For those of you with WGN on your cable system, I would highly recommend this program highlighting some wonderful TV clowns and children's entertainers from Chicago.

Special: Bozo, Gar & Ray: WGN TV Classics

12/24 7-9 pm (Central Time)

12/25 2-4pm (Central Time)

A look back at three of WGN's most beloved television series, "Bozo's Circus," "Garfield Goose and Friends" and "Ray Rayner and His Friends." The classic TV trilogy starred Chicago television legends Bob Bell, Frazier Thomas, Ray Rayner, Roy Brown and Ned Locke among others. 1950s holiday favorites "Hardrock, Coco and Joe," "Suzy Snowflake" and "Frosty the Snowman" are also featured. WGN's Dean Richards hosts.

For a preview of those classic cartoons:

Hardrock, Coco, and Joe: http://www.toontracker.com/realvid/hardrckv.ram

Suzy Snowflake: http://www.toontracker.com/realvid/suzy.ram

Frosty the Snowman: http://www.toontracker.com/realvid/frosty.ram

Tim,
Thanks for the heads up on this program. I would have been really bummed to have missed it!! I wish it were availible on DVD! Allof the bits that they did were great. If you hear of this being rebroadcast, please let me know. And Thanks, again!!!
Scruffy

I really wish, old episodes were availible for purchase. I think it you be a great way to train junior joeys to see how Bozo interacted with the other clowns. Even the newer episodes with Joey D'Auria. I always felt that he was a great replacement for Bob Bell.Things that could be learned from the tapes..

Ad libbing, Most of the dialogue was off the cuff. They used a script,but it was a guideline. It left much of the delivery up to the performers. One of my favorite lines: "Never were truer words spoken by falser teeth."

The Clown Hierarchy. Bozo: Authoritarian whiteface. The thrower of the pie. Oliver O. Oliver, Rusty the Handyman, Pepper,and 'Tunia were Augustes, recievers of the Pie, Never quite up to the speed of the whiteface. Sandy the tramp. The lowest man on the heap, the one who took the pie because to auguste bent over to tie his shoe,... or some such bit of nonesense.

Skits: Many classics were performed over the years. It may be one of the few places to see them done. And a bonus, performed by some of the best in the business.
Great corny jokes Cooky:" Say, Boze, remember that time we went duck hunting... I was think of going again on saturday. Do you wanna come ?"
BOZO: "No! it was terrible, cold, wet, raining...[ Cooky interjects "Yeah"] And
all those huntin' dogs did was howl! Nah,forget it."
Cooky: "yeah.... Do you think it would have helped if we had thrown the dogs further up in the air?"

Why you always NEED a good cheap gorilla suit. Still a great blow off to a skit when nothing else seems right
.
I just think it would be great if the younger ones could learn from clowns that were really, great and funny clowns.

Someone happened to send me a link to a video version of the "Hardrock, Coco and Joe" (http://www.continentalwindowfashions.com/hardrockcocojoe.htm) audio file that Tim posted: here it is in all its 1950s glory.:)

I just rewatched the program (taped it). A few observations. Sandy the Tramp is a most excellent clown. Possibly the best true clown of the bunch. I had never realized before just how skilled he was.

Everyone forgets that Roy Brown (Cooky) was also the man behind Cuddly Duddly and Garfield Goose. That man was just genius. Some of the shtick he could do behind those characters was even better than what he accomplished as a clown. But it was the same form either way, just translated to different characters.

Improv is where it's at.

Bob Bell was CLEARLY the definitive Bozo. Joey D'Auria did grow into the character well and carry it on effectively. I can't say here what I really think about Larry Harmon for refusing to allow Bob be inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame in the character. Though I always did believe that he ought to have been seated front and center for the final show and given his "just desserts" as the finale.

You haven't lived until you have experienced Wizzo. (In fact you probably weren't even conceived yet. BADUMBUM).

