Bill Britten
Encyclopedia
Bill Britten is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Bozo the Clown
. He performed as a mimic and pantomimist for local parties in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, before enrolling in college. He studied clown makeup at Temple University
, later attending the University of Washington
in Seattle. He performed as a tramp clown for a gas station franchise and trained with two puppet theaters (one funded by the University of Washington, the other by the Seattle Parks Department).
After graduating from Washington, he moved to New York City
, where he worked nightclubs until he won "Funniest New Clown Of The Year" audition with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus; he performed with them in the spring of 1954, but stayed behind when they left the city.
He made his first television appearance on WJZ TV's "Jolly Gene And His Fun Machine", where he provided puppeteering work and voice acting
for the show's puppets: "Jolly Gene", "Yoo Hoo The Cuckoo" and "Waldo The Dodo". He also drew cartoons on the magic screen of "The Fun Machine". He stayed with the show from 1955 to 1956. He was the third host of "Time For Fun!" from December 31, 1956 to August 1, 1958, portraying "Johnny Jellybean".
He then succeeded Herb Sheldon
to become the third host of WABD's "Wonderama
", starting on August 10, 1958. It was the first edition of the show to be taped before a live studio audience. He initially hosted the show as "Three Gun Willie The Kid", but the character proved unpopular and was dropped. He also hosted "The Looney Tunes
Show", "Bugs Bunny Presents" and "Funnytoones" at the same station until his departure in late December 1958.
On Monday September 14, 1959, he started with WPIX, he began to portray "Bozo the Clown" for "The Bozo Show", which he would do until March 1, 1963. On March 4, the series changed timeslots, and was renamed "Bozo's Big Top Circus", which played until June 2, 1963.
During this period, he also hosted the Saturday morning cartoon show "The Cartoon Express", from October 13 to November 3 of 1962.
His last show was "Bozo's Cartoon Circus Lunchtime Show", which began on June 24, 1963, and ran until August 14, 1964, which marked the end of his involvement with children's television.
He worked as a programming director for WNYC, and as a drama teacher at the Performing Arts High School
in New York City, as well as appearing on Broadway, most notably as the Barber in the original Broadway production of "Man of La Mancha
", alongside Robert Rounsville and Richard Kiley. He also appeared in the movie "Fame" as a drama teacher.
Bozo the Clown
Bozo the Clown is a clown character very popular in the United States, peaking in the 1960s as a result of widespread franchising in early television.Originally created by Alan W...
. He performed as a mimic and pantomimist for local parties in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, before enrolling in college. He studied clown makeup at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
, later attending the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in Seattle. He performed as a tramp clown for a gas station franchise and trained with two puppet theaters (one funded by the University of Washington, the other by the Seattle Parks Department).
After graduating from Washington, he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he worked nightclubs until he won "Funniest New Clown Of The Year" audition with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus; he performed with them in the spring of 1954, but stayed behind when they left the city.
He made his first television appearance on WJZ TV's "Jolly Gene And His Fun Machine", where he provided puppeteering work and voice acting
Voice acting
Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides.Performers are called...
for the show's puppets: "Jolly Gene", "Yoo Hoo The Cuckoo" and "Waldo The Dodo". He also drew cartoons on the magic screen of "The Fun Machine". He stayed with the show from 1955 to 1956. He was the third host of "Time For Fun!" from December 31, 1956 to August 1, 1958, portraying "Johnny Jellybean".
He then succeeded Herb Sheldon
Herb Sheldon
Herb Sheldon was born Herbert Sussman in Brooklyn, New York. Sheldon was originally slated to train for a career in textiles, but a scholarship at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and some work in the theater sidetracked his plans.- Television career :He worked in some Broadway shows in small...
to become the third host of WABD's "Wonderama
Wonderama
Wonderama was a long-running children's television program that appeared on the Metromedia-owned stations from 1955 to 1986, with WNEW-TV in New York City being its originating station....
", starting on August 10, 1958. It was the first edition of the show to be taped before a live studio audience. He initially hosted the show as "Three Gun Willie The Kid", but the character proved unpopular and was dropped. He also hosted "The Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes is a Warner Bros. animated cartoon series. It preceded the Merrie Melodies series and was Warner Bros.'s first animated theatrical series. Since its first official release, 1930's Sinkin' in the Bathtub, the series has become a worldwide media franchise, spawning several television...
Show", "Bugs Bunny Presents" and "Funnytoones" at the same station until his departure in late December 1958.
On Monday September 14, 1959, he started with WPIX, he began to portray "Bozo the Clown" for "The Bozo Show", which he would do until March 1, 1963. On March 4, the series changed timeslots, and was renamed "Bozo's Big Top Circus", which played until June 2, 1963.
During this period, he also hosted the Saturday morning cartoon show "The Cartoon Express", from October 13 to November 3 of 1962.
His last show was "Bozo's Cartoon Circus Lunchtime Show", which began on June 24, 1963, and ran until August 14, 1964, which marked the end of his involvement with children's television.
He worked as a programming director for WNYC, and as a drama teacher at the Performing Arts High School
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts is a high school specializing in teaching visual arts and performing arts, located near Lincoln Center and the Juilliard School in the Lincoln Center district of Manhattan, on Amsterdam Avenue...
in New York City, as well as appearing on Broadway, most notably as the Barber in the original Broadway production of "Man of La Mancha
Man of La Mancha
Man of La Mancha is a musical with a book by Dale Wasserman, lyrics by Joe Darion and music by Mitch Leigh. It is adapted from Wasserman's non-musical 1959 teleplay I, Don Quixote, which was in turn inspired by Miguel de Cervantes's seventeenth century masterpiece Don Quixote...
", alongside Robert Rounsville and Richard Kiley. He also appeared in the movie "Fame" as a drama teacher.