The Bozo Show

infobox television
show_name = The Bozo Show


caption =
format = Children
runtime =
creator =
developer =
starring = Bozo the Clown
country = USA
network = WGN
first_aired = 1980
last_aired = 1994
num_episodes =
website =
imdb_id = 0254009
tv_com_id = 18911

The Bozo Show was a locally-produced children's television program aired on WGN in Chicago and nationally on what is now WGN America. The longest-running locally produced show in the history of Chicago television, it only aired under this title for 14 of its 40 years.

WGN's first incarnation of the show was a live half-hour cartoon showcase titled "Bozo", hosted by Bob Bell as the title character and airing weekdays at noon for six-and-a-half months beginning June 20, 1960. After a short hiatus, the show was relaunched in an expanded one-hour format as "Bozo's Circus", which premiered at noon on September 11, 1961. The live show featured Bell as the title character (although he did not perform on the first telecast), a 13-piece orchestra, and was hosted by WGN personality Ned Locke as Ringmaster Ned. Other characters were added to the cast, which by the end of 1961 featured Ray Rayner as Oliver O. Oliver and writer-producer Don Sandburg as Sandy the Clown (called "Sandy the Tramp" on air). Sandburg left the show in 1969, by which time Roy Brown had joined the show as Cooky the Cook. Frequent guest magician Marshall Brodien also began appearing as a wizard character, which by the early 1970s evolved into Wizzo, the world's wackiest wizard. Rayner left "Bozo's Circus" in 1971 and Locke retired in 1976, to be replaced by WGN personality and "Garfield Goose and Friends" host Frazier Thomas as the show's master of ceremonies. According to the storyline, Gar had "bought" the circus and appointed Thomas as circus manager. "Garfield Goose and Friends" ended September 10, 1976 but continued as a segment on "Bozo's Circus" through January 23, 1981.

In August 1980, "Bozo’s Circus" was renamed "The Bozo Show" and moved to weekdays at 8:00 a.m., on tape, immediately following "Ray Rayner and His Friends". On January 26, 1981, "The Bozo Show" replaced "Ray Rayner and His Friends" at 7:00 a.m. The program expanded to 90 minutes, the circus acts and "Garfield Goose and Friends" puppets were dropped, while Cuddly Dudley (formerly a staple of "Ray Rayner and His Friends", voiced and operated by Roy Brown) and more cartoons were added. In 1983, Pat Hurley, from ABC-TV's "Kids Are People Too", joined the cast as himself mingling with the studio audience and periodically participating in the sketches. The biggest change occurred in 1984 with the retirement of Bob Bell, with the show still #1 in its timeslot. After a nationwide search, Bell was replaced by actor and "Gong Show" contestant Joey D'Auria, who would play the role of Bozo for the next 17 years. In 1985, Frazier Thomas died and Hurley served as a semi-authority until 1987. Also that year, a synthesizer performed by Andy Mitran as Professor Andy replaced the three-piece Big Top Band. Roy Brown began suffering heart-related problems and was absent from the show for an extended period during the 1991-92 season. Since this coincided with the show's 30th anniversary, a reunion special was produced and Don Sandburg returned to play Sandy, filling in for Cooky for the first two weeks of the season. Actor Adrian Zmed (best known from ABC-TV's T.J. Hooker), who was a childhood fan of Bozo's Circus and former Grand Prize Game contestant, also appeared on the special and portrayed himself as a "Rookie Clown" for the following two weeks. Actor Michael Immel then joined the show as Spiffy (Spifford Q. Fahrquahrrr, "spelled exactly like it sounds, but with three Rs"). Brown returned in January 1992, initially on a part-time basis, but suffered additional health setbacks and took another extended leave of absence in the fall of 1993. Brown's presence on the show remained as previously aired segments as Cooky and Cuddly Dudley were incorporated until 1994, when he and Marshall Brodien retired from television and the show was moved to Sunday mornings and rechristened The Bozo Super Sunday Show on September 11, 1994. This incarnation of the show continued through August 26, 2001.

The final original WGN "Bozo" show was a 90-minute special, "Bozo: 40 Years of Fun!", taped June 12, 2001 and aired July 14, 2001. The cast featured Bozo (Joey D'Auria), Rusty (Robin Eurich), Andy Mitran (Professor Andy), Wizzo (Marshall Brodien) and Sandy (Don Sandburg). Another special, "", was compiled from previous "Bozo" shows in 2005 and airs as an annual Christmas television special.

Characters

Character	Actor	Years
Bozo the Clown	Bob Bell	1960-1984
Bozo the Clown	Joey D'Auria	1984-2001
Ringmaster Ned	Ned Locke	1961-1976
Oliver O. Oliver	Ray Rayner	1961-1971
Sandy The Tramp	Don Sandburg	1961-1969
Cooky the Cook	Roy Brown	1968-1994
Frazier Thomas	Himself	1976-1985
Pat Hurley	Himself	1983-1987
Spiffy the Clown	Michael Immel	1991-1994
Wizzo the Wizard	Marshall Brodien	1968-1994
Professor Andy	Andy Mitran	1987-2001
Rusty The Handyman	Robin Eurich	1994-2001
'Tunia The Petunia	Michele Gregory	1994-1997
Pepper	Cathy Schenkelberg	1994-1996

External links

*imdb title|id=0254009|title=The Bozo Show (1980-1994)
* [http://www.chicagotelevision.com/wgntv.htm History (fan website) of WGN-TV Chicago's Bozo show]