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."

[@PapaSanDoc]

I was on that show when I was in the third grade! I was picked for a chance to win the treasure chest. They had a wiggly long necked thing with a ping pong ball in a cup and you had to balance it. I didn’t do too well, but what a memory. The lights were very bright and hot I remember. When they went to commercial they shut them off and it got nice and cool. It was my first introduction to broadcasting so to speak. Years later as an adult and an air personality at WZOU in Boston, I met Frank Avruch at a local Jerry Lewis Telethon and I related this story and he didn’t want to talk about being Bozo. He didn’t feel it was one of the better things he did in his career. Frank was a very cultured guy who then was a local movie critic and had really gone on to do much bigger and better things in his career. This was 40 years after Bozo when we met. Anyway, it’s one of my fondest memories. It really was the reason I ended up with a 30+ year broadcasting career I think. I was really mesmerized by what I saw in that channel five studio that day and the rest is history as they say...

[@mhermit]

Those children are @ or nearing retirement now.

[@LeeLee-ux8gh]

U got that right!! Born 1963!! Lol

[@GEMINITREKKER]

,Not retired yet,not for a long time.

[@arthurcabral9561]

, yes, we are!

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

+, (NC, USA) Well hopefully they had decent lives since this.

[@starryeyedtarot8876]

+, (NC, USA) Omg I know! 1966....so they were totally boomer kids, aka my parents (I'm 29, my parents are 59 and 63)....well, actually, they might have been a little too old for Bozo....my mom maybe, but my dad-- nope. They grew up in England, anyway.

[@Angielyrica]

Me and my mother met Bozo at the DMV a few days ago. He told my mother "how are you doing young lady" lol and she knew immediately it was him. He's being featured on our local news today.

[@Fgrandinetti]

I was on an episode with my brother in 1966. Years later, as an adult, I was on another Massachusetts Bozo show. One episode drawing Bozo and another showing Bozo collectibles. Thank you for posting this--what great memories. Frank is a GREAT person to know.

[@Murph1331]

Bozo:"I'm looking for number 81" Bobby: "I got it! I got it!" Bozo: "That's 132 Bobby, thats close" LOL

[@dethklok745]

My dad was on the Bozo The Clown show and he was riding one of the cars and he accidentally didn't know how to stop and he crashed into the cameras and lights in 1959-1960. He is 58 now and he still remembers. LOL

[@donnascheurs498]

I am looking for his show from 68-71 my sister was on the show and I want to surprise her for her 5oth lolo

[@jackieb376]

These audiences were more intelligent then talk/gossip show audiences today.

[@SovereignStatesman]

I was on this show-- not this episode, but the show in Detroit, did the games etc.

[@brainphelps1994]

but this wasn't really a talk/gossip show. Captain Kangaroo was more of a talk show/variety show like what Maurey is today

[@hebneh]

One of my few memories of this show, in about 1962, was Bozo asking a little girl, "Do you like the Bozo show?" "Yes," she replied. "Why do you like it?" he asked. "Because." "Because what?" "Just because...", she said with some discomfort at being put on the spot.

[@ADamiani007]

I kid you not...for a second...I was back in 1966 Brooklyn...my Mom in the kitchen fixing me a sandwich...and my sister and cousins around the TV. Great time to be a kid...

[@Murph1331]

"i'm looking for 81...thats 132 Bobby, that was close" LOL...Boston Bozo forever!

[@dynagravitomagnetic]

Thank you for posting this rare piece of modern American history. I would watch this whenever I could at about four years old. This episode was one of the better ones because he sings the intro very well. It made me very happy to see a man who was very child-like and optimistic. Even though it is all just a pantomime, it was great to see these adults humorously do their best to put up with such a young audience.

[@Stabulent1]

The clarity of this video is amazing! I was born in '58 and grew up in Dorchester, MA. Bozo, Captain Kangaroo, Miss Jean and Romper Room, Rocky & Bullwinkle, all fond, fading memories of a good childhood. Thanks for posting!

[@duggerxxx]

I remember my grandma calling me from the front porch..........Joe...Bozo is on.

[@erickrodriguez6165]

But your name is Doug

[@duggerxxx]

lol.....she was forgetful

[@ponsquiglious]

I actually have an ornament of Bozo the Clown. He's so pristine, we don't take him out of the box.

[@jacquelynking2184]

How old is the ornament?

