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Jul-06-2008From one Bozo to another(topic overview)
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Larry Harmon, who appeared as Bozo the Clown for decades and licensed the name to other Bozos around the world, had died at age 83. Harmon died Thursday at his home of congestive heart failure, his longtime publicist, Jerry Digney, told The Associated Press. Although not the first person to play Bozo, Harmon took on the famous clown's persona and, as an entrepreneur, he licensed the character to others, particularly TV stations. Those stations then recruited their own Bozos for local shows. Harmon met his alter ego after answering a casting call to make personal appearances as a clown to promote records. He got the job and eventually bought the rights to Bozo. Along the way, he embellished Bozo's distinctive look: the orange-tufted hair, the bulbous nose, the outlandish red, white and blue costume. [1] The man behind the rubber nose'''at least the one who played him for decades, then licensed the name to other clowns around the United States'''has died. He was 83. Larry Harmon died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles of congestive heart failure, his longtime publicist, Jerry Digney, told The Associated Press. Harmon was not the man to originate Bozo, but he took the name and ran with it, licensing use of the name to others''' particularly TV stations. Those stations then used the name to recruit their own clowns. Harmon and '''Bozo''' first became acquainted when he answered an ad in the paper for a clown to promote records. He got the job and ultimately bought the rights to the name with his earnings.[2]
LOS ANGELES (AP) - To the world, he was Bozo, but behind the scenes he was Bozo, Incorporated. Larry Harmon, who played the iconic clown for 52 years, has died at his Los Angeles home at age 83. His publicist says the cause was congestive heart failure. Harmon was not the first Bozo the Clown, but he embellished Bozo's distinctive look: the orange-tufted hair, the bulbous nose, the outlandish red- white & blue costume. He eventually bought the rights to the character and licensed it to others, particularly dozens of TV stations around the country that hired their own Bozos. Harmon once joked that you could say he was cloning before anyone else got around to it with DNA. He said Bozo was a combination of the adult and child in all of us.[3]
Los Angeles - Larry Harmon, the man who turned Bozo the Clown into one the most enduring characters in American media died Thursday aged 83 from heart failure, according to a press release from his publicist. Larry Harmon bought the rights to the clown icon in 1956 from its originator and trained hundreds of others to appear as Bozo in regional shows and television stations throughout the United States. Although not the original Bozo, Harmon portrayed the popular clown in countless appearances and, as an entrepreneur, he licensed the character to others, particularly dozens of television stations around the country.[4] Larry Harmon, who turned the character Bozo the Clown into a show business staple that delighted children for more than a half-century, died yesterday of congestive heart failure. He was 83. His publicist, Jerry Digney, told The Associated Press he died at his home. Although not the original Bozo, Harmon portrayed the popular clown in countless appearances and, as an entrepreneur, he licensed the character to others, particularly dozens of television stations around the U. S. The stations in turn hired actors to be their local Bozos.[5] LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A Toledo native who made the character of Bozo the Clown popular for more than 50 years has died. Larry Harmon died at his home in Los Angeles yesterday. He was 83. Although he wasn't the original Bozo, Harmon portrayed the clown on TV and in other appearances. As an entrepreneur, he licensed the character to others, including dozens of television stations around the country that hired actors to be their local Bozos.[6] Larry Harmon, 83 the actor who characterized Bozo the Clown died at his Los Angeles home on Thursday. Harmon who played Bozo the Clown over 50 years, died of congestive heart failure today according to his spokesman Jerry Digney. Although Harmon was not the original Bozo, he owned the licensing rights of the character since 1956 but the characters presentation in television on the United States started in 1950. This article is copyrighted by International Business Times.[7] Larry Harmon, who played Bozo the Clown for more than 50 years, has died of congestive heart failure at age 83, his spokesman confirmed. Harmon, a native of Ohio, died at his home in Los Angeles, spokesman Jerry Digney said. Harmon was not the original Bozo, but he portrayed the flame-haired clown in numerous appearances over the years. More importantly, he owned the copyright and trademark to the clown. He was responsible for keeping Bozo working in the entertainment industry.