The Real Bozo the Clown - Part 3

Bozo finds his way

By BILL MILLER

For the Mail Tribune

Last week, we left Jacksonville’s Pinto Colvig bringing his “many freckles” and “my goony antics” to Los Angeles. It was 1922, and this would be his home for the rest of his life.

He was doing well in the film industry— script writing, animating, and working with the best in the silent movie business. The only thing missing was his voice ability, an ability that would soon gain him the nickname, “The Man of 1,000 Voices.”

Two events shaped his destiny. First, Walt Disney’s animation work, including Mickey Mouse staring in the cartoon, “Steamboat Willie, and second, Disney’s construction in 1925 of his own animation studio.

“When I saw the Disney product and the Disney plant expanding and using real concrete instead of makeshift construction, I figured that’s the spot for me. There’s something that looks permanent enough to keep me going until I make up my mind about my career.”

Pinto signed a contract with Disney in 1930.

“Walt Disney is just a big boy, clowning around, who will never grow up. He takes humor seriously.”

Although more outgoing than Disney, Pinto had found a kindred spirit. For the next seven

Goofy - Disney

years, the character voices he created and the sounds he could make, were a vital part of Disney’s success.

Pinto became Pluto the Pup, Goofy the Hick, and while voicing the Practical Pig of the “Three Little Pigs,” he was also the wolf himself, and lyricist for the featured song, “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf.”

When Disney stunned the world with the first feature length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinto was voice of dwarfs Sleepy and Grumpy, and also the sounds of Dopey’s hiccups, and

Sleepy - Disney

the reawakening kiss between the Prince and Snow White.

One day, while Pinto’s father was visiting the Disney studio and watching his son bark, sniff, and whine as Pluto, he turned to Disney.

Pluto - Disney

“Funny thing, Walt. I sent my son to college hoping that he would learn dignity and music. According to his enthusiastic letters, I thought he was running your studio. Now—what do I see? My son barking like a dog.”

Pinto loved to tell stories of how he came up with his character voices. However, reflecting his impish personality, those stories were always changing.

He was asked time and again who was his favorite character.

“No favorite; although it might be Goofy. He’s the epitome of all the hicks in the world and the easiest to play. Guess that’s because I’m a corn-fed hick myself.”

After he left Disney in 1937, Pinto freelanced his vocal skills. He became Bluto in the Popeye cartoons for Max Fleischer and did many of the voices in Fleischer’s animated film “Gulliver’s Travels.” Pinto also did voices for MGM, including one of the munchkins in “The Wizard of Oz.”

In 1946, Pinto signed with Capitol Records to become the voice of Bozo the Clown in a series

The Real Bozo - Pinto Colvig

of records designed to help children read. He was also the first to portray Bozo on television.

Vance Debar “Pinto” Colvig’s enthusiastic craziness died October 3, 1967, and he now rests in Los Angeles.

It was an unusually serious Pinto who visited Jacksonville in 1962. Holding back tears, he asked to see the Oregon Street home where he was born.

“I just wanted to walk into that little house, stick my head in the door and say, thank you Mom and Dad for having me born and raised in Jacksonville—this fine little town. I never did like to visit graves, so this is my tribute to them. Bless ‘em!”

 

Writer Bill Miller is the author of “History Snoopin’,”a collection of his previous history columns and stories. Reach him at newsmiller@live.com or WilliamMMiller.com.

Bill Miller - History Snoopin'