(irrelevant if you didn't grow up in Chicago a few decades ago)

Just wondering if anyone caught this special last weekend on WGN about Bozo, Garfield Goose and Ray Raynor?

Kinda cheesey in spots, but a nice retrospective, and it brought back a flood of memories about growing up in the late 1960s, watching those shows. In those old clips Bob Bell just killed with his ad libs.

I seem to recall something that wasn't mentioned on the special. It was probably early 1970s, and one of the cast members on Bozo (Ned Locke?) was apparently hospitalized for something or other. As a kid, I didn't know the real reason so-and-so wasn't on the show, only that he wasn't.

Well, everyday a huge box would be wheeled out by one of the clowns, someone would peek inside and say "No, not today". This went for what seemed like weeks, until finally it was opened to reveal the return of whomever it was that had been off the show. The thing is, I can't remember who it was: Bozo, Ned, etc. Man, my mind is going.

Cool moment, but my aging mind can't remember the particulars. I'm surprised this didn't get mentioned on the special, as it seems like it would have merited at least a mention. Anyone?

I saw a few minutes of it.

I saw a couple minutes of the Bozo segment when the little girl kept wlking upt o the buckets to get the ping pong ball in, instead of throwing behind the line like she was supposed to.

Funny story is that I went to the Bozo show taping once and my sister was actually called to do the becket toss. I think she got like 3 or 4 buckets, I remember one of the prizes being a Jem doll. I was so pissed off that she got to go and not me that I started to cry. I know we have a tape of it somewhere.

There was no reason to cry - I'm sure she would've let you play with the Jem doll if you just asked her.

Bozo was a stupid show. The acts were lame and the comedy skids of the clowns were as funny as today's Saturday night live. The big deal with the show was getting on to play that bucket game to win the toys. Damn, it's not like the 60's & 70's were the depression era!

This comment can only be coming from someone who has either never seen the show with the sense of humor of a 10 year old or has, through the years, become SO jaded and cynical that they can't remember what it was like to RUN home from school at lunchtime so they could see "Bozo's Circus".

wm lopez -
you speak blasphemy - Bozo and Ray Raynor were vital components of my childhood and I loved every second of that special. I'm sure there are a lot of people from the Chicago area who feel the same way

I was lucky enough to attend the Bozo Show twice. On the 2nd show, I played one of the relay race games.

This was a great special and it was very cool to see a high school buddy (go Lane Tech!!) in its credits (he works for WGN now).

Ray Rayner showed all the 1930's Loony Tunes cartoons, which was great.
And he would give the weather and sports scores.
That show was good for a kid on weekdays from 7:00am to 8:30am.
Garfield Goose served no purpose at all.
There was a show in Chicago by Bill Jackson (CARTOON TOWN, later called B.J. & DIRTY DRAGON)that came on at 3:30pm during the 1970's that was a better kids show than Bozo.

Wow.

Well then, case closed, I guess! (Why isn't there a "Piss in my Cheerios" smilie?)

BJ & Dirty Dragon... i should make a porno with that title


wm lopez, if you want to complete the evolution, BJ & Dirty Dragon later became Gigglesnort Hotel

Wasn't it originally called Cartoon Town?

the show was good but leaned too heavily on Bozo I think...would have liked to have seen more of the Dick Tracy show and Andy Starr..
anway I do remember the box deal..it was Bozo ..i think Bob Bell was in the hospital at the time

Clown Alley --> Cartoon Town --> The BJ & Dirty Dragon Show --> Gigglesnort Hotel