaced Dick Coughlan as host of ''Breakfast with [[Bugs Bunny]]'', later retitled ''Ray Rayner and His Friends''.<ref name=Timeline60/><ref name=Tribune>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-040121rayner-story,0,4988558.story|title=WGN personality Ray Rayner dead at 84|author=Hageman, William|date=21 January 2004|publisher=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=9 February 2011}}</ref> WGN musical director Bob Trendler led the WGN Orchestra, dubbed the "Big Top Band." <ref name=Timeline60/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20101006/article/10061012|title=Broadcasters looking to share their knowledge|author=Walukonis, Joy|date=6 October 2010|publisher=Herald-Tribune|accessdate=24 February 2011}}</ref>

Revision as of 14:31, 24 July 2011

The Bozo Show
Bozo's Circus cast-1969.
Cast of Bozo's Circus, 1969.
From left: Cooky (Roy Brown), Oliver O. Oliver (Ray Rayner), Bozo (Bob Bell), Mr. Bob (Bob Trendler), Ringmaster Ned (Ned Locke).
Directed byRon Weiner[1]
StarringBozo the Clown
Opening theme"The Greatest Show on Earth" (closing theme from film)[2]
Country of originUnited States
Original release
NetworkWGN-TV
Release1960 –
2001

The Bozo Show is a locally-produced children's television program that aired on WGN-TV in Chicago and nationally on what is now WGN America. Recognized as the most popular and successful locally-produced children's program in the history of television, it only aired under this title for 14 of its 40+ years.

History

1960s

WGN-TV's first incarnation of the show was a live half-hour cartoon showcase titled Bozo, hosted by character actor and staff announcer Bob Bell in the title role performing comedy bits between cartoons, weekdays at noon for six-and-a-half months beginning June 20, 1960.[3][4][5] After a short hiatus to facilitate WGN-TV's move from the Wrigley Building in downtown Chicago to the city’s northwest side, the show was relaunched in an expanded one-hour format as Bozo's Circus, which premiered at noon on September 11, 1961. The live show featured Bell as Bozo (although he did not perform on the first telecast), host Ned Locke as "Ringmaster Ned," a 13-piece orchestra, comedy sketches, circus acts, cartoons, games and prizes before a 200+ member studio audience.[6][7] In the early months of the series, a respected English acrobatic clown, "Wimpey" (played by Bertram William Hiles) worked on the show, providing some legitimate circus background and performing opposite Bell's Bozo in comedy sketches. Hiles continued to make periodic guest appearances on the show into the mid-1960s.

In October 1961, Don Sandburg joined the show as producer and principal sketch writer, and also appeared as the mute clown "Sandy the Tramp," a character partly inspired by Harpo Marx. By November 1961, another eventual Chicago television legend joined the show's cast, actor Ray Rayner, as "Oliver O. Oliver," a country bumpkin from Puff Bluff, Kentucky. Rayner was hosting WGN-TV's Dick Tracy Show (which also premiered the same day as Bozo's Circus) and later replaced Dick Coughlan as host of Breakfast with Bugs Bunny, later retitled Ray Rayner and His Friends.[3][8] WGN musical director Bob Trendler led the WGN Orchestra, dubbed the "Big Top Band." [3][9]

Games on the show included the "Grand Prize Game" created by Sandburg, whereby a boy and girl were selected from the studio audience by the Magic Arrows,[3] and later the Bozoputer (a random number generator),[10] to toss a ping-pong ball into a series of successively numbered buckets until they missed. If they made the winning toss into the sixth bucket, they (and an "at-home player") received a cash prize, a bike and, in later years, a trip. For many years, the cash prize for Bucket #6 was a progressive jackpot growing by one "silver dollar" each day "until someone wins them all."[3] The Grand Prize Game became so popular, Larry Harmon, who purchased the rights to the Bozo the Clown character, later adapted it for other Bozo shows (as "Bozo Buckets" to some and "Bucket Bonanza" to others) and also licensed home and coin-operated versions.