[8] Boston - Larry Harmon, also known as Bozo the Clown, died at the age of 83-years old. He passed away on Thursday of congestive heart failure, after bringing smiles to people for over 50 years as Bozo. Harmon, a native of Ohio, died at his home in Los Angeles on Thursday. Though he was not the original Bozo, he took on the role for more than 50-years, purchasing the copyright and trademark to the clown in the 1950s. He kept Bozo in the entertainment industry ever since then, taking part in the live BOZO Show, cartoons, and more.[9] Washington (ChattahBox) - Larry Harmon, who was Bozo the Clown for more than 50 years, has passed away at the age of 83. He passed away on Thursday of congestive heart failure, after being under the Bozo costume for 50 years. He died in his Los Angeles home on Thursday. He was not the original Bozo, but he did take on the role for more than 50-years, purchasing the copyright and trademark to the clown in the 1950s. He managed to keep Bozo alive and strong in all forms of entertainment, from the live BOZO Show, cartoons, and more. Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.[10]
Larry Harmon, the man who gave life to Bozo the Clown for more than five decades, to the enjoyment of generations of children, parents and grandparents, passed away Thursday of congestive heart failure at 83. Larry Harmon passed away at his home in Los Angeles on July 3, his longtime publicist Jerry Digney told the Associated Press. Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1925, he moved to California and eventually made a career for himself popularizing show business character Bozo the Clown.[11] LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Today) 7/4/08 ''' Though for most Americans, this week is a time to celebrate, fans of Bozo the Clown were disheartened Thursday to learn of the passing of Larry Harmon, one of several actors to portray the classic children'''s entertainer. Harmon, 83, died of congestive heart failure at his Los Angeles home, according to the Associated Press. He is survived by his wife, Susan, as well as a son and three daughters.[12]
Larry Harmon, who played the beloved character Bozo the Clown, has died at 83, the Associated Press reports. The actor died Thursday of congestive heart failure at his home, said his publicist, Jerry Digney. "Bozo is a combination of the wonderful wisdom of the adult and the childlike ways in all of us," Harmon said in a 1996 interview of the character he was so famous for.[13]
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Larry Harmon wasn't the original Bozo the Clown, but he was the real one. Harmon, who portrayed the wing-haired clown for more than half a century, died Thursday of congestive heart failure, said his publicist, Jerry Digney. He was 83.[14] Larry Harmon, the man who delighted millions of kids as Bozo the Clown for more than five decades, has died. He was 83. Longtime publicist Jerry Digney announced that Harmon passed away from congestive heart failure on Thursday at his home in Los Angeles.[15] American entertainer Lawrence Weiss, better known by the stage names Larry Harmon and Bozo the Clown, died Thursday of congestive heart failure at his home in Los Angeles. He was 83.[16] Bozo is no more. Larry Harmon, who entertained children for more than a half-century as Bozo the Clown, died at his Los Angeles home yesterday at age 83 from congestive heart failure, his publicist said yesterday.[17] Larry Harmon, who popularized Bozo the Clown through the new medium of television 50 years ago, died today of heart failure in his Los Angeles home. He was 83.[18] LARRY Harmon, the entrepreneur who brought Bozo the Clown to television as a children's show host in the late 1950s and spent the next 50 years promoting the flame-haired circus character, has died, aged 83. Harmon, who suffered from heart disease, died at his home in Los Angeles, his wife, Susan, said. "Bozo and Larry were one and the same," she said on Thursday. "He's lived it and breathed it since he bought (the rights) from Capitol Records in the '50s. He made it what it is, and it's been his life."[19] Larry Harmon, the man behind 'Bozo the Clown' for more than 50 years, has died of heart failure. According to Reuters, Harmon's spokesman said that the performer, a native of Ohio, died at his home in Los Angeles.[20] Larry Harmon, the actor who played TV's famed Bozo the Clown for over fifty years, has died in his Los Angeles home from heart failure at the age of 83.[21]
