![Bozos Big Top [Detroit Bozo] - Ventriloquism (1976) 🤡 @FuzzyMemoriesTV](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/c8tMu1Hvfz8/sddefault.jpg)
Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Here's another example of the difference between WGN's "gold standard" Bozo and the others', once again from WJBK Channel 2 in Detroit, MI, with Art Cervi as The World's Most Famous Clown under the heading Bozo's Big Top, and Larry Thompson as the magician Mr. Whoodini. As with the other installment, this came off a 2" Quad tape, so there are no commercials, PSA's, promos or (before the program start) station ID.
This edition spotlights the art of ventriloquism.
(A slightly earlier episode from the same month had been posted awhile back, seen here: youtu.be/JHTRd0M-nNY)
Includes:
Less than 1 second of EIA RS-189A bars, though the ~426 Hz tone lasts 4 seconds; followed by slate indicating "Program #62" and recorded February 28th 1976. ("Clyde" indicates the Director, Clyde Salsbury)
Show open, followed by Bozo performing his "Bozo Is Back" theme (this was in every show)
Segment 2, with Bozo entering and directing audience applause, then Buford the parrot calls out from the counter, with Eddie Jay and Carlton the crow who makes snide remarks about Buford to Eddie's disapproval, then Carlton introduces the "Bozo's Bugs" segment (introduced with a snippet of "Popcorn" by Hot Butter); Bozo is with Danny, who picks #35; then another boy, Steve, selects a paper from the rotating hat, wherein Whoodini explains the prizes (a "Colossal Mantis" model set, GAF View-Master Bicentennial Gift Pak, the Peter Pan album "Bozo and the Big Top Circus Parade," a game set from Cartel for building a worldwide-billion dollar empire, and Brunswick's Air-Hockey game from Aurora); of the nine bugs, Steve selects "Your Choice," then keeps going until selecting the left one which says "Stop," and he is deemed to win the air hockey game, as is home viewer Rachel Idunate of Clifford Street in Detroit
Segment 3, starting with Bozo with Eddie and Carlton discussing the subject of ventriloquism; Eddie tries to explain what it's about as Carlton keeps interrupting - Eddie's technical description of Carlton is a dummy rather than a puppet; he gives a lesson to Carlton on the subject; with Whoodini at their side, audience members June, Linda and Dave try their hands at handling Buford and making him talk
In Segment 4, Whoodini introduces Clancy and his "buddy" John Osborne (sp?); Clancy tries to see who's working Whoodini's head, as he and John explain themselves and then do a whole routine; then Bozo congratulates them as he closes the program
Ending credits:
Bozo's Big Top
Starring Bozo, The World's Most Famous Clown
with Mr. Whoodini
Prizes Furnished by:
Gamut of Games
G. A. F.
Fundimensions (MPC)
Peter Pan Industries
Aurora
Worldwind Corp.
American Aerosol
Tasco Posters
Westab
Directed by Clyde Salsbury
An A & S Production in conjunction with Larry Harmon Pictures Corp.
Bozo's Big Top
"A beautiful crow."
This aired on local Detroit TV on (most likely, if the programs aired in production order) Tuesday, April 6th 1976 during the 7am to 7:30am timeframe.
About The Museum of Classic Chicago Television:
The MCCTv (FuzzyMemoriesTV) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose primary mission is the preservation and display of off-air, early home videotape recordings (70s to early 80s, mostly) recorded off of TV (in Chicago or other cities now too); things which would likely be lost if not sought out and preserved digitally. If you have any old 1970s videotapes recorded off of TV please email: tapes@fuzzy.tv Even though (mostly) short clips are displayed here, we preserve the entire broadcasts in our archives - the complete programs with breaks (or however much is present on the tape), for historical preservation. For information on how to help in our mission, to donate or lend tapes to be converted to digital, please e-mail tapes@fuzzy.tv Thank you for your help!
Here's another example of the difference between WGN's "gold standard" Bozo and the others', once again from WJBK Channel 2 in Detroit, MI, with Art Cervi as The World's Most Famous Clown under the heading Bozo's Big Top, and Larry Thompson as the magician Mr. Whoodini. As with the other installment, this came off a 2" Quad tape, so there are no commercials, PSA's, promos or (before the program start) station ID.
This edition spotlights the art of ventriloquism.
(A slightly earlier episode from the same month had been posted awhile back, seen here: youtu.be/JHTRd0M-nNY)
Includes:
Less than 1 second of EIA RS-189A bars, though the ~426 Hz tone lasts 4 seconds; followed by slate indicating "Program #62" and recorded February 28th 1976. ("Clyde" indicates the Director, Clyde Salsbury)
Show open, followed by Bozo performing his "Bozo Is Back" theme (this was in every show)
Segment 2, with Bozo entering and directing audience applause, then Buford the parrot calls out from the counter, with Eddie Jay and Carlton the crow who makes snide remarks about Buford to Eddie's disapproval, then Carlton introduces the "Bozo's Bugs" segment (introduced with a snippet of "Popcorn" by Hot Butter); Bozo is with Danny, who picks #35; then another boy, Steve, selects a paper from the rotating hat, wherein Whoodini explains the prizes (a "Colossal Mantis" model set, GAF View-Master Bicentennial Gift Pak, the Peter Pan album "Bozo and the Big Top Circus Parade," a game set from Cartel for building a worldwide-billion dollar empire, and Brunswick's Air-Hockey game from Aurora); of the nine bugs, Steve selects "Your Choice," then keeps going until selecting the left one which says "Stop," and he is deemed to win the air hockey game, as is home viewer Rachel Idunate of Clifford Street in Detroit
Segment 3, starting with Bozo with Eddie and Carlton discussing the subject of ventriloquism; Eddie tries to explain what it's about as Carlton keeps interrupting - Eddie's technical description of Carlton is a dummy rather than a puppet; he gives a lesson to Carlton on the subject; with Whoodini at their side, audience members June, Linda and Dave try their hands at handling Buford and making him talk
In Segment 4, Whoodini introduces Clancy and his "buddy" John Osborne (sp?); Clancy tries to see who's working Whoodini's head, as he and John explain themselves and then do a whole routine; then Bozo congratulates them as he closes the program
Ending credits:
Bozo's Big Top
Starring Bozo, The World's Most Famous Clown
with Mr. Whoodini
Prizes Furnished by:
Gamut of Games
G. A. F.
Fundimensions (MPC)
Peter Pan Industries
Aurora
Worldwind Corp.
