Bozo the Clown (Pilot, 1954)

[@Deephouse_Gent66]

Holy crap! Never knew about this! This version of Bozo is freaked out. Kind of had Twilight Zone vibes.

[@Vox-Multis]

Yeah, I'm two minutes in and I could swear I'm watching a horror movie. Like no exaggeration, if I didn't know about Bozo the Clown, that's exactly what I'd think this was.

[@movieedge7370]

That bozo doll is gonna give me nightmares later 😮

[@MichelleUS66]

No kidding. That doll is nightmare fuel on steroids.

[@I_WANT_MY_SLAW]

I want that doll. Probably worth a fortune now, assuming it still exists.

[@markhuber8345]

Here lil girl, take this pill…. 🤦🏻

[@ArtfromBerwyn-cw5op]

lol

[@ViewpointProd]

After seeing that title card, I’m pretty sure plenty of parents decided that they were going to throw out their televisions

[@I_WANT_MY_SLAW]

Why?

[@biancagerade4229]

😂😂😂

[@MichelleUS66]

I swear, all that was missing when that creepy clown doll first appeared was a Rod Serling narration…

[@dacidthorn]

A clown giving a child drugs. It doesn’t get better than that!

[@racheltaylor2091]

What the hell??? This was a kids show???

[@wmbrown6]

Sounds like that was the reason why this pilot never sold . . .

[@I_WANT_MY_SLAW]

It was a pilot. And a mid one at that. When you had masterpieces on TV at the time like I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, Andy Griffith, The Rifleman, Leave it to Beaver, etc, it is clear that this isn't as good. It had potential to be good with better writing and better actors. But this pilot isn't good.

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

The old Jayark Film Company cartoons of Bozo were far better than this 1954 pilot.

[@2jo2furious]

I’m not even supposed to BE HERE

[@FuzzyMemoriesTV]

Now I’ve got THAT to worry about!

[@ArtfromBerwyn-cw5op]

@@FuzzyMemoriesTV lol

[@joeharris3878]

The WGN Bozo show was still going on in the early 1980s Recorded live with a studio audience of children. My son was a faithful viewer. He insisted I play the Grand Prize Game he would set up . He'd've been about 5 then I was a single father. There were three of us, his daughter 3 years younger.

[@ArtfromBerwyn-cw5op]

I'm 66 years old. I remember the original Bozo ( Bob Bell ). I never knew this was ever around. First time seeing it.

[@Mark.G475]

This is the original Bozo!!!1954! Pre Bozo franchised.

[@CletusHunnicutt]

I thought I wanted to stop watching, but I couldn't. This is pretty bad. 👍👍👍💥💥💥

[@VIRGONOMICS]

Not so bad …. Poor Bozo had some shoes to fill and carry the acid trip .

[@wmbrown6]

Notice they didn't even get Bozo's creator's name right - Alan W. *Livingston* - later the guy who signed The Beatles, and whose career was every bit as colorful as the Bozo saga.

[@TheShortsDepartment]

Bizarre and I love it, laughtrack and all! Hal Yates and Gil Lamb worked together on a series of RKO two-reel comedy shorts and he'd go on to turn up in everything from The Andy Griffith Show to Disney features...even popping up in a Twilight Zone (is this that episode??) IMDB doesn't list this amongst Lamb's credits.

[@wmbrown6]

Or those of the other actors and behind-the-scenes crew. I wonder if it even aired.

[@richwagener]

THAT…is a Bozo no no.

[@repolho145]

Is that the same Bozo who also has a Brazilian version?

[@NachshonYosef]

"Bozo did the dub."

[@garysherwood6357]

Thanks for this! The quality on this upload is much better than usual. Very impressive. Keep up the great work!

[@davepiper1658]

This is great. I never knew this film existed till now 🤡 we're all in ITs dead lights now.

[@Twin_solo_az]

I bet a lot of people think this is wholesome.

[@ArtfromBerwyn-cw5op]

Speaking of wholesome. I have three 'Dick, Jane and sally books".

[@bryanloveseighties]

Various local TV markets had their own versions of Bozo for their own local kiddie variety shows, but this is the first time that Bozo was used for the possibility of a sitcom in the 50s.

