Frank Avruch, who played Bozo the Clown for 11-years, passes away aged 89 after battling...

DAILY MAIL UK ^ | Mar 22, 2018 | Jessica Finn For Dailymail.com

[Morgana]

FULL TITLE: Frank Avruch, who played Bozo the Clown for 11-years, passes away aged 89 after battling heart disease - leaving behind his wife and two sons

Beloved TV host and children's entertainer, Frank Avruch, who played Bozo the Clown in the eponymous television program for over a decade, has died in Boston at the age of 89.

Aside from his portrayal of Bozo, Avruch was a television personality in Boston for over 40 years, hosting shows like 'Man About Town' and 'The Great Entertainment.'

He was also an active philanthropist.

The entertainer was a UNICEF Ambassador and toured the world performing as Bozo for the children's charity.

'He had a heart of gold,' manager Stuart Hersh said. 'He brought the Bozo the Clown character to life better than anyone else's portrayal of Bozo the Clown.'

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[Morgana]

RIP

[yarddog]

I liked Claribel better.

[golux]

Thanks, Morgana. I never understood the current infatuation with clowns being "scary." Commedia dell'Arte is a delghtful and very human tradition, and we seem to have lost it, somehow, via cinema. We embrace flitting ghosts on the screen, but reel when we see a man in a funny costume.

[Hot Tabasco]

I liked Claribel better.

You do know that Claribel and Howdy engaged in puppeclownification don't you?

[ExNewsExSpook]

The definitive “Bozo,” in the view of many, was Bob Bell on WGN-TV in Chicago. But the real genius was Larry Harmon, who bought the rights to Bozo in the mid-50s, and licensed the show around the country, with various TV personalities playing the clown in their market. Harmon made a lot of money in cities he only visited to sign (or renew) the licensing agreement.

BTW, Harmon was extremely jealous of the success Bell enjoyed as Chicago’s “Bozo.” At one point, kids who wanted to attend a Bozo show on WGN had to wait up to five years for tickets.

[Eddie01]

Fun fact.

Cheap Trick’s drummer Bun E. Carlos’ father played Bozo the Clown.

[lizma2]

Grew up with Chicago’s Bozo’s Circus. Later Garfield Goose, who introduced us to the weirdest cartoon ever....

Clutch Cargo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFnLirXjjto

Also Family Classics, just wholesome movies my family would all watch together each week.

Now families just plant their faces if front of screens. I don’t think this is gonna work.

[Mr. K]

I was in Buffalo, NY at the end of this era there.

A smartass little kid came on the show and told a dirty joke, about a woman being like an oven because you gotta heat them up before you put the meat in.

Bozo shouted “Oh- That’s a Bozo No-no!” and the kid replied “Eat sh*t, clown” and blammo- they were off the air.

“Eat sh*t, clown” became a popular catch phrase for at least a year after that.

[Deplorable American1776]

Hey Dems, the job opened up... Oh wait, congress is a bunch of clowns.... 😀

[FrdmLvr]

Thinking about the MTM episode of funeral of Chuckles the Clown.

[Wilhelm Tell]

Unfortunately, it’s not just the Democrats. A lot of Republicans would serve better as clowns, too.

[Andy'smom]

That’s hysterical. Thanks for the laugh!

[NotSoFreeStater]

I liked Eric The Clown.

[Mr. K]

I think we’re all Bozo’s on this bus

[Yaelle]

I had no idea this guy was still alive.

That is one creepy ass clown.

[Eddie01]

true that

[henkster]

I assume Bozo’s remains will be cremated.

And the ashes placed in Bucket #6.

[stylecouncilor]

Clutch Cargo ping

[onedoug]

...And, “His big shoe!”