Ray Rayner was brilliant and retired WAY too soon. He was effectively the kind of now popularized morning news format before it ever existed. In fact I have to think that Bob Sirott (the innovator of the news format) got it from growing up watching Ray.

It's unfortunate that not much of these programs were ever saved. Some of what little remains is (or will be when it reopens) available for viewing at the Museum of Broadcast Communications:

http://www.museum.tv

The show has sadly ended, but it, ironically, did so on perhaps the best note possible. It was the last remaining Bozo show airring. It ran 40 years. And Roy Brown was part of both the last show taped (live appearance) as well as the special farewell finale in a special bit which he recorded for that broadcast before his death. (Too bad they didn't do that show live, however.) Ray Rayner was also able to appear on that one. As such, the complete cast of classic clowns (save Bob Bell, though his highlights were certainly shown) were part of creating it.

Here are the other cartoons:

http://www.toontracker.com/realvid/frosty.ram

http://www.toontracker.com/realvid/suzy.ram

http://www.toontracker.com/realvid/hardrckv.ram

That was me (in case you couldn't figure it out).

Boy Clowning, It's been awhile.... How are you doing?
Welcome back, and thaks for your great insight! I hope there is some fotage around from the old shows BTW, I do remember Whizzo, I fact got started in magic, thanks to Marshall Brodien :mrgreen: I don't remember alot of the old stuff. I remember when bozo wore red, Back then I could only catch it at my grandma's house in Kalamazoo. So, I didin't get to watch alot of it. I was able to start watching it more often in the late eighties, early nineties when they started carrying WGN on our local cable station.

Another great TV clown who was on in the eightes was Happy's Place featuring Happy the Hobo. On WFFT TV out of Fort Wayne , Indiana. They too showed Rocky and Bullwinkle... MAN! I miss that cartoon! I really wish there was still a market for that type of Show. Or at least someone with the chutzpah to pull it off.

We missed "Bozo Gar and Ray"!

My wife was really looking forawrd to it having grown up watching WGN in northern Indiana. My sister tried to Tivo it but the signal from the dish was trashed by the weather.

If anyone taped this I would really love to get a copy.

Please drop me a line at preavis@wddinc.com if you can help me out.

THANKS!

It's on again this year:

12/24
2 – 4 pm
Hollywood Christmas Parade (taped)
Hollywood Boulevard sparkles with celebrities, bands, floats and Santa Claus for the 75th annual star-studded event.

12/24
10 pm – 12 am
Bozo, Gar & Ray: WGN TV Classics (2005)
A look back at three of WGN's most beloved television series, "Bozo's Circus," "Garfield Goose and Friends" and "Ray Rayner and His Friends." The classic TV trilogy starred Chicago television legends Bob Bell, Frazier Thomas, Ray Rayner, Roy Brown and Ned Locke among others. 1950s holiday favorites "Hardrock, Coco and Joe," "Suzy Snowflake" and "Frosty the Snowman" are also featured. WGN's Dean Richards hosts.

12/25 (late 12/24)
12 – 1:30 am
Midnight Mass (live)
Catholic Christmas mass from Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.

12/25
1:30 – 2:30 am
A Log's Life (2006)
WGN sister station WPIX in New York traces the history of "The Yule Log," the famous film loop of a burning log in a hearth that marks its 40th anniversary on New York television.

12/25
2:30 – 6:30 am
The Yule Log
Burning fireplace with holiday music.

12/25
6:30 – 7 am
The Andy Griffith Show: The Christmas Story (1960)
Andy Griffith, Don Knotts, Elinor Donahue, Ron Howard, Frances Bavier, Will Wright
Andy and the gang team up to teach the true meaning of Christmas to a Scrooge-like Mayberry businessman.

12/25
1 – 3 pm
Encore: Bozo, Gar & Ray: WGN TV Classics (2005)

Thank you, Tim!

I got it saved to watch for Christmas eve so far

I got it saved to watch for Christmas eve so far

I should make sure that you understand that those times are Central. So if you're in the Eastern time zone it's an hour later. Pacific 2 hours earlier.