[@timacoata7456]

Boy these are some really uptight people! Dad needs to go along and take a chill pill ! The neighbor is a grouch!

[@rickyjohnson6848]

I think society today could stand to be a little more “uptight”.

[@timacoata7456]

@@rickyjohnson6848 lol true point!

[@bobbysands6923]

It's not so bizarre. Remember Calvin & Hobbes? It has a Wizard of Oz feel about it. Kinda funny. The girl is great. And I don't think 1950s audiences would be as freaked as today's audiences, who are offended by everything. In any case, it is just one of a zillion pilots not picked-up.

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

I could see why this idea of Bozo the Clown would not fly as a children's sitcom during the 1950s. Larry Harmon would have barfed at this idea.

[@actionsub]

It did all right when they swapped out the clown for a purple dinosaur, though...

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

This pilot of Bozo should have had Butchie Boy in it. Butchie Boy was Bozo's sidekick.

[@jenneacubero1036]

This pilot didn't seem so bad (though like @actionsub said, it was pretty familiar to Barney). Still, a better idea for a Bozo sitcom would have been to just focus on what Bozo and friends (Butchie Boy, Belinda, Cookie, Grandma Nellie, etc.) would be doing. Like a slice-of-life but set solely at the circus.

[@grantkoeller8911]

the parent's send the little girls dog to the dog pound?!!!! what kind of stern uptight parents were they?

[@LindaMerchant-bq2hp]

I loved clowns from bozo to ronald mcdonald to ringling brothers to party clowns

[@pika23]

Aww i thought this was the gameshow.

[@pika23]

@@lemurianchick the one where he ran around in the circus tent and kids got prizes. I'm 46 this came out when my mom was 2. It's a little before my time. I know classic TV, but never knew of a Bozo show like this. I was aware of the cartoon and the kids show but not this. The Bozo I remember has like the pointed out red hair

[@barryrivadue9228]

First mistake, no circusy music for titles.

[@I_WANT_MY_SLAW]

That little girl in this is still alive. Jeri Lou James. Her acting career never went anywhere, and appears to have quit acting in the 60s.

[@fueledbylove]

Maybe she will outlive Keith Richards.

[@33Donner77]

Never saw this type of Bozo Show as a child. We watched and went to see "Lunchtime Little Theater" with Uncle Ned, Uncle Bucky, and Aunt Dody.

[@only257]

CUTE

[@bryanloveseighties]

3:45-4:00 Wouldn't it be neat to have one of your plush dolls or stuffed animals come to life when you said some magic words to it?

[@georgemarcouxjr6192]

Like a teddy bear named Ted!

[@bryanloveseighties]

​@@georgemarcouxjr6192Quite.

[@bryanloveseighties]

​@@georgemarcouxjr6192Quite.

[@bryanloveseighties]

​@@georgemarcouxjr6192Quite.

[@bryanloveseighties]

Quite.

[@CoolCoollovesbabydolls]

Whys some parts of this actually funny XD

[@grantkoeller8911]

no credit is given about the music or soundtrack,

[@annalee117]

Nightmare the clown 🤡

[@sonijam]

This is great! Especially for a 50s pilot. Gil Lamb was a nice Bozo. He kind of reminded my of the scarecrow from the wizard of oz.

[@vashtikelly6837]

TRY TO POST THE EPISODES OF BOZO FROM 70/80S WHEN IT WAS REALLY GOOD ❤❤❤

[@I_WANT_MY_SLAW]

They've been lost to time.

[@bsteven885]

@vashtikelly6837, it was unfortunate that many TV networks all over the world "wiped" (erased) videotape back then. It was common practice since videotape was expensive and executives didn't want to "waste money" preserving and storing thousands (if not millions) of reels. Attitudes changed by the 1980s, when the concept of syndication made repeat showings very lucrative. Many beloved TV programs were partially or totally lost (including the entire DuMont network library, which was unceremoniously dumped into the Hudson River when there was no buyer for their catalog of work).

