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. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ * 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."

Be the first to comment