Oopsy the Clown: Detroit’s #1 Kid Show, 1967-1990s
During the 1950s and 60s, Detroit TV was inundated with various clowns: Bozo the Clown, Ricky the Clown, Jingles the Clown, Milky the Clown.....and Oopsy the Clown.
Oopsy was created in 1965 by Bob McNea (who had been Detroit's first Bozo from 1959 to 1966), and his wife Frances. Oopsy debuted in the summer of 1967 on WWJ-TV Channel 4, airing every Saturday morning.
Oopsy Daisy (his full name) lived in Daisyville in his “Li'l Place” with supporting characters such as Henrietta Peck (a chicken), Miser Mouse, and Squiggly Wiggly Worm. Oopsy became extremely popular not just in the Detroit area, but also in Canada and throughout Michigan.
What about the 'daisy' theme that ran throughout the program? In the mid-to-late 60s, flower power was in full bloom and young people from that 'hippie' era were using daisy stickers, tattoos, and cutouts for decorations. Bob felt that was a good icon to use for Oopsy and his hometown of 'Daisyville'...and so it went.
Oopsy's makeup goes back when Bob was doing yet another clown character, 'Moppets the Clown', from 1950 to 1959 before he he switched to portraying Bozo. Oopsy always appeared in a green jumpsuit, a green top hat that doubled as a flower pot, floppy checkered shoes, and orange wig.
Oopsy was introduced to the public during the Bozo show, where Bozo phoned his cousin Oopsy to cover for him while he toured the country with a circus. When Oopsy was made the permanent host, the show ranked as the #1 Detroit children's show for twelve straight years.
The program lasted until the 1990s but Oopsy still made plenty of live appearances afterward. Bob McNea was born in Ontario in 1929, and died in Ontario in 2005 at the age of 76.
Oopsy the Clown: 1965-1990s
MORE KID STUFF:
Milky the Clown and Twin Pines
Channel 3 Clubhouse, Kalamazoo
Art Cervi, Detroit's Most Famous Bozo