Ned Locke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ned Locke
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| Born |
Norbert Locke
December 25, 1919 |
| Died | February 4, 1992 (aged 72) |
| Occupation | actor and announcer |
| Known for | Ringmaster Ned |
Norbert Locke, known to many as Ned Locke, was a famous American television and radio personality. He was born on December 25, 1919, and passed away on February 4, 1992. Ned Locke is best remembered for his role as "Ringmaster Ned" on the popular children's show Bozo's Circus on WGN-TV. He entertained audiences from 1961 to 1976.
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Early Life and Radio Career
Ned Locke grew up in Red Wing, Minnesota. He started his radio career at a very young age. When he was only nine years old, he appeared on a radio program in Minneapolis-St.Paul.
After finishing high school, Locke performed with different theater groups. He then became a radio announcer for WHO (AM) in Des Moines, Iowa.
Moving to Television
By 1950, Ned Locke was working on WMAQ radio in Chicago. He had his own show called Uncle Ned's Squadron. His work on this show led him to fill in for another children's host, Johnny Coons. This was on the Noontime Comics series on WNBQ (now WMAQ-TV) in 1951.
Ned Locke was also a passionate pilot. He even managed two airports near Des Moines and trained other pilots. For seven years, he was the director of aeronautics for the state of Iowa.
His first TV appearance led to more children's shows. He hosted Sunday Funnies, where he read newspaper comics on TV. He also hosted Captain Hartz and His Pets, which was sponsored by Hartz Mountain.
Locke also worked at the local ABC station, WENR (now WLS-TV). There, he appeared in TV dramas, musicals, and commercials. He even wrote a TV play called Jet Pilot. Throughout his career, he wrote over 2,500 radio and television shows.
Becoming Ringmaster Ned
In 1956, Ned Locke moved to WGN-TV. He started as a weather forecaster. He also co-starred in a children's series called Lunchtime Little Theater. Later, he wrote, produced, and starred in another children's show called Paddleboat. Roy Brown was the puppeteer on this show.
Ned Locke got the role he is most famous for, Ringmaster Ned, on September 11, 1961. This was when Bozo's Circus first aired. He received his ringmaster costume on the very last episode of Paddleboat. Locke stayed with Bozo's Circus until he retired from television in 1976. He later returned for special appearances as Ringmaster Ned for the show's 25th and 30th anniversaries.
Life After Television
After retiring, Ned Locke moved to Kimberling City, Missouri. He had faced some health challenges, including three heart attacks. In Kimberling City, he became the chief of police. He also owned a real estate business. Later, he served as the mayor of the city.
Ned Locke passed away in 1992 from liver cancer. He was survived by his wife, Rose, his sons Norbert Jr. and Robert, and his grandchildren. One of Ned Locke's original ringmaster costumes is now part of the Bozo's Circus collection at the Museum of Broadcast Communications.
Images for kids
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WGN-TV coloring book, 1959. Lunchtime Little Theater is on cover.
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Ned Locke as Uncle Ned, Lunchtime Little Theater.
See also
In Spanish: Ned Locke para niños