Larry Harmon, the man who popularised the show business character Bozo the Clown, has died of congestive heart failure at the age of 83. Mr Harmon did not create the balding, flame-haired character, but played him in numerous appearances over the years. The stations then hired their own Bozos who were trained by Mr Harmon.[22] Larry Harmon, credited not with the creation of the Bozo character but with the popularisation of an existing clown and in the process the creation of a legend, died of congestive heart failure on Thursday, aged 83. It is unconfirmed whether he was in full costume at the time, though we hope he was - just so the man could get one last smile from the world. It's easy to wax lyrical about the decline of traditional entertainment in modern society, with the 'yoofs' and their obsession with 'music', 'video games' and 'gangland violence', but one thing has remained constantly popular in the culture of children's entertainment: the clown. Without Harmon and his Bozo character there likely wouldn't be such a prevalence of the silly, slappy-footed, red-nosed berks flitting around from house to house, making children squawk.[23]
In this Jan. 24, 1996 file photo, a man dressed as Bozo, left, poses with Bozo creator, Larry Harmon, as they celebrate the character's 50th birthday during the National Association of Television Program Executives convention in Las Vegas. Harmon, who appeared as Bozo the Clown for decades and licensed the name to other Bozos around the world, died Thursday, July 3, 2008, at his home of congestive heart failure,according to his longtime publicist, Jerry Digney.[14]
Los Angeles, CA - Larry Harmon, who turned a simple idea of a character into the world-famous, Bozo the Clown, died Thursday while laughing. He was 83. His publicist, Jerry Vanilla, told reporters he died at his home while online reading the favorite website, TheSpoof.com.[24] LOS ANGELES, July 3 (UPI) -- Larry Harmon, known to millions of children as Bozo the Clown, died Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 83. Harmon, who began playing Bozo in 1952 and later acquired all rights to the character, died of natural causes, his publicist said in a news release.[25]
Los Angeles, CA -- Larry Harmon, who portrayed the wing-haired clown for more than half a century, died Thursday of congestive heart failure, said his publicist, Jerry Digney. He was 83.[26]
Larry Harmon, best remembered as the lovable Bozo the Clown, has died of congestive heart failure.[27] Harmon, who died of congestive heart failure, played Bozo the Clown for more than 50 years, according to AP. Though the first Bozo the Clown was Pinto Colvig, who was also the voice of Disney's lovable, if clumsy, Goofy, Harmon made the clown an American icon.[28]
Pinto Colvig, who provided the voice for Walt Disney's Goofy, was the first Bozo the Clown, a character created by writer-producer Alan W. Livingston for a series of children's records in 1946. Livingston said he came up with the name Bozo after polling several people at Capitol Records. Harmon would later meet his alter ego while answering a casting call to make personal appearances as a clown to promote the records. He got that job and eventually bought the rights to Bozo. Along the way, he embellished Bozo's distinctive look: the orange-tufted hair, the bulbous nose, the outlandish red, white and blue costume.[14] Pinto Colvig, who also provided the voice for Walt Disney's Goofy, originated Bozo the Clown when Capitol Records introduced a series of children's records in 1946. Harmon would later meet his alter ego while answering a casting call to make personal appearances as a clown to promote the records. Jason Priestley says he got a crash course on the Nashville music industry while directing a reality series about the Canadian band the Road Hammers. Priestley, 38, followed the Alberta group to Nashville as they sought a record deal. "I got there as an outsider following this band who had a lot of autonomy in Canada and were basically left alone by their record label and did things how they wanted to do them and were successful," the formerBeverly Hills, 90210star said.[5]
While not the original Bozo, Harmon honed the clown's trademark look, adding the orange clumps of hair, the big red nose and that crazy red, white and blue costume. He was also responsible for making the clown a household name after he and a group of investors bought the licensing rights to the character from Capitol Records in the early '50s. Harmon & Co. licensed Bozo to local TV stations in nearly every major U.S. station and farmed him out globally to such far-flung countries as Thailand and Brazil. Those stations in turn hired various actors to portray Bozo, including Bob Bell for WGN-TV Chicago, and perhaps most famously Willard Scott, who donned the makeup before becoming the longtime weatherman for NBC's The Today Show. [15] "Bozo is a combination of the wonderful wisdom of the adult and the child-like ways in all of us," Harmon had said in a 1996 Associated Press interview. Susan Harmon, his wife of 29 years, said Harmon was the perfect Bozo. "He was the most optimistic man I ever met. He always saw a bright side; he always had something good to say about everybody. He was the love of my life," she said. He wasn't the original Bozo but had portrayed the clown in countless appearances and licensed the character to others, including dozens of TV stations around the country.[17] Harmon was not original Bozo, but portrayed the clown in many appearances including at the Rose Parade in Pasadena in 1996 and licensed the character to others. The actor's wife of 29 years called her husband, "The love of my life." "He was the most optimistic man I ever met," Susan Harmon said Thursday. "He always saw a bright side; he always had something good to say about everybody." Harmon is also survived by his son, Jeff Harmon, and daughters Lori Harmon, Marci Breth-Carabet and Leslie Breth.[13]
