Bozo the Clown returns for a weekend at Billy Corgan’s Madame ZuZu’s in Highland Park
It turns out that getting into Bozo’s Circus is still one of the hardest tickets in town.
Twenty-three years after the show went off the air in 2001, parents and their children were seen lining up again early Saturday to spend time with the “world’s most famous clown.”
This time, the activity wasn’t outside WGN Studios but rather Madame ZuZu’s in Highland Park, a popular café, record shop and performance space owned by another Chicago icon and Bozo superfan, Billy Corgan, and his wife, Chloe Mendel Corgan.
The couple, along with actor David Arquette (who bought the rights to Bozo in 2021 and appeared in character) hosted a packed weekend of sold-out events to celebrate all the nostalgia and wonder for a new generation, including a Friday-night panel discussion and a Sunday-night Bob Ross-Bozo mashup painting event.
But for many Chicago-area families, eyes were on the prize Saturday with many wanting the chance to take part in the Grand Prize Game, with the original Bozo Buckets Challenge game and music drum on loan from the Museum of Broadcast Communications.
Jason Fink from Highland Park was hoping to get another opportunity to play; he was one of the lucky children to do so live on air in 1983 when he was just 4 years old. “I don’t really remember doing it, but I remember my mom telling me I did,” he said.
Fink, along with wife Lori and children Sloane, 6, and Ryne, 8, took part in many of the other indoor activities at Madame ZuZu’s while waiting to see if their number would be called (one adult and one child participant were determined by a raffle ticket drawing).
In addition to arcade games, pumpkin decorating and balloon animal-making, there was also carnival food and exclusive merch for sale, including a Smashing Pumpkins “Mellon Collie” and Bozo mashup T-shirt (items are also available on Madame ZuZu’s website).
“As soon as I saw that the Bozo Show was coming to town, I immediately jumped onboard and got tickets. I went as a second grader with my Girl Scout troop … and thought it would be fun to share some nostalgia with our kids,” said Lori, who prepped them with archival videos on YouTube.
So did Hannah Toban. Her 6-year-old-son Ben was chosen to compete in the Bozo Buckets Challenge and walked away with $30 (the kids’ grand prize was a brand-new Schwinn bike). “He knew we were coming but had never been exposed to Bozo,” said Toban, noting she and her husband, Larry, lived vicariously through her son’s experience. “It was very exciting he got called up.”
Vincent Barron, 33, of Buffalo Grove, had his number drawn as the adult to play the game and aced all five buckets, receiving the $100 grand prize. “I had a feel for it, but when you get up there it’s a whole different game,” he joked.
Others like Caprice Albrecht wanted to re-create family photos with Bozo and his clown crew, including Nunu, Chippy, Jozo and the Elvis-themed Clownvis. Albrecht first met Bozo in 1997 during an appearance at the College of Lake County; she brought a photo of herself and her sister sitting on Bozo’s lap and attempted to do the same with her young daughter on Saturday.
“Bozo has such a positive impact and memory for me … so I’m excited to be here and share it with my daughter now, for another generation,” she said.
It's the reaction the Corgans were hoping for.
“Madame ZuZu’s was born out of opening up a place of the things we love and sharing that with the community, and this is just a great example of that. Billy loves Bozo; he [performed] on the last ‘Bozo Show’ ever, and we just thought how cool would it be to bring back this iconic character and share it with everyone,” Mendel Corgan said.
This is not the end, either. Arquette has been steering a few projects, including a limited-edition 7-inch music EP in coordination with Madame ZuZu's limited to 300 copies and presssed in white vinyl with a red center like a clown nose; it’s available for preorder on the cafe's website.
There’s also the first Bozo kids’ book in 50 years coming in 2025, written with children’s book author and Wood Dale native Dr. Aaron Ozee.
Most recent Bozo actor Joey D’Auria, who moved to L.A. after the show wrapped in 2001 and has been working as a voiceover and stage artist, said he’s teaming up with Arquette on a documentary, hoping it brings new life to the beloved character.
“David has a tremendous amount of energy, so I wish him nothing but the best. I think if something can happen, he’d be the guy to do it,” D’Auria said.
The actor has a uniquely Arquette take on the clown, though his heart is in the right place with the project.
“We’re spreading love, light and laughter back to the world, and Chicago especially,” Arquette performing as Bozo said. “The world needs clowns now more than ever … they’re a reflection of society, and they shine a light on the silliness of it all. We need to bring back the happy, fun, silly clowns. Just don’t be scared.”