It was a very special and sunny day in May 1963. Mom came to school and took me out early. We were going to see the BOZO show! Growing up in Chicago, I had seen BOZO the Clown on TV many times, but today we were leaving Kindergarten early to go see BOZO in person. WOW!!

The windows were down and ride in the car breezed by as we went through the neighborhoods and busy streets to the WGN studios. My little brother and I clutched our mother’s hand as she rushed us across long streets of traffic.

At the tall building we were escorted in to a large high ceilinged room along with the crowd of excited kids and nicely dressed parents. We quietly and expectantly stood on the side of the sound stage and waited to be seated. I remember looking at all the colorful props with wonder. There on the floor next to me was something I saw on TV many times, it was the row of painted pails that the kids tossed bean bags into for prizes. Scanning across the area there were some other odd looking props and items on colorful tables.

Then I saw him! Yes it was him! The pastel blue outfit and the bright red hair! BOZO! He was standing and talking low voices with some important looking guys in grey suits.

The line suddenly started to move, and we crowded toward our seats in the brightly lit hall. We were ushered into the bleachers that faced a large performance space with tall curtains.   What would BOZO do today we all anxiously wondered. Huge cameras whirled about and everyone applauded as BOZO took center stage. The room was buzzing with laughing and excited kids enjoying seeing BOZO and his friends do some skits and bits.

For years BOZO was the number one, most famous clown in America. (At least in my mind.) But I think he was the top banana because TV did what the circus ring could not do. It gave fame to this comical clown legend. I was looking over a souvenir book from the Ringing show in 1976 today and the clown’s names are not mentioned. I see pictures in the program of clown greats, Barry Lubin and Leon McBride, but they remain nameless to the circus fans who read the program and as a result these fantastic clowns could not become household names the way a TV clown like BOZO could.

Then there was the BOZO merchandise. Milk mugs and coloring books and Bozo dolls kept this guy in the limelight of clown superstar.

Back to 1963… The guy standing next to the camera told us to applaud. We did, the show started. We were on the air. The cameras panned the audience and we waved and applauded. We were also on TV! Yes TV, an amazing and magical way of sending pictures through space. This was the golden age of live television.

The show was a whirl of excitement. A couple kids were invited to participate, and the games were played. We cheered the winners. There were a couple skits with BOZO and his friends. A funny juggler came out and did a turn.

There were commercial breaks, as this show was done live. Suddenly the lights dimmed. Way too soon it was all over and we were leaving. Down the steps of the bleachers we carefully stepped and then across the set toward the tall velvet curtains. It was done and over too quick. As we filed by the large curtain, we suddenly found ourselves walking right up to Bozo! He shook my hand. Wow, he was tall!

Something about the show did not seem right. I saw it on TV so many times and this was a very cool visit to see BOZO, yet in person it seemed a bit distant. BOZO was closer in my living room on TV. He looked us in the eyes through the TV and talked right to us. It is a bit like watching major league baseball live at the stadium. The players are so far away, yet on TV it all seems closer to the action.

It is hard for a youngster to understand TV production, but I now realize that everything was played to the cameras. The skit was behind a table and Bozo and his friend were looking at the camera and not playing to the live audience.

Bozo’s popularity was astounding. The show grew and went into many cities. There were many franchised Bozos around the country so that each major city had their own Bozo making promotional visits. The name BOZO went on to moving cartoons. There were Bozo toys and games. Bozo was famous! And then came the pejorative political term “Bozo,” as in, “The opponents to my view on this issue are a bunch of Bozos.” Like Houdini, Bozo was a household name, unlike any other clown up to that point.

Bozo was my earliest inspiration to want to be funny! Bozo brought days of laugher to my little brother and I. Bozo had a huge impact on this guy when he was five years old.

Thank you Bozo!

By Norm Barnhart