Larry Harmon portrayed the beloved character Bozo the Clown in many appearances, including at the Rose Parade in Pasadena in 1996. He licensed the character to others, especially to television stations around the country. Bozo the Clown and the character interpreted by Harmon became so close that people associated the image of the popular clown with his image.[16] The Bozo persona, originally created in 1946 by Alan W. Livingston and portrayed by Pinto Colvig, was bought out by Harmon in 1956. Harmon had begun his relationship with Bozo by playing the clown at promotional events, and after purchasing the rights to the character, he acted as franchisor to television stations around the nation, who hired their own actors to fill Bozo'''s comically large shoes on locally produced live-action programs. During his career, Harmon also launched a nationally syndicated show, featuring actor Frank Avruch as Bozo, as well as a cartoon series produced by his own animation studio.[12] While Harmon was not the original Bozo the Clown (that lies with creator Alan W. Livingston, who created the character in 1946), Harmon was the one who had the foresight to purchase the rights to the name and then carry on the character for fifty years. It was Harmon's knowledge of television that enabled him to succeed, selling a franchise of the clown around the USA, as opposed to syndication methods that are more familiar with today.[21]
Harmon was 83. While Harmon did not create the character of Bozo the Clown he certainly popularized the figure through television and other outlets, quickly becoming the standard by which all other clowns would be graded. Harmon started his career as Bozo in the late 1940s after Alan Livingston created the entertaining personality. It was Pinto Colvig who first donned the costume of the flame-haired clown for a series of children'''s recordings in 1946 but Harmon was quickly contracted to portray the clown as a means of promoting the product.[27] Pinto Colvig, who provided the voice for Walt Disney's Goofy, was the first Bozo the Clown, a character created by writer-producer Alan W. Livingston for a series of children's records in 1946.[29] The character was created by Alan W Livingston for a series of children's recordings in 1946, and Pinto Colvig was the first to play the clown, Associated Press news agency said.[22]
Harmon exaggerated the original look, then donned the distinctive make-up, hair and suit for countless appearances as "Bozo, The World'''s Most Famous Clown." More important, however, he licensed the character to TV stations ''' which hired their own Bozos ''' and created a cartoon series. [18] Harmon portrayed the wierd clown in countless appearances during the 1950's and, as a businessman, eventually licensed the character to others, particularly local TV stations around the country. The stations then hired local actors to be their Bozos. "I felt if I could plant my size 83AAA shoes on this planet, folks would never be able to forget those footprints," he said.[24]
Harmon was also a producer of television animation, including shows featuring Laurel and Hardy, Popeye and Mr. Magoo. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Harmon once told an interviewer he created his own network of Bozo shows in local TV markets in the days before cable and satellite TV. Harmon once estimated that about 10,000 hours worth of Bozo shows were created by local, licensed TV productions and that more than 5,000 consumer products bore the clown's likeness. Harmon's wife and longtime business partner, Susan Harmon, an executive at Larry Harmon Pictures in Hollywood, said he was "the most optimistic man I ever met." "He always saw a bright side," she said. "He always had something good to say about everybody." In addition to his wife, Harmon is survived by a son, Jeff Harmon; and daughters Lori Harmon, Marci Brett-Carabet, Ellen Kosberg and Leslie Brett.[25]
LOS ANGELES - Larry Harmon, who turned the character Bozo the Clown into a show.[30] LOS ANGELES - Larry Harmon, who appeared as Bozo the Clown for decades and licensed.[30]
Lesser jesters have been trying to fill Avruch's beloved size 16 shoes ever since. Bozo would want us to "Always keep laughing," but it was with a bittersweet honk of his alter ego's bulbous red nose that Avruch noted Thursday's passing of Larry Harmon, the man who established Bozo, at age 83 in Los Angeles. "Larry, at times, could be a tough, tough guy, but we had a wonderful relationship," he said. "I put my own imprint on the character and I guess that's what he liked.[30]
