Renegade in a Circus of Clowns

Bozo's Circus:
Chicago-based Bozo's Circus, featuring the antics of a clown with startling red hair, was the nation's longest-running children's television program. The Bozo character originated in Los Angeles in 1946, when Alan Livingston created the clown for a series of Capitol Records children's albums. KTTV-TV aired the first televised Bozo program there in 1949. Larry Harmon, one of the first Bozos, purchased the rights to franchise the clown nationwide in 1956. Chicago's Bozo's Circus premiered on WGN-TV in 1961 with Bob Bell as the clown, broadcasting every weekday at noon. Its circus acts, comedy skits, cartoons, and audience games, overseen by the beaming Ringmaster Ned (Ned Locke), were a hit with local children. During the 1960s and '70s, the wait to appear in the studio audience stretched to several years.

WGN's Bozo began airing nationally in 1978. Bob Bell retired in 1984 and was replaced by Joey D'Auria. A dwindling audience finally led WGN to cancel the program in 2001.

Bozo was originally created by Alan W. Livingston in 1946.
The character was portrayed by Pinto Colvig for a children’s storytelling record album and an illustrated read-along book set.
Bozo became popular and served as the mascot for Capitol Records.
He made his first appearance on US television in 1949, still portrayed by Colvig.

Franchises and Local Shows:
After the creative rights to Bozo were purchased by Larry Harmon in 1957, the character became a common franchise across the United States.
Local television stations produced their own Bozo shows, featuring the character.
Performers who portrayed Bozo included Syd Saylor, Bob McNea, Willard Scott, Frank Avruch, Bob Bell, and Joey D’Auria.
Bozo TV shows were also produced in other countries, including Mexico, Brazil, Greece, Australia, and Thailand.