Unused ticket and pin for Bozo's Circus, 1964.

By 1963, the show welcomed its 100,000th visitor and reached the 250,000 mark in 1966.[3] The show was so popular locally, that seven hours after the Chicago Blizzard of 1967 began, there were 193 people standing in line, waiting to use their Bozo show tickets; it was one of the few times the live show was cancelled and the tape of an older show was run instead.[3][11]

In October 1968, Bell was hospitalized for a brain aneurysm and was absent from the show for several months. Meanwhile, Sandburg resolved to leave the show for the West Coast but stayed longer while Bell recuperated.[3] To pick up the slack, WGN-TV floor manager Richard Shiloh Lubbers appeared as "Monty Melvin," named after a schoolmate of Sandburg's, while WGN Garfield Goose and Friends and Ray Rayner and His Friends puppeteer Roy Brown created a new character, "Cooky the Cook."[3][12] Sandburg left the show in January 1969 and Bell returned in March. Lubbers left as well with Brown staying on as a permanent cast member.[3][13] Magician Marshall Brodien, who had been making semi-regular guest appearances in which he frequently interacted with the clowns, also began appearing as a wizard character in an Arabian Nights-inspired costume in 1968 and by the early 1970s evolved into "Wizzo the Wizard."[3] From the beginning of the show until 1970, Bozo appeared in a red costume; Larry Harmon, owner of the character's license, insisted Bozo wear blue. Harmon did not have his way regarding the costume's color in Chicago until after Don Sandburg, who was also the show's producer, left for California.[14]

1970s

Ray Rayner left Bozo's Circus in 1971 and was briefly replaced by actor Pat Tobin as Oliver's cousin "Elrod T. Potter" and then by magician John Thompson (an acquaintance of Roy Brown's and Marshall Brodien's) as "Clod Hopper." (Tobin previously had played Bozo on KSOO-TV in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Thompson has appeared on A&E's Criss Angel Mindfreak.) Rayner periodically returned to guest-host as himself in his morning show's jumpsuit as "Mr. Ray" when Ned Locke was absent. The show had its 500,000th visitor in the same year. By 1973, WGN gave up on Thompson,[15] and increased Brodien's appearances as Wizzo. In 1975, Bob Trendler retired from television and his Big Top Band was reduced to a three-piece band led by Tom Fitzsimmons.[15] Locke also retired from television in 1976 and was replaced by Frazier Thomas, host of WGN's Family Classics and Garfield Goose and Friends, at which point Garfield Goose and Friends ended its 24-year run on Chicago television with the puppets moving to a segment on Bozo's Circus. As the storyline went, Gar "bought" Bozo's Circus from the retiring Ringmaster Ned and appointed "Prime Minister" Thomas as the new Circus Manager.[15][16][17] In 1978, the series began airing nationally on cable and satellite.[15] The Bozo Show and Ray Rayner and his Friends added a video game called "TV Powww!" in 1979, where those at home could play by phone.[15]

1980s

By 1980, Chicago's public schools stopped allowing students to go home for lunch and Ray Rayner announced his imminent retirement from his morning show and Chicago television. The show stopped issuing tickets; the wait to be part of the audience was eight years long. Beginning a summer hiatus and airing taped shows the next year pushed the wait back to ten years.[10] On August 11, 1980, Bozo’s Circus was renamed The Bozo Show and moved to weekdays at 8:00 a.m., on tape, immediately following Ray Rayner and His Friends. On January 26, 1981, The Bozo Show replaced Ray Rayner and His Friends at 7:00 a.m. The program expanded to 90 minutes, the circus acts and Garfield Goose and Friends puppets were dropped, while Cuddly Dudley (a puppet on Ray Rayner and His Friends voiced and operated by Roy Brown) and more cartoons were added.[10] In 1983, Pat Hurley from ABC-TV's Kids Are People Too joined the cast as himself, interviewing kids in the studio audience and periodically participating in sketches.