I do know & i surched out the title of the show & set the reminder on tv for it

I just watched it & i miss Bozo he is prolly the reason im a clown he started my joy of clowns he is the earlyest Clown i can remember seeing

Once again, it's time:

http://wgntv.trb.com/entertainment/wgntv-holidayspecials07,0,952404.htmlstory?coll=wgntv-home-promotabs


Christmas Eve (12/24)

10PM - Midnight Central

11 - 1 AM Eastern

Ugh! We had rain that took out my Dish Network signal. Anyone happen to have a cop they'd copy?

It was on today also but i only caught the last 10 min of the show.

Thanks for the reminder. It will likely be repeated at Christmas again.

I've been thinking of the three elves. So I thought I'd bump up this thread.

Oleolaydee O Lady I O!

tim i think you got your time zones wrong if 10 to midnight is central time then it is an hour earlier in the eastern timezone

Well, let's see. The old way the networks used to list programming went something like 8 PM, 7 Central. So, actually, if it's 10 PM Central than it must be Tuesday in London. Er, 11 PM Eastern.

Often there is a lot of confusion about the Central timezone for some reason. Living here I don't quite understand why. It just is what it is to me. But Easterners, especially, usually have a hard time appreciating the shift. (As Scruffy and Fitzwilly's gratitude apparently illustrates this all too common error.) I often hear people from areas like Michigan, for instance, thinking that they are on the same timezone as Chicago (they're not, it is an hour ahead of us there.)

But, basically, you got it backward. It is always one hour later in the Eastern timezone than it is in the Central. So add an hour to convert to East from Central or subtract an hour to convert from East to Central.

So, for example, it is presently 3:45 A.M. CST and 4:45 A.M. EST. Do you know where your children are?

I fully know that Chicago, Illinois, and Western Indiana are in the central time zone. Do remember though that for a long time, all of Indiana did not observe Daylight savings time. So, for many months out of the year, Indiana and Michigan would be on the same time, because of the DST debacle.

u lost me.................

That's ok, I get lost easily. I rather enjoy getting lost, actually. It's a lot of fun just wandering and exploring. But not to worry, the clown car will surely be around the block again soon enough to pick you back up.

I fully know that Chicago, Illinois, and Western Indiana are in the central time zone. Do remember though that for a long time, all of Indiana did not observe Daylight savings time. So, for many months out of the year, Indiana and Michigan would be on the same time, because of the DST debacle.

I do recall that mess. But provide me with some examples, please. It would seem that if Michigan turned their clocks forward for daylight time and parts of Indiana did not, then all of Indiana would be an hour behind Michigan during those periods rather than on the same clock. Only during the winter months of standard time would the two be in temporal alignment as intended.

Stupid railroads!

The Time Zone Bisects the state of Indiana. During the Winter months, Mich and HALF of Indiana would be in the same time zone (The eastern part)During DST, The eastern half of Indiana would not change, But the Western (CST) would. Also, Michigan would observe DST.
Fitz, help a brother out, would ya?

i dont know why anyone is having a problem with everything scruffy has said. but i would like to restate that if the show is going to be from 10 to midnight central time that means it will be on at 11 till 1 eastern time that simple

i dont know why anyone is having a problem with everything scruffy has said. but i would like to restate that if the show is going to be from 10 to midnight central time that means it will be on at 11 till 1 eastern time that simple

Which is what I originally said, no?

The Time Zone Bisects the state of Indiana. During the Winter months, Mich and HALF of Indiana would be in the same time zone (The eastern part)During DST, The eastern half of Indiana would not change, But the Western (CST) would. Also, Michigan would observe DST.

Alright. That is how I always understood it, then. This is more clear. By your previous posting I thought the suggestion was that the two states were in unison of tick tock with Michigan BECAUSE of DST. It is the opposite which is true. DST messed things up between Michigan and Indiana (standard time tended to straighten it out a bit) but brought the entire state of Indiana into alignment for the summer months.

