Goodbye to Bozo the Clown: Larry Harmon (1925-2008)

It's difficult to follow the appreciation of HBO's surely amazing portrayal of Founding Father John Adams. But here we go anyway to a polar opposite of sorts. However, we at The Nose now recognize someone who is still, post-mortem, a true American icon.


Who though that Bozo could ever die? Well, maybe he won't really EVER die, which is the lasting contribution of the Bozo character's most important inhabitant, Larry Harmon, who left us on July 3, 2008--nearly like Jefferson and Adams themseves: a true American. I won't wax philosopical about this passing of a childhood staple, except to say that I bow to Mr. Harmon for his contributions to my upbringing. He was a bright spirit, a loving TV presence, and a reminant of a regrettably long-past connection between children and their television companions (Pee-Wee, where are you?).

Here's an AP news report on the complicated life of Larry Harmon's Bozo the Clown, who became the world's leading mirthmaker for children based on Harmon's own belief in the character's appeal; his efforts led to scads of actors across America playing Bozo for their local audiences.

Clowns these days are seen as scary characters--witness the films Killer Klowns from Outer Space or Bobcat Golthwaite's Shakes the Clown. Sometimes I'm stringently with those who find white-faced clowns creepy and unpleasent (is Batman's The Joker a reaction to this?). But who could really be afraid of the zingy, joyous Bozo, with his upturned red hair and his honking red nose? When we think of clowns, because of Harmon, we think of Bozo. Hell, "Bozo" has even entered into the American lexicon as a term for a wacky, unfortunately often unwanted and unpredictable personality. But don't you dare lead that to hating on Bozo.

As proof of his universal worth as a character--which Harmon was instrumental in popularizing--here are two fascinating videos of a couple non-Harmon performers inhabiting Bozo's big, now sadly absent shoes. First is a clip of Bozo on the landmark TV game show What's My Line? and the second is a Chicago-made video of the "kidnapping" of Bozo. In the second one particularly, look at how everyone involved responds to seeing this unmistakable figure of American comedy.


So long, sweet clown (LOL!!), and keep on makin' people laugh!