The biggest change occurred in 1984 with the retirement of Bob Bell, with the show still the most-watched in its timeslot and a ten-year wait for studio audience reservations.[10][18] After a nationwide search, Bell was replaced by actor and NBC-TV Gong Show contestant Joey D'Auria, who would play the role of Bozo for the next 17 years.[19][10]

In 1985, Frazier Thomas died and Hurley filled in as host for the final six shows that season, stepping into a semi-authority character. In 1987, Hurley was dropped and the show's timeslot returned to 60 minutes. In 1987, a synthesizer replaced the three-piece Big Top Band.[10]

In a 1986 episode of The Bozo Show, a young boy named Phil Brooks took part in a game. He would grow up to become the professional wrestler CM Punk. Punk's aunt found the footage of him on the show, and sent it to WGN News in December 2010.

1990s

Roy Brown began suffering heart-related problems and was absent from the show for an extended period during the 1991–92 season.[13][20] This coincided with the show's 30th anniversary and a reunion special that included Don Sandburg as Sandy, who also filled in for Cooky for the first two weeks that season. Actor Adrian Zmed (best known from ABC-TV's T.J. Hooker), who was a childhood fan of Bozo's Circus and former Grand Prize Game contestant, also appeared on the special and portrayed himself as a "Rookie Clown" for the following two weeks. Actor Michael Immel then joined the show as "Spiffy" (Spifford Q. Fahrquahrrr). Brown returned in January 1992, initially on a part-time basis but suffered additional health setbacks and took another extended leave of absence in the fall of 1993. Brown's presence on the show remained, though, as previously aired segments as Cooky and Cuddly Dudley were incorporated until 1994, when he and Marshall Brodien retired from television.[21][22] Later that year, WGN management decided to get out of the weekday children's television business and buried The Bozo Show in an early Sunday timeslot as The Bozo Super Sunday Show on September 11, 1994. Immel was replaced by Robin Eurich as "Rusty the Handyman," Michele Gregory as "Tunia" and Cathy Shenkelberg as "Pepper."[23] In 1996, Shenkelberg was dropped and the show suffered another blow in 1997, when its format became educational following a Federal Communications Commission mandate requiring broadcast television stations to air a minimum three hours of educational children's programs per week. In 1998, Michele Gregory left the cast following more budget cuts.[24]

2000s

In 2001, station management controversially ended production citing increased competition from newer children's cable channels. The final taping, a 90-minute primetime special titled Bozo: 40 Years of Fun!, was taped June 12, 2001 and aired July 14, 2001. By this time, it was the only Bozo show that remained on television.[25] The special featured Joey D'Auria as Bozo, Robin Eurich as Rusty, Andy Mitran as Professor Andy, Marshall Brodien as Wizzo and Don Sandburg as Sandy. Also present at the last show were Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, who performed, and Bob Bell's family. Many of the costumes and props are now part of The Museum of Broadcast Communications collection.[26][27] Reruns of The Bozo Super Super Sunday Show aired until August 26, 2001. Bozo returned to television on December 24, 2005 in a two-hour retrospective titled Bozo, Gar & Ray: WGN TV Classics. The primetime premiere was #1 in the Chicago market and continues to be nationally rebroadcast annually during the holiday season.[28]

Bozo also returned to Chicago's parade scene and the WGN-TV float in 2008 as the station celebrated its 60th anniversary.[citation needed] He also appeared in a 2009 public service announcement alerting WGN-TV analog viewers about the upcoming switch to digital television. Bozo was played by WGN-TV staff member George Pappas.[29] Since then, Bozo continues to appear annually in Chicago's biggest parades.[citation needed]

