The character first appeared on US television in 1949 portrayed by Colvig. After the creative rights to Bozo were purchased by Larry Harmon in 1956, the character became a common franchise across the United States, with local television stations producing their own Bozo shows featuring the character. Harmon bought out his business partners in 1965 and produced "Bozo's Big Top" for syndication to local television markets not producing their own Bozo shows in 1966, while Chicago's "Bozo's Circus", which premiered in 1960, went national via cable and satellite in 1978.