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."

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  Entertainment

[Josh Shifris]

I know that WHDH was CBS but it was on channel 5?

[VintageTelevision]

Yes, WHDH-TV was Boston's original Channel 5. The station operated between 1957 and 1972. The current WHDH that is licensed to use Channel 7 has no connection to it.

[Scott Larson]

Are there any other episodes of Bozo? My father was on it in the early 60's, would love to find it! He played the bucket game and won a few things

[VintageTelevision]

It is doubtful that local WHDH episodes from the early 1960s were preserved. To my understanding, Harmon Productions kept only the later syndicated episodes that were produced at Boston's original Channel 5.

[12Preludes]

Judy Valentine's performance segments were not purchased by Harmon for inclusion in the syndicated release version (culled from the Boston program). Her segments are, regrettably, not known to survive. Hopefully some surviving tape will turn up in the future but the clock is ticking and tape degrades just as does motion picture film.

[Kenzie Nicholson]

my dad would always tell me about how much he loved this show lol

[APCalc8]

God love the people who made these shows. Great childhood memories. Thanks for sharing!

[ftsjr]

A fantastic memory! As a kid, I'd watch it on WPIX in New York. Unfortunately, we had a black & white TV set, so I didn't see how great it looked in color. I always loved that treasure chest, and the tricycle with the Bozo head.

[karena222fu]

I loved Bozo!



[VestalFabia]

The boy says "That's a lady elephant "

Ha Ha

[bigg34691]

The voice of the Ringmaster/Announcer was Paul Frees who did many of the characters like The Ringmaster, Hokey Wolf and other in the Bozo animated segments.

[wlkswithlions]

"That's close" LOL...lol.

[Leo Messi]

This is George Costanza 's favorite Clown!

[Robert McDonald]

Oh, to be 5 years old again! I love this! I have my own collection of rare videos containing amazing stories, facts, music, and news!