[@ponsquiglious]

Jacquelyn King it is 26 years old.

[@glendaleach6127]

I was on the bozo show 1963-1965 I was chosen to be Belinda spot light I remember landed on me and I got to choose a toy a talking phone

[@ladyinwhite439]

I remeber being in the grand stand..That was so the highlight of my childhood..

[@Miketheman926]

Me too! I remember the goodie bag they gave us and how hot the lights were..Ahhhhh good times for this Dorchester boy

[@ladyinwhite439]

Right..

[@daybird2]

Talk about childhood memories. I watched this every day on WHDH TV5 when I was a kid. The theme song and words came back to me the second he start singing. And what a clear copy, and even in color. Many thanks for this one!

[@portalsofmadnes]

The part at 6:00 where they draw an animal out of the names is really clever.

[@szqsk8]

That was my favorite part of the show!

[@scdevon]

2" Quadruplex color videotape for the win. Even on a 480p KZbin upload it looks clean 48 years later.

[@NationOfOranges696]

Too bad these kind of shows don't air on television anymore.

[@WolverinePete]

NationOfOranges696 Kids nowadays have the attention span of a gnat. My granddaughter would watch about five minutes of this show and then get on the internet.

[@stephaniemccoy6562]

I went to a couple tapings of Bozo in Orlando...todays kids would be freaked out big time just seeing Bozo....and we loved it!

[@mikehemeon2473]

I went on this show when I was in the 3rd grade and that was it. I was bitten by the TV bug badly. I said to myself this is what I am going to do with the rest of my life. It worked out quite well.

[@Miketheman926]

The Boston show, Morrissey Blvd.? Me too

[@mikehemeon2473]

Yes the one at 50 Morrisey Blvd

[@2Brian]

To see a copy of this broadcast in CoLoR and such great quality, is just Wow! This is fantastic!

[@sachacarlone4697]

My cousin,who has since passed,was on the show in Boston sometime in 1967. She was picked out of the audience,but I don't know what for,and Bozo nicknamed her "DING DONG DANDY DONNA"!!! It would be an awesome find to be able to see this episode.

[@elc1960]

We who lived in New England at the time this show originally aired miss all our great kids show hosts, whether they are dead or alive: Willie Whistle, Rex Trailer, Major Mudd, Bozo, Bob Glover, Bunker Hill, Capt. Bob Cottle, Salty Brine, the folks on "Jabberwocky", and of course, the "Zoom!" kids; we also miss the national and syndicated ones like Pixanne, the Friendly Giant, Capt. Kangaroo, Miss Frances, all the ladies who hosted "Romper Room", Fred Rogers, and any others I forgot who made a difference in so many children's lives. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

[@RooseveltFranklinFan]

Caroll Spinney as Mr. Lion!!! Thanks so much for putting this video up!

[@efrem1]

This was aired in Los Angeles on KCOP-TV on tape. Those times are long gone.

[@cardionema]

This is the show I watched in LA as a kid! So weird seeing it after almost 50 years and remembering stuff I had forgotten!

[@donnalandolfi2395]

Wow...that's a blast from the past! I loved Bozo the Clown. And, later in life, loved watching The Great Entertainment on Saturday nights -- thanks, Mr, Avruch, for entertaining me.

[@MrUhwoody]

I remember watching "Bozo" on KCOP out of LA.

[@NathanThePrezPretlow]

Another throwback.Use to look at this when I came home for lunch from Public school in the afternoon.

[@Gogoro7]

Wow, brings back such great childhood memories! I used to watch Bozo while getting ready for school when I was a little girl. Thanks for sharing!

[@sweetoneloves6811]

+Ro Barg RO Barg that is the time when I use to look at the bozo show in the morning on a snowy day...eating breakfast. lol. sometime bozo would show cartoons.

[@Gogoro7]

The best, right?!!! :)

[@sweetoneloves6811]

good times , wow I will never forget these fun time and the BOZO show Ro Barg...just good times

[@doloreshuntoon7698]

When I was four years old, I watched Boston's very own Bozo the Clown on TV in Plaistow, New Hampshire.

[@vintageappliguy]

Willard Scott was the first Bozo the Clown in the Washington DC area. Willard did the show from 1959 to circa 1968.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Such is the fact of most stations in those days. I suppose we aught to be grateful for Harmon Productions in having saved these particular episodes anyway.