Mr Harmon got a job as Bozo to promote the records and later bought the copyright. Mr Harmon passed away at his home in Los Angeles, his publicist Jerry Digney said.[22] Harmon launched the first Bozo children's show in Los Angeles in 1959, with Pinto Colvig's son, Vance, playing the role.[19] "Bozo is a star, an entertainer, bigger than life," Harmon once said. "People see him as Mr. Bozo, somebody you can relate to, touch and laugh with." Associated Press writers Polly Anderson in New York and Robert Jablon in Los Angeles contributed to this report.[14]
"You might say, in a way, I was cloning BTC (Bozo the Clown) before anybody else out there got around to cloning DNA," Harmon told the Associated Press in a 1996 interview.[18] "You might say, in a way, I was cloning BTC (Bozo the Clown) before anybody else out there got around to cloning DNA," Harmon said in the 1996 interview. "I felt if I could plant my size 83AAA shoes on this planet, (people) would never be able to forget those footprints." Susan Harmon, his wife of 29 years, indicated Harmon was the perfect fit for Bozo. "He was the most optimistic man I ever met. He always saw a bright side; he always had something good to say about everybody. He was the love of my life," she said Thursday. The business — combining animation, licensing of the character and personal appearances — made millions, as Harmon trained more than 200 Bozos over the years to represent him in local markets.[14] Several years later, Harmon answered a casting call for a clown to make personal appearances to promote the Bozo records. After landing the job, he took over as the voice on the records and then bought the rights to the character.[19] Harmon met the original "Bozo" while answering a casting call to make personal appearances as a clown. He later bought the rights and embellished the character's personality.[31] Harmon later put on the big red nose while answering a casting call to make personal appearances as a clown to promote the records. He eventually bought the rights to Bozo and embellished Bozo's distinctive look: the orange-winged hair, the bulbous nose, and his eccentric red, white and blue costume.[29]
Larry Harmon first portrayed Bozo to promote the records and later bought the copyright trademark to the clown in the 1950s. He would go on to impersonate the flame-haired character for more than fifty years.[11] The first person to play the clown was Pinto Colvig, reports the AP, but it was Larry Harmon that maintained Bozo's spirit and popularity over the years.[11]
CLOWNING AROUND: Larry Harmon, right, who popularised the Bozo the Clown character, has died aged 83.[8] Larry Harmon, creator and actor of legendary Bozo the Clown, died this week at the age of 83.[32]
Larry Harmon created the original Bozo and then licensed the character all over the world.[33] Larry Harmon formed Larry Harmon Pictures Corp. in the mid-1950s, producing cartoons based on the characters Popeye, Dick Tracy, Mr. Magoo and of course Bozo, as well as on comedians Laurel and Hardy. His company still licenses the names and characters of Bozo and Laurel and Hardy around the world. Larry Harmon is survived by his wife Susan; son, Jeff; daughters Lori Harmon, Marci Breth Carabet, Ellen Kosberg and Leslie Breth; and four grandchildren.[11] In the mid-'50s, Harmon launched Larry Harmon Pictures Corp, which turned out animated cartoons featuring not only Bozo but Popeye, Mr Magoo, Dick Tracy and Laurel and Hardy. His company continues to license the names and characters of Bozo and Laurel and Hardy worldwide.[19]
Harmon denied ever misrepresenting Bozo's history. He said he was claiming credit only for what he added to the character — "What I sound like, what I look like, what I walk like" — and what he did to popularize Bozo. "Isn't it a shame the credit that was given to me for the work I have done, they arbitrarily take it down, like I didn't do anything for the last 52 years," he told the AP at the time. Harmon protected Bozo's reputation with a vengeance, while embracing those who poked good-natured fun at the clown. As Bozo's influence spread through popular culture, his very name became a synonym for clownish behavior. "It takes a lot of effort and energy to keep a character that old fresh so kids today still know about him and want to buy the products," Karen Raugust, executive editor of The Licensing Letter, a New York-based trade publication, said in 1996. A normal character runs its course in three to five years, Raugust said.[14] Bozo became so ubiquitous in pop culture that the name ended up coming to define zany, foolish behavior. He and his TV show also served as an early inspiration for Krusty the Clown's hijinks on The Simpsons. Harmon is survived by his wife of 29 years, Susan Harmon, son Jeff Harmon and daughters Lori Harmon, Marci Breth-Carabet, Ellen Kosberg and Leslie Breth.[15]