Characters

Character Actor Years
Bozo Bob Bell ^ 1960-1984
Oliver O. Oliver Ray Rayner ^ 1961-1971
Sandy Don Sandburg ^ 1961-1969
Ringmaster Ned Ned Locke ^ 1961-1976
Mr. Bob Robert Trendler 1961-1975
Cooky Roy Brown ^ 1968-1994
Wizzo Marshall Brodien ^ 1968-1994
Elrod T. Potter Pat Tobin 1971-1972
Clod Hopper John Thompson 1972-1973
Frazier Thomas Himself 1976-1985
Pat Hurley Himself 1983-1987
Bozo Joey D'Auria ^ 1984-2001
Professor Andy Andy Mitran ^ 1987-2001
Spiffy Michael Immel 1991-1994
Rusty Robin Eurich ^ 1994-2001
Pepper Cathy Schenkelberg 1994-1996
Tunia Michele Gregory 1994-1998

^ Costume part of the Museum of Broadcast Communications' Bozo's Circus collection.[26]

Local Emmys

References

  1. ^ Chavis, Blair (4 December 2009). "Get to know…three-time Emmy winner Ron Weiner". Trib Local-Highland Park-Highwood. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  2. ^ Hollis, Tim, ed. (2001). Hi there, boys and girls! America's local children's TV shows. University of Mississippi. p. 361. ISBN 1578063965. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Bozo Timeline-1960s". WGN-TV. Archived from the original on 9 July 2001. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  4. ^ "Bob Bell,75". The Vindicator. 9 December 1997. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  5. ^ "Bob Bell, Clown". The Albany Herald. 10 December 1997. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  6. ^ Crimmins, Jerry (5 February 1992). "Ned Locke of Bozo's Circus". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  7. ^ "Ringmaster Ned: That's Him". Chicago Television. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  8. ^ Hageman, William (21 January 2004). "WGN personality Ray Rayner dead at 84". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
  9. ^ Walukonis, Joy (6 October 2010). "Broadcasters looking to share their knowledge". Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Bozo Timeline-1980s". WGN-TV. Archived from the original on 9 July 2001. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  11. ^ Jacob, Mark (10 February 2008). "Snow Trivia". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  12. ^ "Roy Brown". Chicago Television. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  13. ^ a b Mangan, Jennifer (31 January 1995). "Clown Prince". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  14. ^ Goldschmidt, Rick. "Bob Bell: A Television Legend". TV Party. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Bozo Timeline-1970s". WGN-TV. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  16. ^ Feder, Robert (2 May 2010). "Remembering a Chicago Classic:Frazier Thomas". WBEZ Radio. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  17. ^ Okuda, Ted; Mulqueen, Jack, eds. (2004). The Golden Age of Chicago Children's Television. Lake Claremont Press. p. 249. ISBN 1893121178. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  18. ^ "Bozo Tapes Last TV Show". Gadsden Times. 3 April 1984. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  19. ^ Johnson, Steve (19 December 2007). "Bozo's Circus on WGN-TV". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  20. ^ "The Passing of Cooky". Portsmouth Daily Times. 23 January 2001. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  21. ^ Hevrdejs, Judy, Conklin, Mike (20 December 1994). "Cooky The Clown Bids Reluctant Farewell To 24 Years Of `Bozo' Fans". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 26 June 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Doyle, Mary K. (14 July 1994). "Vanishing Act". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  23. ^ Collin, Dorothy, Conklin, Mike (9 August 1994). "There's A Clowning Achievement All Set For New `Bozo' Show". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 26 June 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ "Bozo Timeline-1990s". WGN-TV. Archived from the original on 8 August 2001. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  25. ^ Wolf, Buck (19 June 2001). "Battling Bozos". ABC News. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  26. ^ a b "Bozo Timeline-2000". WGN-TV. Archived from the original on 8 August 2001. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  27. ^ Johnson, Steve (13 June 2001). "Clowning Around Ends With Taping of Final Bozo Show". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  28. ^ "WGN-TV-Contact Us". Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  29. ^ Rosenthal, Phil (10 November 2008). "Tower Ticker: Bozo to warn of digital TV switch". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 24 February 2011.

Watch

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