Don Sandburg facts for kids
Don Sandburg (born 1930, died 2018) was a talented American writer, actor, and producer. He worked in television for many years. He is best known for producing The Banana Splits for Hanna-Barbera. He also worked on WGN-TV's popular show, Bozo's Circus.
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Don Sandburg's Amazing TV Journey
Starting Out in Television
Don Sandburg began his TV career at age 21 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He started as a prop manager. This meant he was in charge of all the items used on a TV set. Later, he became a production supervisor for The Paul Dixon Show.
After a year, he tried working in Denver, Colorado. He then returned to Cincinnati in 1953. There, he joined WLW Radio and WLWT-TV. He worked with Wally Phillips and Bob Bell. Together, they produced, directed, and wrote The Walt Phillips Show. When their boss moved to WGN Television, he brought Don, Wally, and Bob with him.
Becoming Sandy the Clown on Bozo's Circus
When WGN-TV started Bozo in 1960, Don Sandburg was not involved at first. But in 1961, the show became an hour long. It was renamed Bozo's Circus. Station managers asked Don to write for the show. He was already writing for another morning program.
Don had a different idea. He suggested he appear on the show as a character. He offered to write for free if he could be on air. WGN agreed, and the character Sandy the Tramp was created. Sandy was a quiet clown. He reminded people of silent movie comedians. Don said he based Sandy on Harpo Marx.
Eventually, Don Sandburg also became the show's producer. He helped create the famous "Grand Prize Game." This was a popular game on the show. By 1965, Sandy the Clown was so popular that he appeared in Bozo the Clown coloring books. In 1967, Don even played Ronald McDonald in local McDonald's commercials.
Life After Bozo
Don Sandburg left Bozo's Circus in 1969. He was doing four jobs on the show. He was a performer, writer, and producer. The fast pace was tiring. He moved to Los Angeles hoping to work at Disney studios.
When the Disney job didn't work out, he contacted an old friend. This friend, Fred Silverman, helped him get a job. Don became the producer of The Banana Splits. After that, Don worked as a writer for New Zoo Revue. He also worked at Paramount. There, he wrote for the Star Trek animated series.
Don also worked at Marineland. He directed theater shows in the United States Virgin Islands. He sometimes hosted variety shows there. He even brought back some entertainers from Bozo's Circus. Magician Marshall Brodien joined some of these shows. Don hosted as Sandy, and for these shows, Sandy actually spoke!
Don Sandburg returned to WGN-TV for special Bozo shows. He played Sandy for The Bozo 25th Anniversary Special in 1986. He also filled in when Roy Brown was sick. Don was part of The Bozo Show 30th Anniversary Special in 1991. He also appeared on the final episode of Bozo in 2001. One of his Sandy costumes is now in the Museum of Broadcast Communications. It is part of their Bozo's Circus collection.
Later Life
Don Sandburg and his wife lived in retirement in Oregon. He passed away on October 6, 2018, at the age of 87.
