Boston’s Bozo Show
Frank Avruch biography
Frank Avruch was May 21, 1928 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He played Bozo the Clown from 1959 to 1970. a clown character particularly popular in the U.S. in the 1960s because of widespread franchising in television. Avruch became the first nationally-syndicated Bozo the Clown.
Frank Avruch’s Bozo Show was produced at WHDH-TV Boston 1965–1967. In addition to the local area, it was syndicated to U.S. TV markets that didn’t produce their own local versions at the time. These included New York City, Los Angeles & Washington, D.C. These were the only Bozo shows that were wholly owned and syndicated by Larry Harmon Pictures Corporation. 60 of them are currently available on worldwide DVD distribution entitled “Bozo The World’s Most Famous Clown” Volumes 1 & 2.) On March 21, 2018 Avruch died at age 89 after a long fight against heart disease.
Frank Avruch also was a contributor to WCVB-TV for more than 40 years as a host of “Man About Town” and “The Great Entertainment.”
He was an active philanthropist and a board member of UNICEF’S New England chapter. He toured the world performing as Bozo the clown for UNICEF.
Frank Avruch is survived by his wife Betty, two sons Matthew and Steven and several grandchildren.
He portrayed Bozo the Clown on Boston’s then WHDH-TV station from 1959 to 1970 which was titled “Bozo’s Circus” from 1959 to 1965, then re-titled “Bozo The Clown” from 1965 to 1966, and then to “Bozo’s Big Top” from 1966 to 1970.