Leading the character through 50 years of development, Harmon introduced Bozo s all around America to entertain - or terrify - children through the States, as well as TV shows aired around the world. Where other entertainers fell by the wayside, got bitter, sold out or simply gave up, Harmon continued and the popularity of his Bozo character never waned.[23] During a career of more than 50 years, Harmon not only played Bozo but also licensed consumer products featuring the trademark character.[25]
As an entrepreneur, Harmon licensed the character to others, particularly dozens of television stations around the country. The stations in turn hired actors to be their local Bozos.[26] Most noted as the man who turned Bozo into a children show icon. He was not the original Bozo, however, he licensed the character to television stations, who then hired their own Bozo.[31]
Frankly, without Bozo's popularity, that behaviour would be frowned upon, if not illegal. Larry did not come up with the Bozo the Clown character of his own accord - he purchased the rights for it and worked from there, introducing what is now taken for granted as how a clown should look, as well as helping the word 'bozo' enter common language - for example, ' Lindsay Lohan's dad acts like a bozo'.[23] "Larry Harmon's Bozo," featuring Harmon, and "Larry Harmon's Bozo: The World's Most Famous Clown" starring Avruch, are available on DVD. Besides his acting talent and rich, melodic voice, there's at least one common-sense approach Avruch credits his longevity as Bozo to: "I never gave a mike to any of the kids," he said, laughing.[30] "Bozo is a combination of the wonderful wisdom of the adult and the childlike ways in all of us," Harmon said in 1996. In 2004, the International Clown Hall of Fame in Milwaukee announced that it was reversing its Lifetime of Laughter Award given to Harmon in 1990 as Bozo's creator, and posthumously inducted Pinto Colvig as the first Bozo.[19] Although not the first Bozo, Harmon portrayed the orange-haired clown for over a half-century.[29]
By the time the show bowed out in Chicago, in 2001, it was the last locally produced version. Harmon said at the time that he hoped to develop a new cable or network show, as well as a Bozo feature film. He became caught up in a minor controversy in 2004 when the International Clown Hall of Fame in Milwaukee took down a plaque honoring him as Bozo and formally endorsed Colvig as the first.[14] Bob fell into the 'clown business' accidentally. He was a cameraman for the locally produced Bozo the Clown show, but last minute, they needed a new clown. Well, Bob stepped in front of the camera to test his clown-acting skills. He was a natural. Larry saw Bob's performance and noticed that'something special' in Bob, which made him the perfect, new Bozo the Clown.[32] NYP96021202-12FEB96-NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA: Young fans outside New York City toy fair lovingly tweek the nose of Bozo the Clown prior to the trade show February 12 where the new companion for Bozo was introduced for Bozo the Clown 50th Anniversary.[25]
Beloved children's entertainer or feared icon striking terror into the hearts of those clever enough to realise that clowns are created from pure, distilled evil - however you look at him the news is the same: Bozo the clown has passed on.[23] Bozo was created for a series of Capitol children's records in 1946, with Vance "Pinto" Colvig, the voice of Walt Disney's Goofy, providing the clown's voice.[19] Interesting random Bozo-but-not-Larry-Harmon-fact, Bozo the Clown was originally the voice of Alan W. Livingston on records telling children's stories, which were released through Capitol Records. Through this, he became known as Bozo the Capitol Clown and was known as the mascot for Capitol Records in the 40s.[21]
Harmon denied misrepresenting Bozo's history. He said he always had acknowledged that Capitol Records writer/producer Alan Livingston created Bozo. Harmon said, he developed Bozo's image as it was known today.[19]
"Bozo is a combination of the wonderful wisdom of the adult and the childlike ways in all of us." His wife of 29 years called him the perfect Bozo. "He was the most optimistic man I ever met. He always saw a bright side; he always had something good to say about everybody. He was the love of my life," Susan Harmon said.[18] "Bozo is a combination of the wonderful wisdom of the adult and the childlike ways in all of us," Harmon told The Associated Press in a 1996 interview.[26]
