WHDH-TV "Bozo the Clown" 1966

Boston's original Channel 5, WHDH-TV, produced a local, weekday version of the "Bozo the Clown" children's program between 1959 and 1970. Booth announcer Frank Avruch played the title role. These excerpts are from a 1966 broadcast.

Episodes videotaped at WHDH between 1965 and '67 were syndicated to markets that did not produce a local version of the show.

All rights are acknowledged.
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* Recollections from former WHDH-TV employee Ron Hopkins via tvdvdreviews:

I worked in the Music Dept. of WHDH-TV/Channel 5 in the 1960s. Ed Carroll Spinney was Grandma Nellie, Mr. Lion and Kookie Kangaroo, along with a few others. Del Grosso was Clank the Robot. The reason for each playing more than one character was that it gave the show more variety and allowed them to work several days a week.

During the Holiday Season, those of us in the Music Dept. would wear the costumes of the characters so that they could appear all on the same show. Ed Spinney would do the voice of each character off camera.

When Frank Avruch was sick or injured - he broke his hip playing handball - Romper Room's Miss Jean's husband Bill Harrington would play Bozo's brother Nozo.

Ed Spinney went on to become Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on "Sesame Street."

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• WHDH
• Herald-Traveler
• Bozo
• Frank
• Avruch
• RCA
• TK-41

[altfactor]

Wasn't Bill Harrington later a news reporter under the WCVB incarnation of Boston's Channel 5??

[VintageTelevision]

@altfactor

Yes, Bill Harrington made the transition from the original Channel 5 to WCVB-TV, where he worked as a news correspondent into the 1980s. He was married to WHDH's "Miss Jean" of Romper Room fame.

[kevykev38]

Where would I find a certain episode? My sister was on this show and they all sang happy birthday to her.

[VintageTelevision]

@kevykev38

It is doubtful you would find a place to obtain specific episodes. Some WHDH episodes from the mid-1960s were preserved and are available on DVD. Amazon.com is one possible source to purchase the DVD sets.

[Sportica]

I can't ignore the fact that despite the room being filled with small children, not one is tearing up and down the aisles like a fool, knocking Bozo down, screaming profanities, or behaving like the typical spoiled brats in Wal-Mart.

Yes, it was truly a different time back then, my friends. A time when parents told their kids, "You act up on national television and I will GUT you like a herring when you get home." ;)

[davshaw5]

Kids seemed more innocent back then, as it should be. We've lost that innocence today, let a kid be a kid for cryin out loud!

[cullmurr]

I thought the original Bozo was Larry Harmon. Can anyone help me with this. I remember he sold the rights to his name and changed it to Oopsy and continued on TV under that name for about a year, I think. Different costume( incl. a hat with a tall daisy ...you know..."Ooopsy-Daisy) but same old Bozo. We kids weren't fooled.

[pictureisup1]

wow, how old are these kids today?

[SteveCarras]

@Crotchrot

Except when YouTUbe is turned on, or when you go to a chep VHS store, or write some TV staiton, or download, or...

[SteveCarras]

I also love the canned music here..

[LadyMissCoppertone]

@Sportica Also a parent was a parent not a child's 'friend'.

[JoeAinslie]

HOW CAN ANYONE NOT LIKE THIS???!!!

[Crotchrot]

@davshaw5 I was just thinking the same thing. There's something to be said for a much more innocent time. Those days are looong gone.

[zilberhere]

@weldrocks Yes, that's Caroll Edwin Spinney as Mr. Lion, who went on to greater fame as the actor/puppeteer behind Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.

[weldrocks]

Is Mr. Lion Big Bird?