CHICAGO TELEVISION - 1960's
For a lot of the country
that received WGN SUperstation, you have to admit, Ray Raynor was everywhere.
I mean Soupy Sales was big (before my time) as was Howdy Doody (definately
before my time) but Ray Raynor at last count has been on seven shows.
Let's try to count them.
- Bozo Circus (Oliver O'Oliver)
- Ray Raynor Show
- Dick Tracy
- Ray Raynor Theater (Prime Time Movie Show)
- Rocket to Adventure
- Ray Raynor and Friends
- And I believe another rehash of his morning show with Bugs in the title?
Interesting note about
Ray Raynor:
He was a prisoner of war
in World War II, and was part of the "Great Escape".
His contribution to the
actual event was the idea to smuggle the tunnel dirt from pouches in their
trousers into the gardening soil while working. I have read this
a few times and have never seen a disclaimer.
Another Interesting note
about Ray Raynor:
Remember on the morning
show when for about three years Chevelston the duck would torment Ray by
nipping at his heels and chasing him around as he tossed corn flakes at
it as a diversion from his ankles?
I met the guy who worked
at Animal Kingdom who had the duty of driving Chevelston (there were three
to choose from at the time) to WGN on the days he was to appear.
According to my friend who I will call Larry, he and the driver spent the
ride to the studios blowing pot smoke into the ducks face. This correlated
with it's new nasty disposition to Ray.
Hey
I just found this on the net:
"Chelveston
the Duck used to ride to work in a taxi, but now he travels
with a messenger from the Animal Kingdom,
where he lives. He rides in a green box with a small screened window, a
conveyance that cramps his style; so when he emerges at the WGN studios
to do his act on the Ray Rayner show three times a week, he is usually
in a vile temper and works off his off his hostilities by pursuing Rayner
about the set, nipping at his ankles. "
-
Ridgely Hunt,
in
an article from the Chicago Tribune, 1968
Larry Harmon invented Bozo but Bob Bell made him a star. Bozo's Circus was a loose scattered production of miscues and double-entondres. In short .. it was great. But by the time the guest acrobat preformed, we had to bolt to get back to school.
So, here we go ... a pictorial
of late afternoons in Chicago television.
How many of these shows
do you remember?
Ned Locke, Bob Tremmler, Bob Bell, Ray Raynor and Don Sandburg.
Roy Brown, Ray Raynor, Bob Bell, Bob Tremmler and Ned Locke
Who's your favorite clown?
Sandy the clown, Bob Tremmler and his big top band,
Bozo the world's greatest clown, Oliver O' Oliver and Ringmaster Ned.
Ray Raynor as Oliver
"Heey, That's Me .. hoo hoo haahaah haaah!"
Cookie, Bozo, Garfield and Frazier Thomas.
Reunion Photo: (l) Bob Bell, Ray Raynor, Joey D'Oria (new bozo)
someone who appears to be Bill Gates the biggest clown of all time
and Don Sandburg (r)
Bozo timeline:
Exit Sandy / Enter
Cookie (Roy Brown)
Exit Ned Locke /
Enter Frazier Thomas
Exit Bozo / Enter
Bozo (Joey D'Oria)
Exit Frazier / Enter
Nobody.
Exit Cookie / Enter
two nameless clowns
End of incredibly long run.
Ray Raynor keeps on pumping them out.
As Dick Tracy as Sgt. Pettibone with Tracer.
My guess is that Roy Brown was under the desk working Tracer.
Dick Tracey set. (Same stage as Bozo's Circus apparently)
ROCKET TO ADVENTURE!!
Proving no production value is too low.
Probably wearing Diver Dan's suit.
Anyway, what finally killed afternoon WGN fare was
the premiere of Gilligan's island.
----
RAY RAYNOR IN THE MORNING
Ray, Chevelston and Cuddly Duddly played by Roy Brown.
Chevelston in his sober days.
Another prize-winning set.
Ray getting a little pussy.
Ray doing the news and possible school closings on
what he called the "Pretend Broadcasting System"
Ray only has one more note pinned to his jumpers.
Probably toward the end of the show.
Bob Bell also had plenty of side work.
And my favorite was
The Three Stooge Theater
Bob Bell as Andy Starr, custodian of a small theater backstage where
his duties consisted of showing Three Stooge shorts and announcing children's
birthday while showing off drawings sent to him by viewers.
Are you a card carrying member of Garfield's Secret Service?
Actually I am. But I received it just a couple years ago from a good friend. Must have been an Ebay find. As a loyal subject I will always carry out the duties of the "King of the United States." Even if that means carrying up the little theater screen for a Commander McBragg cartoon, or Journey to the Center of Time, or Scott McCloud - Spoace Angel, or Clutch Cargo, or Hardrock - Coco - and Joe.
Bowriguard Burnside the third, Garfield, Romberg Rabbit, a Garfield
relative and televisions original Frazier (Thomas)
Intresting Note about Garfield Goose Show:
Roy Brown, the hall of famer clown who starred as Cookie on Bozo was
also the creator of Garfield and his puppets. He did the puppetry
and what voices there were (Garfield clacked his beak only and Romburg
whispered the translations to Frazier. Buoreguard was always sleeping and
rarely talked unless Frazier woke him up with the only words that could
do it .. "Hot dogs, Hamburgers, Spaghetti and Meatballlls!" Mr. Brown
also painted the portrait above which hung on the Family Classics set hosted
by Frazier Thomas.
Garfield Memorabilia.
AND WHAT WAS PLAYING OVER ON CHANNEL 32?
That's right BJ and Dirty Dragon! (FIIIIII!)
The Blob sez "Harrenburrriatilacceyendour"
BJ and Dirty Dragon them morphed into:
The Gigglesnort Hotel
WGN
Timeline of the 60's
More
Photos of WGN shows
TV
Party's Chicago Kid's TV
A
little Bozo history
Following from Roger's Basment
(Caution: Annoying Midi Files)
Diver
Dan
Cartoon
Town
Ray
Rayner and Friends
Garfield
Goose and Friends
*Cool
Toys we had *
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The
Great Candy we ate
Christmas
1976: Pat Paulson Tonight Show Monologue