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An example of a vintage
Bozo lunchbox. These loved the children Perhaps the most well-
tend to sell for of all ages who known toy is the Bozo “bop Pinto Colvig,
$15-$50 remembered bag,” an oversized, inflat- the original Bozo
the Clown,
being on his able, Bozo-shaped punching surrounded by
show and bag that was in the play- Bozo merchandise
was always rooms of children across the
grateful for country in the 1960s.
their kind Reproductions of the
words.” original bop bag are readily
Bob Bell available for sale on Amazon
became the for $19.99.
most successful Although Bozo has been
portrayer of off the air since 2001, he
Bozo, starring as still makes fans and collec-
Chicago’s WGN’s tors smile, and his licensing
Bozo from 1960 until company, money. In 2018,
1984 when Joey D’Auria Larry Harmon Pictures
took over the role and red nose Corporation, which still
until the show’s cancellation in 2001. retains the Bozo IP, signed
Willard Scott, best known for his role an exclusive representation agreement with Beanstalk, a global
as the weatherman and on-air personality on brand extension licensing company, to produce and market a new line
the Today show, had the distinction of playing of Bozo products in such diverse categories as apparel, novelties, toys,
two well-known and beloved clowns, Bozo (1959–1962) and Ronald and collectibles.
McDonald (1963-1967), using his experience playing one to help In 2020, David Eaton published his autobiography, Being
create the other. Bozo: The World’s
After returning from the Navy in 1959, Scott was cast as Bozo after Most Famous TV
WRC in Washington, D.C. bought the local rights to Bozo the Clown Clown about his
for a daily one-hour show. Although his tenure was short in Bozo years, time as Bozo
his time was memorable, even taking Bozo to the White House to meet The Clown at
JFK and Caroline. WSWO in Ohio
Many of Bozo’s public appearances at the time were held in during the late
McDonald’s parking lots. Scott wrote in his book The Joy of Living that 1960s. There is
he originally created the Below: The cast of BOZO’s Circus dominated the even an updated
Ronald McDonald Chicago airwives until 2001 Facebook page
character at the fast- for fans and
food restaurant chain’s collectors!
request a year after While there is
leaving the Bozo show in no real money
1962. The Ronald or value beyond
McDonald character personal senti-
allowed the restaurant ment in collecting
to continue to attract Bozo memor-
children to its establish- abilia, at least at
ments with a friendly this time, to fans,
clown, upon which they Above: 1960x BOZO rolling wheel toy its items are
built their own franchise marked “LHPC” for Larry Harmon Picture dripping with
of children’s characters. Corp. selling for $24 at Ruby Lane nostalgia and fun
While Scott played the to revisit and
first Ronald McDonald for ads in the Washington, D.C. market, he consider. Bozo the Clown’s enduring popularity, all
was replaced by the company’s ad agency for the national campaign these decades later, is proof that laughter is
because he was “too heavy to play the part of an ‘extremely active’ both timeless and priceless.
Ronald,” according to the book McDonald’s: Behind the Arches. “It was “Wowie kazowee!”
the first time I was really screwed by the mass media,” the book quotes
Scott as saying.
Larry Harman portraying
Bozo the Clown
Bozo Merchandise
Harmon’s licensed look for Bozos ensured that
whoever played the Clown dressed and acted the
part, and credits himself with training over 200 per-
formers to play the title role both here in the United
States and abroad. The established Bozo “look”
allowed Harmon to license the Clown’s distinct and
recognizable likeness across a wide range of products.
Vintage Bozo merchandise can be found on sites
such as eBay and Etsy in the form of plush dolls,
costumes, trading cards, board games, piggy banks,
and other toys and novelty items. Most of these
items are in the affordable $25-$50 range; more
if new in box, older than the 1980s, and special
editions, although reproductions of older merchan-
dise and popular items are common finds and can
be misleading.
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