[@Del-Canada]

Back when kids understood that not everyone gets a prize or a trophy.

[@dannygaines206]

WGN's Chicago's Bozo in the 1960's, is the best!

[@grantthemuppetfan]

Does anyone else notice that Mr. Lion is portrayed by Caroll Spinney, the guy who performs Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street.

[@hannahr489]

I, unfortunately did not grow up with this show (born in 2000), I'm just here because I love clowns.

[@vanessaknight1297]

I would have loved to be alive in the 1960's, it must have been fun going to those live shows of bozo's. And you guys are right, kid's t.v has not changed a lot.

[@underdragon638]

This video made me feel very safe.

[@Geezer]

I used to love this show! And I just found out that Carrol Spinney (who played BIG Bird and Oscar for so many years on Sesame Street), played Mr. Lion. If you listen when he talks, you will hear his unmistakable voice. thanks for posting these gems!

[@howardluloff388]

Wowie kazowie! It was great to see a rare local Bozo the clown show other than Chicago's Bozo's Circus. Frank Avruch was outstanding as the title clown and he also played the role on the syndicated Bozo's Big Top in the mid 60s. It's a shame that kids today aren't able to see shows like this on their local station since daytime lineups are littered with talk and court shows. But Bozo was memorable and entertaining and we can all just keep laughing.

[@arthurcabral9561]

Howard Luloff The other bozo that was often shown was fond of saying "Whoah-Nellie". The intro was done in a small street car setting. I remember this episode, it had the "cutout" intro, and later added the stage lights, which had been borrowed from the 1969 "bugs bunny/road runner hour" intro premiering that year. I think the other actor might have been Larry Harmon himself. - He was funnier and more energetic than Frank Avruch, as I seem to recall.

[@vanessaneale1589]

My mom was on Bozo the clown and she picked a frisbee but she thought it was a powder puff😂

[@robertiacomacci]

The wonderful America I grew up in...GONE

[@albalonybalony]

It's been 42 years, since I last saw Bozo. Thanks for posting it.

[@alexyomero76]

GOSH!! 43 years later I can watch again this show! Boy! How did I beg my parents to take me to the show. Now I know they couldn't , living in La Jolla , California, Boston was very far away! I dreamt of winning any prize and having Bozo touch my nose and doing some trick just in front of me!

[@michaeljayklein500]

Yup, that's the Bozo I remember! Thanks--and the print is really good too! I can still remember coming home from elementary school and laying on the floor eating my cream of tomato soup while watching Bozo. This reminded me of how often my eyes popped out when Bozo brought out the "Bozo's Treasure Chest"--I seem to recall the odds were always staked against the kids winning anything other than a "Bozo Bath Towel" or something (although Larry here seems like he's slightly inebriated and has no idea where he is, even though he won all that stuff!) It's nice to see kids that were nicely dressed and groomed--how things have changed!

[@ItsFrankieBoy]

Now in its place is the Kardashians. Shows you how far we've fallen

[@Allan158]

The Brazilian version is the most famous and was a popular icon in the country in the 80's.

[@trogwolf]

Is this where the expression, "Whoa, Nelly" comes from. holy moly.

[@WilliamT1964]

Wow...I have not seen one of these since I was barely out of diapers. That really sucked me in and took me right back to some of my earliest memories...

[@tapthatt2012]

i remember these playing in NY when i was growing up in the 60's.

[@misharyutubbee]

They must have been really serious about making all the regional Bozo shows look the same. This one could pass for the one I watched out of the TV studio in Monroe, Louisiana in the 1960s. Our Bozo came on right after school, so if it took you too long to get home, you missed it.

[@sirhawkingsesq8912]

Still have a picture of me on Bozos show back in the early 60's...makes me laugh when I look at it

[@ftsjr]

What a wonderful memory jolt! As a child, in the 60s, I'd watch Bozo after school every afternoon (on a Black & White set). That opening alone is a great memory, with the animated characters blowing their horns. I recall that treasure chest too, and being amazed by that trike with the Bozo on the front. Oh, for kids TV to be that innocent again.

[@BeigomaStudios053]

what ever happened to shows like this

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Ronnie Regan put a stop to that.