[@BackWordsJane]

The little girl and her Bozo doll reminds me of a Twilight Zone episode

[@ArtfromBerwyn-cw5op]

I don't know the name of the episode, but I think Telly Savalas is in it. It's about a doll that talks.

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

"Living Doll".

[@LorenIpsum75]

David Bruce played the role of "Harry Henderson" in the TV version of "Beulah". He's the father of songwriter Amanda McBroom ("The Rose"). Florenz Ames played "Mr. Dithers" in the first TV version of the comic strip "Blondie". The ubiquitous character actor Robert Faulk had an extensive TV presence. He appeared in everything: The Lone Ranger, Disney, Lassie, Bonanza, Green Acres, etc. The only TV thing Faulk wasn't in was the test pattern. 😄

[@michaelbullen3104]

Apparently this isn’t Bozo’s actual first TV appearance, that would be 1949. But I imagine this one here didn’t even air

[@brucemcgee2281]

Some of the credits gave credit for My Little Margie. I'm 67, and I remember Bozo, The Capitol Clown.

[@Mark.G475]

Wow! Early BOZO, Pre franchised. The best and only true Bozo is WGN in Chicago!!!!

[@michaelchrist5356]

What a nice fact based family. Un like today

[@garethwynn01]

What’s a fact based family? 😂

[@pugster3913]

???

[@franklsuarez]

"See, daddy, the trouble with you is you're a grownup." Ouch, I felt that personally.

[@alpha-omega2362]

this reminds me of the urban myth about Bozo...It was broadcast live so there was no way to edit it ....a kid was trying to put together some kind of toy and it broke. The kid curses _"oh Gxxdamn it! " Bozo says: "Now that's a Bozo no no. " Kid says "Oh eat it Clown! " in another version the Kid says " Oh go blow Bozo!"... I met kids who swore up and down that they actually saw this...........

[@grantkoeller8911]

cram it clown,,,, that a bozo nono

[@NOcode]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@ReligiousZombie]

That's a Great Horned Owl. They often hunt in broad daylight. I was hoping to see that annoying squirrel meet his end.

[@pamczech5984]

What ever happened to the bozzo the clown cartoons there was one with Belinda baking they poem about beat the batter better but the butter was bitter on a rainy rainy day then there wad always crocks chasing after him

[@newodkin]

I had a Bozo record with that Belinda batter bit as a song!

[@NitestarProductions]

This is terrifying…

[@evilmothericebearkillerbir6016]

watchd this for years as a kid never seen this one

[@ArtfromBerwyn-cw5op]

me too. and I'm 66. Where does the time go?

[@CletusHunnicutt]

I watched Bozo on Saturday mornings down in the southeast, WGN? 1980s. Throw the ping pong ball in the cups as far as you can and you win a prize for each one and as far as you get after talking to the audience of kids and pies in the face with the shorter clown. I guess I have fond memories? Even though Muppet Babies was hands down my favorite at that age. Muppet Babies was genuinely funny and entertaining. My previous comment stands: "I thought I wanted to stop watching, but I couldn't. This is pretty bad. 👍👍👍💥💥💥" I enjoyed every minute of this mistake. lol Older clown guy only revealing himself in a young girl's bedroom that gives her pills that seem to make both of them hallucinate. I think Daddy was right on this one. Did the writers do anything else this weird?

[@I_WANT_MY_SLAW]

The only reason why this is interesting in 2024 is because this somehow survived for 70 years, and is still in fantastic watchable condition. Which is rare for a successful TV show of the time, let alone a pilot. I'm assuming this was in someone's private collection, and they stored it in perfect conditions, because it was clearly well taken care of through the decades.

[@bobsebring2819]

Never knew this existed. Cool premise. Could of been a fun show for kids today had television stayed wholesome and family friendly. Thanks!

[@I_WANT_MY_SLAW]

There is a kid's show with basically the same premise, but executed way better, called Barney and friends.

[@NachshonYosef]

Could've/could have.

[@puppiesarepower3682]

"...wholesome and family friendly." That comment is coming from a cigar smoking Satan avatar. What a Bozo. 😂

[@ReligiousZombie]

5:59 "Here, little girl, take this pill I got from Bill Cosby."

