Comedy sketches, circus acts, cartoons, games and more entertained a live studio audience and national television viewers for decades as Bozo the Clown became a household name. Although Joey D’Auria was the second actor to portray the clown on the Chicago series, he was the unmistakable face for fans of the Millennial generation.
During his career at Capitol Records, businessman Alan W. Livingston was assigned to create a children’s record library. It was there that he created Bozo the Clown, a mascot designed for read-along book sets. The idea was the first of its kind, allowing children to read along to the words and pictures of a book while listening to it. After the creative rights of Bozo the Clown were purchased by Larry Harmon, however, the character became “The World’s Most Famous Clown”.
The Bozo Show aired on WGN Chicago from 1960-2001, with other iterations of the show airing on various television stations in Boston, Washington, D.C. and Grand Rapids. The Chicago franchise was the most popular and successful locally produced children's program in the history of television. The live hour-long show aired weekdays featuring actor Bob Bell as their first Bozo the Clown. He would receive his first Emmy for WGN’s Bozo’s Circus in 1970 and retire in 1984.
An extensive search for the next Bozo the Clown brought forth actor and writer Joey D’Auria. He would go on to play Bozo, as well as become the head writer of The Bozo Show, until the show’s cancellation in 2001.
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D'Auria at Nightmare Weekend, Chicago. View the full gallery here. |
As a resident of Boise, Idaho, D’Auria noticed advertisements for Gem State Comic Con and was interested in attending as a guest. He contacted the promoters, who were delighted to have him, as well as fellow actor David Arquette. Arquette purchased the rights from the Larry Harmon estate in 2021 and encouraged D’Auria to spread the word about this beloved character.
“I was curious because I wasn’t quite sure how much of a reach Bozo the Clown in Chicago would have in Idaho,” D’Auria said.” It was a surprisingly wonderful turnout.”
Since Gem State Comic Con, he has been a guest at a variety of conventions. He also attended a three-day celebration of the character in the northern Chicago suburbs, hosted by Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan and a special appearance by Arquette. At the event, D’Auria met a family who had won a trip to Walt Disney World courtesy of an episode titled “Take A Vacation with Bozo”.
“I’m always delighted to meet people who [have] grown up watching The Bozo Show,” he said. “This young man was an at-home player and won a trip to Disney World for his family: himself, his sister, his mom and his dad. The family still talks about it.”
Having opportunities to meet people who grew up watching The Bozo Show has been incredibly rewarding for D’Auria. For many years, Harmon did not allow the promotion of the character in any setting. Now, the celebration and renewed interest of Bozo is sparking conversation.