[@jono8198]

The show soon grew to more than just an innocent little children's show. Bozo the Clown grew darker as each episode progressed, and soon, it was taken off the air, many episodes destroyed or lost. *Creepy laughter*

[@jokeyandpismo]

Watch Our shows new friend!

[@necrochan7620]

GONE FOR GOOD!

[@jokeyandpismo]

Cry

[@Keys22765]

Oh my gosh...loved this show as a kid.

[@user-yc9qr7ww3r]

I was one of the children on this show. These were wholesome times that are long gone. We were living in a golden age.

[@Jumpboots_Jamstrang]

"sigh" I'm 17 years old, and I really wish I grew up in this era. It was such an innocent time... now kids can only be entertained by tv if they are on a sugar high, and stuff keeps blowing up.

[@robertmcdonald9794]

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!

[@ALurkingGrue]

I remember Bozo being on either WLVI 56 or WSBK 38 ... They had a magician called Mr Whodini. I believe that was the mid to late 70s.

[@wlhardy]

In the 1980s we used to watch "In Living Color," on FOX and we all liked Homey the Clown. We moved from San Diego to Pensacola in 1991 and one of our cable channels was WGN-Chicago, where the Bozo show had been running for decades. My children had never seen Bozo before and my 5-year-old was delighted: "Homey has his own show!"

[@StopFear]

I like this kind of show because it looks like its less scripted than today's show and the kids look more innocent than today

[@kringles4]

I was on the show too, wish I could go back in time to 1966, best times of my life, thank you for posting.

[@oneblackhorse]

What a cute show. Simple, positive, great for kids. What happened to these kinds of shows???

[@just4mygrl]

Me and my sister were on a show, I just don't remember the year.

[@Gleegirl4739]

My mom and dad watched Bozo the clown from Chicago they both loved Bozo

[@ecwnikos]

I know i saw this on CH 5 in new york but I had a black and white tv. OMG i cant belave i am seening this Thank you soo much the music baught me back .

[@matt408]

The guy who played "Mr.Lion" in this show went on to portray "Big Bird". I knew I recognized his voice.

[@RTD8481]

I always thought Chicago's Bozo was the only Bozo Show! I never knew other cities had Bozo shows

[@aboxofbroken8tracks983]

It was literally a franchise.

[@boggy7665]

We were in the WGN realm when I was little. When we visited relatives in other places, I caught a glimpse one or more times of 'counterfeit' Bozos. Only WGN with Bob Bell, Ned Locke, etc., were the real Bozo's Circus! WGN's work was a high quality production compared with these 'counterfeits'!

[@leepfrog8021]

I used to watch this all the time when I was a kid :D my parents had the dvd and i remember watching it on an old box television, I hope the kids nowadays wont just think that clowns are all like pennywise or gacy

[@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.

[@guyanderson9510]

was on in 60s myself am 55 now played stack the boxes and won, was able to pick from toys on shelf. I remember the bleachers were behind a wood big top with sandbags holding it up and on the camera side the big top was painted nice. Thought to myself this is different from the show we seen on TV what great times we had...

[@beatnix488]

Hi Guy. I am Also 55. So happy to hear an insider's view of the actual "Bozo the Clown" experience. Was it Larry Harmon? Frank Averuch? Bill Brittain? - Where was the event?

[@gymnastix]

As "Vintage Television" stated here, Bill Harrington was, in fact, "Nozo," the same appearance as "Bozo" except with a pointed instead of round nose. "Nozo" substituted for Frank Avruch as "Bozo" when Avruch was ill or on vacation. I remember one such time, the period, I think, to which "Vintage Television" referred, when Avruch injured himself and was in the hospital. The "Bozo" show used that opportunity to visit "Bozo" in the hospital (Avruch in full costume and make-up, such dedication!) and teach kids not to be afraid of hospitals. I seem to recall Avruch's leg in one of those traction devices (a steel triangle, suspended from a pole above), as he cheerily greeted his TV visitors and, to my recollection, also "Nozo." Anyway, to answer "altfactor" more thoroughly, Bill Harrington was, indeed, State House reporter for WCVB and WHDH (would have preceded Janet Wu in that capacity at 'CVB), and, along with most of the old WHDH-TV staff, went to the new Channel 5 after "The Boston Herald Traveler: lost its license for WHDH. Harrington also, albeit briefly, had his own kids show while at WHDH, as "Commander Jet," a live version of the character used to promote Red Ball Jets sneakers, the sponsor of the program.

