I am, I guess, of a certain age...and this guy, slightly scary and brilliant, was somewhat of a formative influence along with Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Green Jeans.
Larry Harmon was not the creator of the character of
Bozo, nor was he the first actor to play Bozo, but he was smart enough to trademark the character and then spent the rest of his life carefully training and licensing Bozos across the country. The show was actually produced until 2001, and seats in the studio audience were sold out for years in advance.
Most TV characters like this last only 3 to 4 years, but Bozo kept going strong for over 50. This is due in no small part to Harmon's positive attitude. love of the character, and careful attention to detail in the licensing process.
RIP Bozo!