[@timacoata7456]

Watched the boxing show in the early 60’s ! He had great cartoons

[@kevinbutler1955NYC]

This is a fantasy tv sit com pilot that was filmed at The Hal Roach Studios.

[@ReligiousZombie]

20:12 Wait... what? The dog scored with the chicken?

[@thoughtsurferzone5012]

You're hung up on some clown from the 60's, man!

[@ReedBrunson]

MeTV should reissue and restore this in color as part of This Bozo Pilot’s 70th Anniversary this year.

[@FuzzyMemoriesTV]

It wasn’t produced in color though

[@RusstheTroubadour]

​@@FuzzyMemoriesTVNeither was the first season of I Dream of Jeannie , The first 2 seasons of Bewitched, the Our Gang (aka Little Rascals) shorts, McHales Navy for example. All of those were later colorized and broadcast.

[@jenniferwebster8026]

Or maybe Rifftrax would riff this video.... 😉😂-JW

[@FuzzyMemoriesTV]

Now I've got THAT to worry about. (Rifftrax contact me for a copy of the film) 🙂@@jenniferwebster8026

[@grantkoeller8911]

@@RusstheTroubadour 1st season Gilligan's Island in black and white, was colorized

[@Technus]

I'd much prefer seeing Joey D'Auria Bozo

[@wmbrown6]

I'm sure there are older generations who would prefer to see Bob Bell as the clown. But . . . yeah, I get what you're gettin' at.

[@I_WANT_MY_SLAW]

​@@wmbrown6yeah Bob Bell was my Bozo. He was who Hank Azaria based Krusty on, and Garfield based Binky on.

[@Damone7653]

No need to have the words "the clown" after Bozo.

[@DarrylRuiz-s1w]

Nothing creepy about a young girl hanging around a guy in a clown suit

[@bsteven885]

It's interesting to realize how subversive this pilot episode would have seemed to some people had it been developed in, say, the 1980s.... 😏 (Who would've looked more closely, beyond the surface observations of disobedience, drug use, etc. -- remember, the '80s were when people said "Just say NO" -- and saw that this was basically a suburban American version of Alice in Wonderland?)

[@RedSiegfried]

Nobody likes clowns except clowns. But everyone loves Bozo!

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

I liked Krusty the Klown from "The Simpsons". Never found him scary.

[@shawnio]

crazy

[@chad5893]

Whos the gay dad?

[@LindaMerchant-bq2hp]

Bozo was so 😎 cool

[@hug0av1la]

Qué miedo

[@Greedy-s6p]

Had no idea Bozo went this far back, I remember watching the game show in the 80s.

[@theruzzmon1066]

I can't unsee this.Ahhhhh!🤡

[@ArtfromBerwyn-cw5op]

Here's another thing you will not be able to unsee. On the fed ex delivery trucks, there is an arrow within the E and the X on the company logo, "FED EX". Check it out.

[@Spiritdove64]

creepy guy little girls room wearing false eyelashes different times for sure

[@christosvoskresye]

I never thought clowns were scary. Now I see why so many do.

[@pdizbon]

22:57 - SEVEN chicks.

[@kengeorgejones6855]

Thank you. This is oddly self-aware in ways that you don't often see, like when the little girl talks about eating the hen's eggs and the hen clucks in horror. Then there's the drug-taking, and the sequence where the little girl and Bozo do the right thing, and after getting a bad result, decide to lie and scheme, which gets the good result. Not hard to see why somebody decided to shelve it.

[@wmbrown6]

Was this story ever on one of the many Bozo records Capitol put out?

[@I_WANT_MY_SLAW]

Also, it's incredibly boring. It's only interesting because it's old, and because we know how popular Bozo would become as a live variety show.

[@helitoptero]

Top

[@mikebeartx]

I'm scared Mommy. Scared!

[@Foxonian]

Ozzy & Harriet & .....Bozo!

[@ISMAELCHAVEZ3RD]

I do not like clowns at all. Watching bozo, the clown scares the hell out of me.

[@BrianGoguen-k7k]

That's not at all creepy.

[@disneyprince1]

Bozo sounds drunk when talking to the girl with a face for radio. Help!