This is dawning of the Age of Aquarius.

This is dawning of the Age of Aquarius.


Is the moon in the seventh house, and Jupiter aligned with Mars????

That depends upon how cloudy it is New Year's Even when I'm watching Pickles' Midnight run through my telescope.

tim you said the show is on at 10 till midnight on christmas eve but i just looked on my digital guide and it says that wgn has a yole log going from like 9 till 6 am so what gives

It may be a matter of local versus cable feeds.

Locally (via the WGN website), the listings are as follows. All times Central:

December 24

7pm The Flight before Christmas (2008) (HD)
Emma Roberts, Norm MacDonald
A young reindeer who suffers from vertigo learns to overcome his fear, takes flying lessons from a clumsy flying squirrel and heads to the North Pole to save a troubled Santa and his fleet of flying reindeer.

8pm Encore: The Story of Santa Claus (1996)
Edward Asner, Betty White, Tim Curry
Animated musical about a toymaker and his wife, who find themselves in dire financial straights when their heartless landlord evicts them from their small shop.

9:30pm Encore: Chicago’s Very Own Holidays (2008)
Snapshots of holiday years past and the story of how “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was born in Chicago. WGN’s Mark Suppelsa hosts.

10pm Bozo, Gar & Ray: WGN TV Classics (2005) (Digitally Remastered)
A look back at three of WGN’s most beloved television series: “Bozo’s Circus,” “Garfield Goose and Friends” and “Ray Rayner and His Friends.” The classic TV trilogy starred Chicago television legends Bob Bell, Frazier Thomas, Ray Rayner, Roy Brown and Ned Locke among others. 1950s holiday favorites “Hardrock, Coco and Joe,” “Suzy Snowflake” and “Frosty the Snowman” are also featured. WGN’s Dean Richards hosts.

December 25 12am Midnight Mass from Chicago (Live)
Catholic Christmas mass from Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.

1:30am Yule Log: The Golden Age of Christmas (HD)
A burning Yule Log hearth with holiday classics from the Golden Age of Radio.

6:30 a.m. The Andy Griffith Show: The Christmas Story (1960)
Andy Griffith, Don Knotts, Elinor Donahue, Ron Howard, Frances Bavier
A Scrooge-like Mayberry businessman tries to ruin Christmas for a family when he forces Andy to arrest the father for making moonshine.

For thirty years or so Indianapolis tried to make Hoosiers observe DST. Each year the motion was defeated. A couple of years ago along came Mitch. When the vote was defeated he played Chicago mobst... I mean Chicago politician and then called for another vote which amazingly enough passed. Before DST the majority of IN was on Chicago time half the year and Michigan time the other half of the year. There were a few counties that had decided on their own to always stick with Chicago because that is where they money came from. After Mitch informed his feudal serfs that the State was now observing DST those same rebellious counties in the north western edge of the state rebelled and went Federal. Some were granted permission by the high king to continue observing Central time and some were slapped silly for daring to challenge the superiority of Heir Mitch.

tim i just went to the wgn site and yes local wgn has the show wgn america which the rest of the country gets will have the yule log

that sucks. I guess you'll just have to get really big rabbit ears. And here I would have thought that they'd want to broadcast Midnight Mass to the entire country.

If I were you, I would email Dean Richards (host of the program) at WGN radio and ask him why that is. Maybe if enough people from beyond the Chicago area complain, next year it will be on the network again.

I'll bet POJ would prefer to watch the Yule Log. In chat he talked about being addicted to something almost as exciting as watching paint dry.

Can someone burn that thing to a DVD? I'd love to see it in it's entirety just once.

i am with you there scruffy

sorry i was the bearer of bad news

I may have it on VHS. If I manage to find it, perhaps I can bring it along to the Spring Fling.

If I were you all, I'd try tuning in anyway. Just in case.