American Aerosol
Tasco Posters
Westab
Directed by Clyde Salsbury
An A & S Production in conjunction with Larry Harmon Pictures Corp.
Bozo's Big Top
"A beautiful crow."
This aired on local Detroit TV on (most likely, if the programs aired in production order) Tuesday, April 6th 1976 during the 7am to 7:30am timeframe.
About The Museum of Classic Chicago Television:
The MCCTv (FuzzyMemoriesTV) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose primary mission is the preservation and display of off-air, early home videotape recordings (70s to early 80s, mostly) recorded off of TV (in Chicago or other cities now too); things which would likely be lost if not sought out and preserved digitally. If you have any old 1970s videotapes recorded off of TV please email: tapes@fuzzy.tv Even though (mostly) short clips are displayed here, we preserve the entire broadcasts in our archives - the complete programs with breaks (or however much is present on the tape), for historical preservation. For information on how to help in our mission, to donate or lend tapes to be converted to digital, please e-mail tapes@fuzzy.tv Thank you for your help!
![Bozos Big Top [Detroit Bozo] - Ventriloquism (1976) 🤡](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/c8tMu1Hvfz8/mqdefault.jpg "Bozos Big Top [Detroit Bozo] - Ventriloquism (1976) 🤡
Heres another example of the difference between WGNs gold standard Bozo and the others, once again from WJBK Channel 2 in Detroit, MI, with Art Cervi as The Worlds Most Famous Clown under the heading Bozos Big Top, and Larry Thompson as the magician Mr. Whoodini. As with the other installment, this came off a 2 Quad tape, so there are no commercials, PSAs, promos or (before the program start) station ID.
This edition spotlights the art of ventriloquism.
(A slightly earlier episode from the same month had been posted awhile back, seen here: https://youtu.be/JHTRd0M-nNY)
Includes:
Less than 1 second of EIA RS-189A bars, though the ~426 Hz tone lasts 4 seconds; followed by slate indicating Program #62 and recorded February 28th 1976. (Clyde indicates the Director, Clyde Salsbury)
Show open, followed by Bozo performing his Bozo Is Back theme (this was in every show)
Segment 2, with Bozo entering and directing audience applause, then Buford the parrot calls out from the counter, with Eddie Jay and Carlton the crow who makes snide remarks about Buford to Eddies disapproval, then Carlton introduces the Bozos Bugs segment (introduced with a snippet of Popcorn by Hot Butter); Bozo is with Danny, who picks #35; then another boy, Steve, selects a paper from the rotating hat, wherein Whoodini explains the prizes (a Colossal Mantis model set, GAF View-Master Bicentennial Gift Pak, the Peter Pan album Bozo and the Big Top Circus Parade, a game set from Cartel for building a worldwide-billion dollar empire, and Brunswicks Air-Hockey game from Aurora); of the nine bugs, Steve selects Your Choice, then keeps going until selecting the left one which says Stop, and he is deemed to win the air hockey game, as is home viewer Rachel Idunate of Clifford Street in Detroit
Segment 3, starting with Bozo with Eddie and Carlton discussing the subject of ventriloquism; Eddie tries to explain what its about as Carlton keeps interrupting - Eddies technical description of Carlton is a dummy rather than a puppet; he gives a lesson to Carlton on the subject; with Whoodini at their side, audience members June, Linda and Dave try their hands at handling Buford and making him talk
In Segment 4, Whoodini introduces Clancy and his buddy John Osborne (sp?); Clancy tries to see whos working Whoodinis head, as he and John explain themselves and then do a whole routine; then Bozo congratulates them as he closes the program
Ending credits:
Bozos Big Top
Starring Bozo, The Worlds Most Famous Clown
with Mr. Whoodini
Prizes Furnished by:
Gamut of Games
G. A. F.
Fundimensions (MPC)
Peter Pan Industries
Aurora
Worldwind Corp.
American Aerosol
Tasco Posters
Westab
Directed by Clyde Salsbury
An A & S Production in conjunction with Larry Harmon Pictures Corp.
Bozos Big Top
A beautiful crow.
This aired on local Detroit TV on (most likely, if the programs aired in production order) Tuesday, April 6th 1976 during the 7am to 7:30am timeframe.
About The Museum of Classic Chicago Television:
The MCCTv (FuzzyMemoriesTV) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose primary mission is the preservation and display of off-air, early home videotape recordings (70s to early 80s, mostly) recorded off of TV (in Chicago or other cities now too); things which would likely be lost if not sought out and preserved digitally. If you have any old 1970s videotapes recorded off of TV please email: tapes@fuzzy.tv Even though (mostly) short clips are displayed here, we preserve the entire broadcasts in our archives - the complete programs with breaks (or however much is present on the tape), for historical preservation. For information on how to help in our mission, to donate or lend tapes to be converted to digital, please e-mail tapes@fuzzy.tv Thank you for your help!")
