Bozo the Clown dead at 77.

[trof]

Walter McIntyre, city's `Bozo,' dies
Career on air spanned 50 years
Sunday, July 22, 2007
VAL WALTON
News staff writer

Walter "Ward" Wharton McIntyre Jr., a longtime Birmingham broadcaster who entertained many children in the 1960s as "Bozo the Clown", died Friday. He was 77.

McIntyre's career was mostly in radio. He worked as a DJ on WSGN and WEZB. He became the lovable, red-haired clown, Bozo, on WBRC-TV in August 1962. He performed until 1968.

And, now...the rest of the story:

I first met Ward when I was in my late teens and working as a 'gofer' for a local ad agency. Part of my duties were delivering TV and radio ad scripts and commercial props to city broadcast stations.
(Back then the radio spots could be taped, but the TV spots were LIVE! I could tell some tales about that.)
;-)

Ward was about 10 years older than I. A very nice looking guy with a reputation as a bon vivant, sharp dresser, man-about-town type. He was always very nice to me, asking about my plans for college, career, etc.
I thought he was cool as hell.

About 10 years later Bozo had come to local TV. It wasn't one of my favorite shows ;-) but it came on right before the evening news. So sometimes I'd catch the last few minutes. I knew most of the local broadcasters and Bozo sounded somewhat familiar, but I just couldn't quite place the voice. The character used kind of a raspy falsetto.

One evening I bumped into Ward at a downtown watering hole.
He waved me over to his table.
I sat down, got a drink, and we chatted about this and that.
And then it hit me.
I looked at him and grinned.
"BOZO!

A pained look came across his face.
"Shhhhh. If you tell anybody I'll have to kick your ass!"
Being Bozo was SO totally against his image.
It had been a closely held secret.
Hence the weird voice he used.
I guess the money was good, though.

And I never told.
Until now.
:-)