The Bozo Show was a locally produced children's television program that aired on WGN-TV in Chicago and nationally on what is now NewsNation. It was based on a children's record-book series, Bozo the Clown by Capitol Records. The series is a local version of the internationally franchised Bozo the Clown format and is also the longest-running in the franchise. Recognized as the most popular and successful locally produced children's program in the history of television, it only aired under this title for 14 of its 40+ years: other titles were Bozo, Bozo's Circus, and The Bozo Super Sunday Show.
Cast of Bozo's Circus, 1967. From left: Ringmaster Ned (Ned Locke), Mr. Bob (bandleader Bob Trendler), Bozo (Bob Bell), Oliver O. Oliver (Ray Rayner), Sandy (Don Sandburg)
The cast in 1963
Cooky the Cook with Bozo, 1976
Bozo and Wizzo, 1978
Bozo the Clown, sometimes billed as "Bozo, The World's Most Famous Clown", is a clown character created for children's entertainment, widely popular in the second half of the 20th century. He was introduced in the United States in 1946, and to television in 1949, later appearing in franchised television programs of which he was the host, where he was portrayed by numerous local performers.
An iteration of Bozo the Clown at WFGA-TV in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1961. This is his most well-known design.
Cooky (Roy Brown) and Bozo (Bob Bell) on WGN-TV Chicago's Bozo's Circus in 1976.
1963 photo of Oliver O. Oliver (Ray Rayner), Bozo (Bob Bell), Sandy (Don Sandburg) and Ringmaster Ned (Ned Locke) on WGN-TV Chicago's Bozo's Circus.
WGN-TV Chicago's 1960s cast of Bozo's Circus. From left: Ringmaster Ned (Ned Locke), Mr. Bob (bandleader Bob Trendler), Bozo (Bob Bell), Oliver O. Oliver (Ray Rayner) and Sandy (Don Sandburg).
