It’s True — Bozo the Clown Sang about his “Pocket Rocket”
It's funny how over a period of time, words and phrases take on a whole new meaning.
I've always been a big fan of Bozo the Clown. He was such an iconic character for anyone who grew up in the 60s and 70s.
Our West Michigan Bozo -- Dick Richards -- was one of the best! Over the years I'm glad I've gotten to know Dick and his lovely daughter Tracy. They have become dear friends.
I recently was looking for something on YouTube, when a interesting recording appeared as a suggested video. I'm sure when this song was recorded sometime in the 60s or 70s the term "pocket rocket" did not have the sexual connotation that is has today. Or, maybe it did, and the producers of the record decided to do it anyway -- as adult humor that children wouldn't understand until they grew up.
The voice on the song is that of either Larry Harmon, who developed the Bozo character into what it was, or Pinto Colvig. Colvig was the original Bozo. He did a lot of voices, including the voices of "Pluto" and "Goofy" for Walt Disney.
The song "Bozo's Pocket Rocket" appeared on the children's album called "Dream Along with Bozo". It was released in 1962...
Here is a recording of Pinto Colvig singing "Bozo's Song". It does sound like "Goofy" singing the song...
Although this story is about Bob Bell, the Bozo the Clown in Chicago, it gives us an interesting history of the character...
Just last year, in 2021, actor David Arquette bought the rights to the Bozo character. Arquette says he has been a life-long fan of the character. He fell in love with Bozo when he was a kid living in Evanston, Illinois and watching the Chicago Bozo show. He purchased the rights from Larry Harmon Pictures, who bought it from Capitol Records that created Bozo back in 1946.
It will be interesting to see what he does with the character. Could their be a re-birth of Bozo the Clown?
You can read more about our West Michigan Bozo here.
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Gallery Credit: Stacey Marcus