By Michael Bushnell
Northeast News
March 9, 2016

“Who’s always smiling, never sad? It’s Whizzo!/ Who makes the boys and girls so glad, Whizzo./ He’s a merry fellow with a big red shiny nose,/ dressed in crazy mixed up clothes/ from his head down to his toes.

“He has a great big trunk of tricks,/ has Whizzo. He’ll sing a song or do a dance for you./ And when you’re sad he’ll make you glad,/ The very best friend you ever had,/ Whizzo the clown, that’s who.”

— F. Wiziarde

If you grew up in Kansas City or Topeka, Kan., anytime between 1954 and 1987, there’s a good chance you know Whizzo the Clown. In reality, Whizzo was Westmoreland, Kan., native Frank Oliver Wiziarde, born July 25, 1916 to a circus family. His parents, Jack and Lou Wiziarde, had a circus, and as soon as Frank and his brother, Jack Jr., were old enough, they were introduced into the act.

In 1930, they created the Wiziarde Novelty Circus, a traveling act that made appearances at stores, shopping areas and any place where a crowd gathered. Given the ups and downs of circus life, in 1947, Frank went to work as a radio announcer in St. Joseph. In 1953, Frank went to work for KMBC-TV in Kansas City as a director. The station was looking for ideas for a children’s program, and out of his past experience as a circus clown came the idea for Whizzo. He went on the air in 1954, and though he would switch stations a couple of times (first to KCMO-TV in Kansas City and later WIBW-TV in Topeka), Whizzo remained a children’s favorite throughout the 1950s, 60s, 70s and half of the 1980s.

Among the animals on the show was “Hissy the Goose,” who would drop down on Whizzo, give him a bump, and fly back up. Whizzo pretended not to know what hit him, only to be bumped repeatedly by “Hissy.” It was up to the kids in the studio audience to explain to Whizzo what had happened. Whizzo’s set was always filled with props, most of which he made himself.

In 1966, Whizzo filmed “Santa’s Christmas Circus,” co-starring then Channel 9 weather man John Bilyeu as Santa Claus. Members of the Johnny Miller Dance Studio in Kansas City performed as circus animals in Whizzoland. It’s a pretty safe bet that every kid in Kansas City tuned in to this one, despite being filmed in its entirety in the cramped Channel 9 studios.

Later, Whizzo was even invited by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 to entertain children at the annual Easter Egg Hunt at the White House. The Whizzo program remained on the air in Kansas City and in Topeka until three months before his death in September 1987.