[tim]

I don't raise anything but a glass of my urine in Larry Harmon's honor.

Larry Harmon was not a venerable Bozo. He was a self centered business man. This guy for the longest time insisted that he was the original Bozo, knowing full well that the honor really belonged to someone else (Pinto Colvig.) Yet he accepted the grace of initial recognition for such from the Clown Hall of Fame (which later revoked this award.) He wouldn't even allow Bob Bell (who is one of the most noted men to play Bozo) to wear the venerable costume upon his own induction into the Clown HOF.

Larry Harmon was a shrewd and selfish business man..... plain and simple. One who did quite well and got his rewards in this life. He made a brand out of Bozo. Not that there is anything wrong with that. But he wasn't exactly a humble servant of the character or a memorable clown, himself. Yet he sure had an ego and enjoyed accolades for something he never deserved.

When the last Bozo show in Chicago ended production a few years back, I always thought that it would have been appropriate to invite Harmon to sit center ring/front row. Give him the seat of honor. Then, to end the program, let the man have his "just desserts." Pie him repeatedly. Just whack the hell out of the scoundrel. If he liked taking bows so much, then let him take the true reward. Of course, they'd have to clean him up some. With seltzer. And more seltzer. And more seltzer. Until he was practically drowning in seltzer. All just to prepare to toss him in an oversized pie made especially for the "innovator of Bozo." I couldn't think of any better way to finish off the show but than to put Larry Harmon in his rightful place.

Perhaps by now St. Peter has given him the big red nose he always wanted to take credit for unearned.