WGN Channel 9 - Bozo's Circus - "Halloween '79" (Complete Broadcast, 10/31/1979) 📺 🤡 🎃

Here's another AMAZING discovery that we found! Here's the complete broadcast of the 1979 Halloween edition of Bozo's Circus on WGN Channel 9, the last Halloween show to air in the noontime slot. Most of the gang are here - except for Roy Brown as Cooky who was absent on this of all days; but Marshall Brodien as Wizzo the wacky wizard is present, as are Garfield Goose (once again only on the open - he needs to complain to his agent), The Rolling Diamonds, and the Big Top Band. Oh, yes, and Bob Bell as Bozo and Frazier Thomas as the "Circus Manager."

Includes:

Station ID / Happy Halloween bumper (voiceover by Merri Dee)

Frazier signals the start of another Bozo's Circus, and the introduction of the cast; followed immediately by the Hobgoblin March (posted separately here:    • WGN Channel 9 - Bozo's Circus - "The Hobgo...  ; with a detailed description of who's what and the order they appeared in)

Commercials for:
Ronald McDonald doll who comes with a whistle and a pocket Grimace - from Hasbro
Lite Brite - "Lite-Brite, makin' things with light..."
Mickey Mouse Super Draw by Ljn
Body Buddies cereal from General Mills

Frazier directs Bozo and Wizzo to set up the Spookhouse, from which Mr. Hyde emerges to the tune of Bobby (Boris) Pickett's "Monster Mash" (much of it played in reverse to avoid copyright blockage) and dances with a witch to it - “(Those Funny) Little People” as they were known (played by Dave Gregoire & Sarah McNulty-Polarek); followed by a cartoon of Bozo and Butch on a balloon ride and winding up in the jungle

Next is the Grand Prize Game, but not before Frazier advises the dancers will perform later in the evening at the Nimbus in Dolton; contestants are Brian Hicks, 5 ($28 in Bucket #6) and Jamie, 9, with at-home players Ben Nystrom, 6, of Grand Rapids, MI and Elena Scheib, 1½, of Chicago

Commercials for:
Mickey Mouse doll and talking phone - from Romper Room
Zap Zap Racetrack - from Hasbro's Romper Room
Digger the Dog - from Romper Room
Mickey Mouse Roller Coaster and Turn-Over Choo Choo - from Illco

The Rolling Diamonds (with 5 year old Shane) perform various daredevil tricks while on roller skates and on trampoline

Commercials for:
Skedoodle - from Hasbro (voiceover by Skip Hinnant)
Dolly Pops Poptown - from Knickerbocker
Mickey Mouse Pitch 'n Pop - from Ljn (1977 Copyright)
Squirt Squirt Squirt the Animals - from Hasbro's Romper Room (posted separately here:    • Squirt Squirt Squirt The Animals (Commerci...  )

Bozo prepares Halloween party as Wizzo looks on, and misadventures with "the spirit" ensue

Frazier plays TV Powww! with Chi Chi Heath from Chicago for prizes

Commercials for:
Mickey Mouse Loop de Loop - from Illco
Lucky Charms (kids pursue Lucky the leprechaun in the snow)

Frazier has two teams of children play a game with a tunnel, hoop, and a black cat - for various prizes

Commercials for:
Etch-a-Sketch - from Ohio Art (station a little delayed in coming to it)
Mickey Mouse Tic! Toc! Pop! game - from Ljn

Wizzo, "The World's Wackiest Wizard," performs trick involving the Cask of the Chain Escape of Arobia

Commercials for:
Mickey Mouse doll and talking phone - from Romper Room
Zap Zap Racetrack - from Hasbro's Romper Room
My Friend Snoopy - from Hasbro's Romper Room
Lite-Brite (repeat - did we mention Bozo is represented here?)

Frazier closes show, after which Bozo leads Grand March to ending credits:

Bozo's Circus
(C) 1979, WGN Continental Broadcasting Co.
Starring Bob Bell, Frazier Thomas, Roy Brown, Marshall Brodien
The prizes awarded on this show were furnished in consideration of the promotional value of the prizes.
Musical Director - Tom Fitzsimmons
Asst. Director - Barbara Shikami
Producer - Allen Hall
Directed by Don Strukel
Bozo's Circus
Bozo the Clown - Larry Harmon Pictures Corporation
Licensed & Distributed by Larry Harmon Pictures Corporation

Mid-Day Report with Merri Dee

Record offer for "Engelbert" (Engelbert Humperdinck) from Tee Vee Records

Station ID / Happy Halloweeen bumper (voiceover by Merri Dee)

First 14 seconds of Love American Style episode

This aired on local Chicago TV on Wednesday, October 31st 1979 during the 12pm to 1pm timeframe.

This video authorized by © Nexstar Media Inc. (WGN-TV) and Bozo™ & © Send in the Bozos LLC. Special thanks to George Pappas.

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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: [email protected] We preserve the entire broadcasts in our archives (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 [email protected] Thank you for your help!