Life's a Circus

     Chicago children's television is synonymous with one name and one name above all others: Bozo. While Bozo is certainly a Chicago icon, his roots go back a bit further. In 1946, Alan Livingston produced a children's read-a-long book for Capitol Records titled Bozo at the Circus.(fun fact: Mr. Livingston would go on to oversee the creation of Bonanza 13 years later) 3 years after the album was released, Bozo got his first TV show, a Friday evening show in Los Angeles. In 1956, one of the actors hired to play Bozo bought the licensing rights to the character, subsequently franchising them out to various cities across the country. This is where Chicago comes into the picture.

     In 1960, WGN got the rights to Bozo and started putting him into segments in between cartoons. This arrangement lasted for about 6 months until WGN moved their television operations out of the Tribune Tower to their own studio on the city's northwest side. It was there on September 11, 1961 that the Bozo craze truly hit Chicago. On that date, a one-hour program called Bozo's Circus premiered, featuring Bozo, Ringmaster Ned, a 13-piece orchestra, humor, whimsy, and the Grand Prize Game, all taped in front of a 200-member studio audience. While 200 people to watch a children's show may sound like a lot, the supply couldn't come close to meeting demand. At the height of its popularity, there was a 10-year waiting list for tickets, and many women took to reserving a spot for their children as soon as they found out they were pregnant. The Bozo mania was so rampant that even in the wake of the Great Blizzard of 1967, a full house was lined up to gain access to the show.(alas, that was one of the few instances where the taping was cancelled and a repeat was shown in its place) In 1978, WGN became a cable superstation, and much like Harry Caray and the Cubs, Bozo benefited from being seen by a national audience. In 1984, the original host (Bob Bell) retired, and so a national search was launched for the next host. Joey D'Auria (who had gained fame as a contestant on The Gong Show) was picked to replace Bell. With a new host in place, the show went into the 1990s as a Chicago institution. Unfortunately, changes that began in 1997 ultimately did the show in. That year, the FCC passed new rules mandating 3 hours of educational programming be shown by all television stations each week. The next year, one of the cast members left as a result of budget cuts. Finally, WGN announced the cancellation of the program in 2001. The final taping was a 90 minute primetime special that aired on July 14 of that year.

     Bozo's legacy lives on in many different ways. Several costumes and props are on exhibit at the Museum of Broadcast Communications (also in Chicago). The Bozo character has popped up in various places over the years, from WGN specials, to parades, to even a 2008 PSA about the upcoming switch to digital television. The most recent appearance of Bozo came in 2018 when WGN re-entered the world of shows done before a live studio audience with Man of the People, which even featured a special appearance from Bozo himself.

Saving Cornish

     Daniel Hale Williams isn't a name that jumps off the page like other notable names. But his accomplishments stand tall nonetheless. He was one of the first African American surgeons in the country. In 1883, he got his degree from what is now known as the Northwestern University Medical School. He then ran into a roadblock, as African Americans weren't generally allowed to work in hospitals in Chicago. He solved this problem by starting his own hospital. In 1891 he opened up Provident Hospital, the country's first African American owned and operated hospital. This valuable resource provided educational opportunities to aspiring doctors in the black community, as well as care options for patients that previously may not have been able to be treated at other hospitals.

     By 1893, the hospital was up and running. And while the energies of the city may have been concentrated in other places that year, life went on. On July 9 of that year, life would conspire to put Dr. Williams in the history books once more. On that day, a gentleman by the name of James Cornish was involved in a bar fight. After ostensibly losing the fight, Cornish was brought into Provident with a knife wound in his chest. With the patient dying, Dr. Williams didn't have much time to think. So, he opened him up right there and operated directly on the heart. There were no antibiotics, x-rays, or anesthesia as we know it today. Even with all that against him, Dr. Williams saved Cornish's life and he walked out of Provident 51 days later with a clean bill of health. Not just was Cornish's life saved, but Dr. William had performed one of the first successful pericardium heart surgeries in the United States.

Grinding it Out

     There are plenty of unique things here at the show. I may have just found the craziest one. Audi has a whole spread at their exhibit, including merchandise for sale. One of those items is a black piece of plastic that plays a noise like an engine revving up. I'm trying to figure out what it is, and it turns out that the thing is a pepper grinder! Who would've thought? Points to Audi for originality!

 

Win This Car!

     At the Auto Show this year Ford has its usual array of features. Hank the Robot, the Mustang dynamo, and the cars. But this year Ford is also partnering with JDRF. JDRF is a Type 1 Diabetes advocacy group that has been around since 1970. Their mission is to raise awareness of the disease and to generate funding to facilitate research and discovery of a cure. One of those fundraisers is taking place at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show. Ford is raffling off a 1973 Mustang Convertible. People can buy tickets with all the proceeds going to JDRF. Winners will be announced at the end of the show, so make sure to buy your raffle tickets now!

 

Hear the Mustang Roar

     The Ford Mustang is one of America's most beloved cars, and one of the most distinctive things about it is the sound of its engines revving up. Ford has brought that experience to the 2018 Chicago Auto Show. They have a Mustang set up on a platform, and once an hour a driver gets in and revs the engines on the car. Obviously, it's quite loud and the noise fills up the whole hall, meaning that no matter where you may be standing, you can hear the roar of an iconic muscle car.

 

Chargers, Chargers, and more Chargers

     In 2018, our mobile tech is more important to us than ever. To that end, taking care of the tech needs of attendees at the auto show is a priority. A dead battery is fun for nobody. Luckily, many automakers have provided benches in their exhibits equipped with usb ports and charging cables, thus allowing guests to hang around at their displays more and see more of what they have to offer. .

     Guests can sit down, relax, and get a phone charge. As we saw with the rise of immersive technology this year, the role of and the catering to technology will only grow in prominence as the years go on

 

Hanging with Hank

     We've already covered the immersive experiences at the auto show. But there is another experience that is something to behold. As part of Ford's exhibit here at the show, guests can check out Hank the Robot. 

     Hank is an animatronic robot that interacts with guests at the show. Some would say that he bears a resemblance to C-3PO from Star Wars(but don't tell Disney's lawyers I said that!) He speaks with a southern drawl that is truly odd. After talking to the guests for a while, he breaks down into a robot dance party. Hank is something that needs to be seen to be believed. Make sure to check him out at the show.