When you think of Bozo, you probably see that shock of bright orange hair flared out like wings and a blue suit with his name on the cuffs. It's a classic image. But if you look at actual bozo the clown pictures from the 1940s, things look a little different. Kinda weird, actually. The original Bozo, created by Alan Livingston for Capitol Records in 1946, wasn't even meant for TV. He was a character for a "record-reader"—a book that came with a vinyl record.
People always assume Bozo was just one guy. He wasn't. Because Larry Harmon (who bought the rights in the 1950s) turned the clown into a franchise, there were dozens of Bozos running around local TV stations at the same time. This is why you might find vintage photos of Bozo where the nose looks slightly off or the eyebrows are arched differently.
The Evolution of the Bozo Look
The early bozo the clown pictures show a character that was much more "circus-traditional" than the cartoonish version we know now. Pinto Colvig, the first person to play Bozo on TV in 1949, had a look that was a bit more grounded. He was actually the voice of Goofy and Pluto for Disney, which makes total sense when you hear that original Bozo voice.
By the time Larry Harmon took over, he wanted something more "standardized" and marketable. He worked with wig stylists to create the iconic "wing-tipped" orange hair. Fun fact: those wigs were often made of yak hair. They were held together with heavy coats of lacquer to make sure those points stayed sharp under hot studio lights.
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Why the Chicago Bozo is the One You Remember
If you grew up in the Midwest, your mental image of Bozo is probably Bob Bell or Joey D'Auria from WGN-TV. They were the ones who went national via cable in 1978.
- Bob Bell: He played the role from 1960 to 1984 and gave Bozo that gravelly, friendly voice.
- The Red Suit Phase: For the first decade or so, Bob Bell actually wore a red costume in his photos, which contradicts the "blue suit only" rule most people remember.
- The Grand Prize Game: Almost every famous photo of the Chicago Bozo involves the "Bucket Game." You know the one—where kids tried to toss a ball into six buckets to win a brand-new bike or a wagon full of toys.
Spotting a Real Bozo vs. a "Bozo-Approved" Imposter
Honestly, the market for vintage Bozo memorabilia is surprisingly intense. If you're looking at bozo the clown pictures on eBay or at estate sales, you have to be careful. Capitol Records used a "Bozo Approved" seal on tons of records that didn't even feature the clown. It was just a branding tool.
Real production photos from the 1950s and 60s usually have a station ID on the back, like WHDH-TV (Boston) or KTTV (Los Angeles). Since every station had its own actor, the facial proportions in these pictures vary wildly. Frank Avruch, the Boston Bozo, looked very different from Willard Scott, who played Bozo in Washington, D.C. before becoming the first Ronald McDonald.
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Pro Tip for Collectors: Look at the shoes. Official Bozo shoes were massive—size 83AAA. In authentic promotional photos, the shoes are almost always visible because they were such a core part of the character's silhouette.
The Cultural Impact You Can See in Photos
Why does this matter? Because Bozo wasn't just a clown; he was a pioneer of children's marketing. Before Bozo, there wasn't really a "franchise" model for kids' TV. Pictures of Bozo at the 1996 NATPE convention show Larry Harmon still pushing the brand decades after the peak.
Even today, David Arquette, who bought the rights to the character in 2021, is appearing in new bozo the clown pictures as he tries to revive the brand for a new generation. You can see him in modern shots at "The Bozeum" in Elgin, Illinois, surrounded by thousands of pieces of history.
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Actionable Steps for Bozo Enthusiasts
If you've found an old photo or are looking to start a collection, here's what you should actually do:
- Check the Hair Material: In photos, does the hair look like matted wool or sharp, lacquered points? The lacquered "wing" look is the Harmon-era standard.
- Identify the Actor: Cross-reference the station call letters on the photo with the known "Bozo actors" list. This helps determine the decade and the rarity.
- Verify the "Grand Prize Game" Buckets: Authentic photos of the WGN set will show the buckets numbered 1 through 6. Knock-offs often used different colors or no numbers.
- Visit a Museum: If you're ever in Rochester, NY, the Strong National Museum of Play has some of the earliest Bozo "changeable blocks" and imagery from the 1940s.
The history of Bozo is a history of American media. From a record-book character to a global franchise, those old pictures tell a story of how we started selling "wholesome fun" to the first generation of TV-watching kids.