"You might say, in a way, I was cloning BTC (Bozo the Clown) before anybody else out there got around to cloning DNA," Harmon said in a 1996 interview with the AP.[31] By the 1950s Harmon bought the copyright to Bozo the Clown and turned it into the world famous image that earned a television series as well as spawned numerous cartoons.[27] From there, Harmon began franchising Bozo, and the bulb-nosed clown with the big feet became a famous children's-show character.[19] Aside from making countless personal appearances as the character over the years, Harmon trained over 200 Bozos, marketed a variety of Bozo merchandise and even helped hatch a cartoon.[15] On New Year's Day 1996, Harmon dressed up as Bozo for the first time in 10 years, appearing in the Rose Parade in Pasadena. The crowd reaction, he recalled, "was deafening." "They kept yelling, `Bozo, Bozo, love you, love you.' I shed more crocodile tears for five miles in four hours than I realized I had," he said.[14] "I wasn't saying anything that I hadn't said before." Obama has always said his promise to end the war would require consultations with military commanders and, possibly, flexibility. The Illinois senator also said he and rival-turned-ally Hillary Rodham Clinton plan to help each other raise money in a series of fundraisers in New York next week. Two events are scheduled for Wednesday night _ one to raise money for his general election campaign and one to help Clinton pay off debts from her primary campaign. A third fundraiser, for Obama, is a breakfast Thursday morning with women donors that Clinton, a New York senator, will attend. The fundraisers will be the first joint appearances by the former foes since their lovefest in Unity, N.H., on June 27. The events were put together to showcase his campaign's commitment to helping Clinton retire her debt and her commitment to helping him get elected, Obama told reporters. The candidate said his aides and those to former President Clinton are still arranging their first campaign appearances together. What role Bill Clinton will play in Obama's campaign has been a glaring question mark ever since the former president made comments earlier this year that Obama's supporters said injected race into the nomination contest. "I'm looking forward to his advice and counsel and participation in the race ahead," Obama said. Earlier Saturday, Obama took a swipe at Republican rival John McCain, saying that for "someone who has been in Washington for 30 years he's got a pretty slim record on education and when he has taken a stand it has been the wrong one."[34]
"So, I created my own network of local clowns and productions, a cross-country operation that kept me on the road for 50 weeks a year for decades." Willard Scott, who went on to appear as the weatherman on NBC's' weekday morning program "Today," was one of those recruited by Harmon.[35] Over the years, Harmon trained some 200 actors to portray the clown for various local TV stations and other programs. Willard Scott, who went on to appear as a weatherman on NBC's' morning program Today, was one of those recruited by Harmon.[8]
156 Bozo cartoons have played in almost every country in the world. Over the years he trained about 200 actors to play the clown. "We didn't have satellite, syndication and networking like today," he said in an interview.[22]
After training more than 200 future Bozos and buying the rights to the colorful clown, Harmon's Bozo was worth millions.[28] Harmon purchased the copyright and trademark to the clown in the 1950s and as a result was responsible for keeping Bozo in the entertainment industry for more than half a century.[20]
Larry Harmon created an icon, lived the American Dream before it died and made a lot of kids laugh in the process. For this, hecklerspray will be carrying out one minute's worth of prat-falling in his honour. There may be people out there that are glad the man is dead, if only because he introduced a million nightmares into the childhoods of many. Not that we'd agree, it's just, y'know, clowns are terrifying.[23] Larry Harmon was well known, personally, by our very own NBC10 News Control Supervisor Bob McCone.[32]
Bob soon became one of Larry's favorites. He would send Bob all over the country to open new stores, to appear on numerous TV shows.[32] Bozo — portrayed in Chicago for many years by Bob Bell — was so popular that the waiting list for tickets to a TV show eventually stretched to a decade, prompting the station to stop taking reservations for 10 years.[14] Bob was our local Bozo, performing on the television show for four years, from 1990 to 1994.[32] I wanted to be fun and entertaining and yet I wanted to leave the kids educated. We tried to teach them fundamental values as much as we could. "They don't have shows like that anymore," he said, wistfully. "It was a different time." Some 38 years after hanging up his orange wig, Avruch said he still gets letters from Bozo fans every week and, "I'm still signing autographs."[30]
For 12 years and 130 half-hour episodes, Harmon and Avruch broadcast "Bozo" from Boston when WHDH-TV was Channel 5.[30] Harmon protected Bozo's image like a mother grizzly with a cub. "He was a wonderful entrepreneur," Avruch said. "Every toy you see with Bozo on it, if it's a Bozo bike, Bozo sheets, he got a little piece of." Avruch still has one of his three Bozo costumes. The other two he donated to a Channel 2 auction and Boston University, which is the keeper of his archives.[30]
