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Dec. 1, 2008

Max Freidlander, as told to Jacklyn C. Wadler: India Inkings

Mark Steyn: Whodunit!?

Nov. 28, 2008

Rabbi Ahron Rapps: An evil seed that didn't have to be

Melanie Phillips: Carpe diem --- or can we all relax now?

Nov. 26, 2008

Michael Feldberg: Meet the Orthodox Jew who laid groundwork for scientific development of ordnance that undergirds America's current world leadership

Andrea Simantov: Shades of life

Nov. 25, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Getting Emotional For Influence

The Kosher Gourmet by Ethel G. Hofman : Thanksiving feast!

Nov. 24, 2008

Rabbi S. Binyomin Ginsberg: 'I just Became a grandchild!'

Barry Rubin: Don't flatter your enemies, protect your friends

Nov. 21, 2008

Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: Money matters?

Caroline B. Glick: Civilization walks the plank

Nov. 20, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: Bronfman's blindness

The Kosher Gourmet By Linda Gassenheimer: Portobellos add a hearty flavor to pasta with pesto

Nov, 19, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Spread the wealth? Jewish tradition and income equality

Elliot B. Gertel: 'Mad Men': Tackling prejudices or reinforcing them?

Nov, 18, 2008

Dr. Debby Schwarz Hirschhorn: The End of the Age of Reason

Jonathan Tobin: Does Barack + Bibi = Disaster?

Nov, 17, 2008

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: The End of the Age of Reason

Diana West: Gulling Americans into making terror legit?

Nov, 14, 2008

Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: The Power of Spiritual Inertia

Caroline B. Glick: The perils ahead

Nov, 13, 2008

Stratfor Intelligence Briefing: How Bush and Obama together could change the Middle East dynamic

The Kosher Gourmet by JeanMarie Brownson: Sweet and savory, crispy and meltingly tender bestilla

Nov, 12, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Tyrannical Co-Workers

Michael Doyle: High Court to consider today donated monuments that may have religious messages in public parks

Nov, 11, 2008

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Will Obama stop government officials considering institutionalizing financial jihad?

Jonathan Tobin: They Will Decide Their Own Fate

Nov, 10, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: $8 billion, modern-day Tower of Babel being built?

Barry Rubin: A letter to the president-elect from a Middle East realist

Nov, 7, 2008

Rabbi Francis Nataf: Of Children and Immortality

Caroline B. Glick: Livni's Obama strategy

Nov, 6, 2008

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: How I tricked a classroom of apathetic students into grasping the fallacy of moral relativism

The Kosher Gourmet By Gina Kim: Tips for making the perfect soup --- includes recipes

Nov, 5, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist By Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Destitute Debtors

Bruce Weinstein: 'Religulos': Bad title,even worse movie

Nov, 4, 2008

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Treasury Dept. submits to Shariah law

Frida Ghitis: A surprise for Obama in the Middle East

Nov, 3, 2008

Jonathan Rosenblum: Who says Jews are Smart?

Jonathan Tobin: Was He Wrong About Everything?

March 22, 2007

J-Rhythms with Avraham Rosenblum: JWR's cutting-edge music program showcasing performers -- singers, song writers, musicians, and bands -- who learn and live the Torah lifestyle (OUR NEWEST IGODCAST !)

Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review July 11, 2008 / 8 Tamuz 5768

Bye Bye Bozo

By Greg Crosby


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | As you've probably heard by now, our old friend Bozo the Clown is dead. Well, actually it's Larry Harmon who has passed on. Mr. Harman died Thursday of congestive heart failure at 83 years old. Although Mr. Harman didn't invent Bozo, he is the man responsible for turning the character of Bozo the Clown into a show business staple that delighted children on television for more than a half-century.


Larry Harmon portrayed the popular orange-haired clown in countless appearances and, as an entrepreneur, he licensed the character to others, particularly dozens of TV stations around the country. The stations in turn hired actors to be their local Bozos. Harmon trained more than 200 Bozos over the years to represent him in local markets.


So to be precise, the man who made Bozo a superstar has passed away. But Bozo the Clown himself, actually died seven years ago -- in August of 2001. That was when the last locally produced Bozo the Clown Show went off the air. At that time I wrote a column on it. As a tribute to Larry Harmon I'd like to reprint the 2001 coulmn here. So get ready kids -- here it is!


No More Clowning Around


I read recently that Bozo the Clown is being forced into retirement. That's right, after four decades on television, the last remaining Bozo show is going off the air on August 26 due to low ratings brought on by competition from Nickelodeon, the Disney Channel and others. WGN-TV's "The Bozo Super Sunday Show" broadcast in Chicago has been the last locally produced program to feature Bozo the Clown. At one time Bozo had shows on more than 180 local stations around the country and was one of the most popular characters in television history.


So it's bye, bye Bozo. Will this mean my pal Bozo will be hanging up his fright wig and pratfalling off into the sunset? Will he retire to some senior clown community, exchanging his blue jumpsuit and slap-shoes for polyester plaid slacks, white shoes and white belt? Will he lay down his trusty seltzer bottle and learn to play bridge? Will he be happy trading "goofing around" for golfing a round? Maybe he'll meet up with one of his old friends like Captain Kangaroo or Clarabell and they'll get together for a game of cribbage every now and then. Maybe he'll join a clown junket to Las Vegas or Atlantic City — but instead of chartering a bus to their destination, they'll all crowd into one of those little circus cars — just for old time's sake.


I worry about Bozo. I hope he has adequate retirement heath insurance — you know, "supplemental clowncare" to cover clown-related injuries like slipping on banana peels and getting whacked by slap sticks. And to help pay for things like orthopedic slap-shoes, prescription grease paint, and new red rubber noses. There is Medi-Care and Medi-Cal, but as far as I know, no Medi-Clown government programs exist. And that's a shame.


But suppose Bozo isn't ready to retire? Or can't afford to? What does he do now? Where does he go from here? Let's face it, there aren't a lot of opportunities out there for middle-aged clowns. Most of the circuses are gone, and Ringling Bros. with their Florida clown college, hire their own. It's not like he could work part time at McDonald's, either — they've already got their clown, they don't need another one. And working kids' birthday parties is kind of a passé thing. Today's kids are way beyond clown entertainment — they get hip-hop acts to perform at the house now.


For an old time clown like Bozo, finding employment is going to be tough. For one thing all the really good positions these days are going to women and minority clowns. And then there's the age problem. Companies want to hire the younger clowns. Young clowns know all the newest tricks, they're more in touch with the youth market, and besides, they'll work for peanuts. I suppose he might consider a career change — going into some related field like politics or law. Naw, come to think of it, Bozo's got too much class.


Let's just hope that Bozo doesn't get desperate and hold up a novelty store or joke shop or something. A clown who hits the skids is a terrible thing to see — smeared clown make-up, laughing to himself and pushing a shopping cart full of balloon animals — it's a sad, sad sight. Imagine him standing at a freeway on-ramp with a sign, "I will do shtick for food." No, I'm sorry. This isn't the America I know! How can we as a people have sunk so low? How can something like this happen in the greatest country on earth? Where is the moral outrage? Bozo the Clown forced out to make way for Rugrats, Rocket Power and Angry Beavers! Is nothing sacred?

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JWR contributor Greg Crosby, former creative head for Walt Disney publications, has written thousands of comics, hundreds of children's books, dozens of essays, and a letter to his congressman. A freelance writer in Southern California, you may contact him by clicking here.

Greg Crosby Archives

© 2006, Greg Crosby

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