Who Remembers….Bozo the Clown?

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Bozo the Clown (1946-2001) (Wikipedia)

If you are creeped out by clowns, then leave fast! For the rest of us, we have fond memories of waking up on a school day, grabbing a bowl of milk and cereal and racing to the “boob” tube to watch our favorite shows before racing to catch the school bus.

One of those shows was Bozo the Clown also known as Bozo’s Big Top or Bozo’s Circus, which spun off “Bozo: The World’s Most Famous Clown” animated cartoon series. The character of Bozo was created – believe it or not – in 1946, by children’s storyteller Alan W. Livingston. His medium was the first of its kind: an illustrative book accompanied with an album.

The first televised episode of Bozo was in 1949 on KTTV Los Angeles. The show’s rights were purchased by a Larry Harmon in 1956 who saw the show’s massive potential. The show became popular enough that it expanded into franchises – as opposed to syndication. This meant that instead of broadcasting the Los Angeles version of the show, local stations could produce their own version with their own Bozo.

By 1959 the character arrived in Boston on WHDH-TV (now WCVB-TV) and was portrayed by Frank Avruch. In spite of the intention to stay a franchise, Larry Harmon felt he could maximize revenue by syndicating the show, which he did in 1966.

By 1970 it arrived in New Bedford where it was portrayed by Bennett B. Schneider IV on WTEV-TV (now WLNE-TV).

At the show’s highest point it was broadcast on cable and satellite and spread to international markets, including Brazil and Mexico.

What led to the show’s demise? In 1994, the most popular market for the show – Chicago’s WGN – shuttled The Bozo Show to an inferior time slot on a Sunday morning. Its popularity slowly declined and then in three years later in 1997, the FCC mandated a three hours per week of “educational and informational” programs for kids. This caused a rapid decline and was the death knell for the show. Competing shows also contributed.

“Bozo: 40 Years of Fun!” was the final show which aired on June 12, 2001 disappointing me kids all over the country.

Though it hasn’t been updated in 2 years, Bozo has an official Facebook page.


About Joe Silvia

When Joe isn't writing, he's coaching people to punch each other in the face. He enjoys ancient cultures, dead and living languages, cooking, benching 999#s, and saving the elderly, babies and puppies from burning buildings. While he enjoys long walks on the beach, he will not be your alarm clock, because he's no ding-a-ling.

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6 comments

  1. What about the great Mr. Whodini?

  2. Bennett B. Schneider V

    My father was Bozo for Channel 6, New Bedford. It was his favorite job of all time and the highlight of his career in broadcasting. He worked at WTEV/WLNE til he retired. Bozo was there all along, doing the weather, running camera, doing the sound. His turn ended when a kid pulled his wig off on air. But before that, he was joy. His Bozosity came from his inborn, ever present humor, quick, silly mind and will to make people smile. He had that will til he passed this Jan. 24 at age 88. I am grateful I have gotten to be the Son of Bozo!

    • I was on bozo when I was a kid I would love to find the episode Belinda was his helper it was taped in Newbedford do you know how would I find the tapes of the show it was around 1975-1976. Everybody was given a name tag when you were seated and the name tags had numbers underneath your name my numbers were called to play a game and win trip to Disney. And of course the game was bounce balls in bucket I didn’t win trip but won a tootsie roll bank full of tootsie rolls. I would love to see video of the show with me on it my name is Jamie .

      • Bennett B Schnedier V

        Hi Jamie, sorry this took me a while. from what my Dad said, I would guess those old tapes were destroyed a long time ago, if they kept any at all of that show. He seemed to be the only one there who loved it: he had to set up the whole thing himself every day, buy all the gifts. My Dad bought your Tootsie Roll bank for you!

        When they moved the station to Providence I bet they unloaded a lot of what had been in the New Bedford station. BUT, you should call WLNE in Providence, RI to ask, just in case. That or maybe the New Bedford Library has or knows of archives??

        Ben V, Son of Bozo

  3. Seeking episodes from channel 6 New Bedford 66-70.

    • Mark Fletcher, My name is Tom Holbrook.
      I am a historian researching the history of Bozo the Clown.
      If you Google: Tom Holbrook Bozo. that will lead you to more info on me.
      I would like to learn if you have been successful in your quest to find Bozo shows from WTEV or anything else from Ben’s work as Bozo at WTEV.
      Please contact me, thank you.

      Email: tommy.holbrook@yahoo.com

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