Avruch, of Newton, was television's first nationally syndicated Bozo from 1958 to 1970, playing the role that had been popularized by Harmon.[30] "Bozo is a combination of the wonderful wisdom of the adult and the childlike ways in all of us," Harmon said.[5] Harmon is credited with coming up with Bozo's distinctive look: orange-tufted hair, bulbous nose, outlandish red, white and blue costume. He once said he felt if he could plant his size 83AAA shoes on the planet, people would never be able to forget those footprints.[6]
Spotted on Huckleberries ( here ) and moving on the wires. the original Bozo the Clown has died.[33] From the costume, to the make-up, to the performances, Bob had it down to an art and looked to Larry as a mentor. It's probably safe to say Bozo the Clown is the most popular and beloved clown in the world.[32] The Bozo cartoons have aired around the world, making the circus character the most renowned among clowns.[11] Though a stranger to today'''s '''High School Musical''' and '''Hannah Montana'''- obsessed youngsters, Bozo the Clown was an icon to the baby boomer generation. They grew up watching his humorous performances alongside other well known classics, such as '''Howdy Doody''' and '''The Mickey Mouse Club.''' This entry was posted on Friday, July 4th, 2008 at 12:40 pm and is filed under Blogroll, Television. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.[12] The Chicago version of Bozo ran on WGN-TV in Chicago for 40 years and was seen in many other cities after cable television transformed WGN into a superstation.[14] As I recall, there were several incarnations of Bozo on the television in that prehistoric period, many different actors under that rigidly uniform makeup, but they all had the same effect on my unformed child-mind: soul-shaking terror. If one looked too long at Bozo's antics and facial contortions, his assumptions of dominance, his sociopathic tics, the whole scenario would finally become nightmarish, subjecting my child-self to an unnecessary and uncalled-for sense of diabolism and endangerment. Those were very harrowing televisions days, the mid-1950's.[23] Since the 1950s, the live "BOZO Show" has aired in 183 U.S. television markets, and 156 BOZO cartoons have played in almost every country around the world.[35] In Chicago, the first "BOZO Show" began airing in 1961 and stayed on the air until 2001.[35] More than 200 others portrayed Bozo, including Willard Scott, best known as the longtime weatherman on NBC's "Today" show.[25]
Harmon once estimated that the icon had been associated with more than 5,000 commercial products and generated over 10,000 hours of TV shows.[4] Firefighters managed to save most of Crown King's scattered 400 homes and vacation cabins, but four homes and seven other buildings were destroyed. Associated Press Writer Robert Jablon in Los Angeles contributed to this report.[34]
The clown was created by Alan W Livingston for a series of children's recordings in 1946. [11]
SOURCES
1. The Associated Press: Larry Harmon, longtime Bozo the Clown, dead at 83
2. Bozo the Clown Larry Harmon Dead at 83
3. KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | Longtime Bozo dead at 83
4. Bozo The Clown dies : US Entertainment
5. The Whig Standard - Ontario, CA
6. WTTE FOX 28 - Ohio News
7. Bozo the Clown dies in LA - International Business Times -
8. Bozo the Clown star Larry Harmon dies - New Zealand's source for entertainment news, gossip & music, movie & book reviews on Stuff.co.nz
9. A look at the life of Bozo the Clown
10. Bozo The Clown, Larry Harmon, Passes Away At Age Of 83 : ChattahBox
11. Larry Harmon, of Bozo the Clown Fame, Dies at 83
12. Hollywood Today: '''Bozo the Clown''' Larry Harmon Dies of Heart Failure
13. Bozo the Clown Actor Larry Harmon Dies at 83 - Tributes : People.com
14. The Associated Press: Larry Harmon, longtime Bozo the Clown, dead at 83
15. Larry Harmon, aka Bozo the Clown, RIP - E! Online
16. Bozo the Clown Dies at 83
17. New York Post
18. Bozo the Clown is dead - On Deadline - USATODAY.com
19. Bozo the Clown creator waves final goodbye at 83 | theage.com.au
20. RT'.ie Entertainment: Bozo the Clown's Harmon dies, 83
21. Bozo The Clown Dead At 83 | undercover.com.au, Music, News, Entertainment
22. BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Man behind 'Bozo the Clown' dies
23. Bozo Takes a Trip to the Big Kid's Party in the Sky - Hecklerspray: Music, Movies, TV, Celebs, Games and Gossip
24. TheSpoof.com : Bozo the Clown is dead. Burial in cereal box expected. funny satire story
25. Larry Harmon, Bozo the Clown, dies - UPI.com
26. digtriad.com | Triad, NC | Watercooler News | Bozo The Clown Passes Away
27. Larry Harmon, Bozo the Clown Portrayer, Dies at 83
28. Bozo the Clown Dies Feature Story
29. Arkansasmatters.com - Bozo the clown dies
30. From one Bozo to another - BostonHerald.com
31. Larry Harmon, Bozo, dead at 83.
32. Former "Bozo", Now NBC10 Staffer, Remembers Larry Harmon - Photo Gallery News Story - WCAU | Philadelphia
33. News is a Conversation: Bozo is dead
34. From The Wire | AlterNet
35. Bozo the Clown's Larry Harmon dead at 83 | Entertainment | Reuters
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