The Bozo Show facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Bozo Show |
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Cast of Bozo's Circus, 1967.
From left: Ringmaster Ned (Ned Locke), Mr. Bob (bandleader Bob Trendler), Bozo (Bob Bell), Oliver O. Oliver (Ray Rayner), Sandy (Don Sandburg). |
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| Directed by | Ron Weiner |
| Starring | Bozo the Clown |
| Opening theme | "The Greatest Show on Earth" (closing theme from film) |
| Ending theme | Various Circus Marches (1960s-1981; 1984-2001) Tom Fitzsimmons Arrangements (1981-1984) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Release | |
| Original network | WGN-TV |
| Original release | 20 June 1960 – 14 July 2001 |
The Bozo Show was a super popular children's TV program. It aired on WGN-TV in Chicago and later across the country on what is now NewsNation. The show was based on a children's record and book series called Bozo the Clown.
This Chicago version of Bozo the Clown was the longest-running one in the world! It's known as one of the most successful local children's shows ever. Even though it was on for over 40 years, it was only called The Bozo Show for 14 of those years. It also went by names like Bozo, Bozo's Circus, and The Bozo Super Sunday Show.
Contents
The History of Bozo's Show
Starting the Circus: The 1960s
The very first Bozo show on WGN-TV began on June 20, 1960. It was a short, half-hour cartoon show. Bob Bell played Bozo the Clown and performed funny skits between the cartoons.
After a short break, the show came back bigger and better! It was now called Bozo's Circus and started on September 11, 1961. This live show was an hour long. It featured Bob Bell as Bozo and Ned Locke as "Ringmaster Ned." There was a 13-person orchestra, funny skits, real circus acts, cartoons, games, and prizes. Over 200 people could watch the show live in the studio audience!
In October 1961, Don Sandburg joined the show. He became the producer and wrote many of the skits. He also played a quiet clown character named "Sandy the Tramp." Soon after, Ray Rayner joined as "Oliver O. Oliver," a funny country character. The show's music was led by Bob Trendler and his "Big Top Band."
One of the most famous games on the show was the "Grand Prize Game." Two kids from the audience were chosen to toss a ping-pong ball into numbered buckets. If they got the ball into the sixth bucket, they won a cash prize, a bike, and sometimes even a trip! This game was so popular that other Bozo shows around the world started playing it too.
The show was incredibly popular in Chicago. By 1963, 100,000 people had visited the show, and by 1966, that number reached 250,000! Once, during a huge snowstorm in 1967, 193 people still waited in line to see the show, even though it was canceled that day.
In 1968, Bob Bell (Bozo) had to take a break from the show due to illness. While he was away, new characters joined. Roy Brown created "Cooky the Cook," who became a favorite. Magician Marshall Brodien also started appearing as "Wizzo the Wizard." When Bob Bell returned in 1969, Roy Brown stayed on as a regular cast member.
Changes and Growth: The 1970s
In 1971, Ray Rayner (Oliver O. Oliver) left the show. Other actors briefly filled in, but by 1973, Marshall Brodien's role as Wizzo became even bigger.
A new rule came out in 1973 that said children's TV show hosts couldn't also sell products. This meant shows had less money for production. In 1975, Bob Trendler (Mr. Bob) retired, and the "Big Top Band" became a smaller, three-person group.
In 1976, Ned Locke (Ringmaster Ned) retired. Frazier Thomas, who hosted other WGN shows, took over as the new "Circus Manager." His puppet characters from Garfield Goose and Friends also joined Bozo's Circus!
In 1978, WGN-TV became a national "superstation." This meant The Bozo Show could be seen by many more people across the country through cable and satellite. In 1979, the show added "TV Powww!" This let kids at home play a video game using their phone!
New Bozo and New Times: The 1980s
By 1980, the show was so popular that the wait to get tickets to be in the audience was eight years long! It later grew to ten years.
On August 11, 1980, Bozo's Circus was renamed The Bozo Show. It moved to weekday mornings. In 1981, the show became 90 minutes long. The circus acts were removed, and more cartoons were added. Cuddly Dudley, a puppet from another show, also joined.
In 1984, Bob Bell, the original Bozo, retired. After a big search, Joey D'Auria was chosen to be the new Bozo. He played the famous clown for the next 17 years!
Sadly, Frazier Thomas passed away in 1985. In 1987, the show went back to being 60 minutes long. A new character, "Professor Andy" (played by Andy Mitran), joined and played music using a synthesizer instead of a full band.
The Final Years: The 1990s and 2000s
In the early 1990s, Roy Brown (Cooky the Cook) had health problems and was away from the show for a while. Don Sandburg (Sandy) even came back to fill in!
In 1994, Roy Brown and Marshall Brodien (Wizzo) retired. WGN decided to move The Bozo Show to Sunday mornings. It was renamed The Bozo Super Sunday Show. New characters like "Rusty the Handyman" (Robin Eurich) joined the cast.
In 1997, the show's format changed to be more educational. This was because of a new rule that required TV stations to air educational children's programs.
In 2001, WGN decided to stop making new Bozo shows. They said it was because of all the new children's channels on cable. The very last show, a special called Bozo: 40 Years of Fun!, was filmed on June 12, 2001, and aired on July 14, 2001. It was the only Bozo show still on TV at that time. Many of the costumes and props from the show are now at The Museum of Broadcast Communications.
Even after the show ended, Bozo still appeared! He returned to Chicago's parades in 2008 and has been in them every year since.
In 2012, a very old tape of Bozo's Circus from 1971 was found. WGN used it to create a new special called Bozo's Circus: The Lost Tape. This helped people see what the show was like in its early days.
On October 6, 2018, Don Sandburg, who produced and wrote for Bozo's Circus and played Sandy, passed away. WGN-TV honored him and the original cast with a special show called Bozo's Circus: The 1960s.
Meet the Characters
Here are some of the amazing people who brought The Bozo Show to life:
| 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 | Bob 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.
Images for kids
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Cast of Bozo's Circus, 1967.
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The cast in 1963.
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Unused ticket and pin for Bozo's Circus, 1964.
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Cooky the Cook with Bozo, 1976.
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Bozo and Wizzo, 1978.
