50 Years with Frank Avruch!
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- Опубліковано 6 гру 2010
- Recently inducted into the National Television Academy's Gold Circle, Frank Avruch has remained a major New England television personality on WCVB-TV Boston for fifty years! Congratulations Frank!
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(Crying)I still miss you..Frank.
Frank has always been a class act, and a staple of Boston TV!!
Frank, you may not remember me but I had written you about growing up in Brooklyn, and how it helped this once very shy little girl from Uruguay learn English by watching your show. You sent me an autographed picture, which I treasure. Tonight, I would like to wish you a very Happy Birthday. Sending you lots of love and a big hug from Florida. Love, Rosana. :)
One the stars of Bozo's Big Top was Caroll Spinney. He played Kookie the Boxing Kangaroo, Grandma Nellie, Mr. Lion, Flip Flop the Rag Doll, Zany Zebra and others. He would soon be hired by Jim Henson to play Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street.
May Henson, Avruch and Spinney rest in peace.
IMO, his signature achievement will always be “The Great Entertainment”, which was certainly among the first (in not THE first) classic film anthology series, and was really the only place to see classic, golden era films in an era before VCRs and DVD,s cable or Netflix, and his narration always added something special, in the way of history, trivia and insight into the particular film being screened.
As a boy, I watched you, Frank, along with Bob Cottle's "Captain Bob," and "Miss Jean" Harrington on the first WHDH-TV (Channel 5).
I remember "Miss Jean" was married to Bill Harrington, the Channel 5 State House reporter, who also filled in for you (as "Nozo") when you incurred an injury, had an extended stay in the hospital.
Yes..Gymnastix..Boston,Ma. had alot of great kids tv shows..hosted by very talented, creative and caring people.
As I recall, your program visited "Bozo" in the hospital, in an effort to teach kids to not be afraid if they had to be hospitalized or visit a sick friend or relative in the hospital. You performed a good public service by doing that segment.
I also recall, as "Bozo." your appearing in a promo clip (for when "Bozo's Big Top" was moved to mornings, I guess) showing you dancing and moving about outdoors (on the Boston Common?), to the accompaniment of a tune titled "It's A Nice Cold Morning!"
I can even recall some of that song's lyrics--"The thermometer is nearly up to four below./The thermometer says we'll be up to here in snow./The almanac predicts this particular special land/Will be frozen almost more than we can stand./Grand!"
I also recall meeting your son Stephen/Steven, as he represented Needham High (I think) on the Mass. Board of Education's Student Advisory Council. I represented my high school, Waltham High. But I remember Steve had a postcard on his desk of his dad dressed as "The World's Most Famous Clowm," with your famous slogan "Whoa, Nelly!" on it. I was too embarassed to ever ask your son, but I wanted one of those postcards for myself.
my mom was on this show when she was a kid. she said he was a drunk and mean when the cameras were off. she also told me the ring master was the only one that was nice to the kids.
RIP
He just recently died
By the way, how did that slogan, which originated with Roy Rogers' sidekick Pat Brady (when his Jeep, Nellybelle" would give him trouble), come to be used by "Bozo?"
And would you ever consider doing another "Bozo" show for WCVB, or even just some public appearances as "Bozo" for Baby Boomers and their kids and grandkids (as Rex Trailer does)?
@gymnastix You may answer my questions in a private message to my You Tube mailbox, if you wish. I certainly don't expect you to go public here.