[@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.

[@ftsjr]

What an awesome memory! I watched Bozo all the time, when I was a child in the 60's. It was on a black & white set, of course.

[@WonkaVator72]

The Bozo Hour ran from 5:00 - 5:45. I guess it would have been too cumbersome to call it "The Bozo Almost Hour." ;-).

[@loriwolf2124]

I GREW UP WATCHING BOZO THE CLOWN ON TV CHANNEL KTTV CH.11.N KHJ TV CH.9. N KCOP.CH.13. ME N MY OLDER BROTHER STEVEN USE TO WEAR ARE BOZO THE CLOWN HATS.WHILE WATCHING BOZO THE CLOWN. BOZO THE CLOWN IS AWESOME.

[@jogmas12]

Please help. I am confused. So many bozos out there. Is there an episode where klank is dancing?

[@Jersey2tall86]

Brings back some serious childhood memories. Thanks for posting.

[@dinitcaify]

I can remember this show as a kid. I'm glad I found this on youtube.

[@TheBest6431]

I never see this Bozo, in Hispanoameric, we had "Gaby, Fofo , Miliky, and Fofito....." beautifull childwood!......

[@hybridsolution]

This is good TV. Everything seems natural and not scripted like today's shows.

[@directorofmusc]

I love watching the Bozo show back in the '60's when I was a child. When in second grade, attending James Doolittle in Chicago, my class attended a live taping of the show. This brings back wonderful memories. Thanks Vintage Television for posting this.

[@robertmartinez1645]

I was 8 in 66. Used to love this show!

[@SRNF]

8:10 Wow....just wow

[@deniswilson8152]

thats Bozo the clown!!!!this theme has always stuck n my head 4over40yrs!!!

[@TheLadyjazzy1]

I was on bozo show in Boston around 1963. Fun times!! especially the goodybag they sent you home with.lol

[@aldiakaroofus]

Holy sh*t! I was about to comment aboput how great he was, but now I understand why!

[@parkman35]

This is awesome. I grew up in Chicago watching our Bozo Circus show, but I know teh character started in Boston. Notice the little kids and how they looked back then. Some of the boys wearing short pants! Things have sure changed tehse days. Great clip...thank you for posting it!

[@JoeAinslie]

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

[@AnnaZverina]

I like this better than most of the shows on Nick Jr or Disney. We were learning about clowning in Theatre a few years ago and the teacher showed us this video. Within thirty seconds, everyone was freaked out by Bozo so she turned it off.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

+AnnaVlogs Children today are spoiled rotten for being so sheltered.

[@sandell321]

"81? no that's 132 bobby, that's close"

[@elc1960]

Okay, here's where I date myself. I met Bozo when he did a personal appearance at the Coats Fields store (later Zayre) at Haverhill and North Main in Brockton MA when I was about 4 or 5. I still have the autographed photo that he gave me that day. I used to watch Bozo on Ch. 5, Major Mudd on Ch. 7, and Rex Trailer on "Boom Town" on Ch. 4. I didn't know Carroll Spinney (Big Bird) got his start on Bozo. Thank you for posting this!

[@gnoccafan]

i miss this show. remeber watching it when i was little. mostly like when the kids would see if they would put the ball in the bucket to win the prize.

[@rayarena879]

OMG! All of the memories start streaming back. I used to watch Bozo all of the time!

[@WytZox1]

There were Bozo shows on local channels all over the USA with different actors being Bozo in each market. Harmon was Bozo on the West Coast. Bob Bell was Bozo on WGN-TV in Chicago. However it was in another market where a boy who got a consolation prize cursed at Bozo on live TV.

[@lovegun2112]

I could watch this all day

[@wmbrown6]

@1952kid - This WHDH (Mk. I)-produced version was nationally syndicated in the '60's - and in New York, seen over WPIX Channel 11. (The locally-produced version of Bozo, in the late '60's, originated from WOR Channel 9.)

[@altfactor]

Frank Avruch is one of the two best known TV Bozos. The other was Bob Bell, who played Bozo on Chicago's WGN-TV. I believe Bell played the role for some four decades.

[@jbelden36]

I used to watch this as a kid

[@dianagruver5767]

My sister and I were on this show sometime between 68-70'. I don't remember much about it other than being afraid of Bozo. I was only about 4 or 5.