Persons directly responsible for two of my favorite characters and a band as a youth have died recently.
ALLAN LIVINGSTON 1917-2009
Creator of Bozo and Signed the Beatles
Died March 13th at age 91, who, while as head of Capitol Records signed the Beatles after first passing on them, also created Chicago's beloved Bozo the Clown character.
Served as a second lieutenant in the Army during WW II, and joined Capitol Records afterwards as a writer and producer of read-along and listen records for children. He called the concept "record-reader." After writing "Bozo at the Circus," he worked with an illustrator and a clown to develop the narrator of the story. It was a bi9g hit, selling over 8 million copies and spawning the Bozo empire.
In the late 1950s, he signed Frank Sinatra to Capitol, paired him with Nelson Riddle and launched Sinatra's comeback. Those Sinatra recordings were outstanding.
Mr. Livingston first heard about the Beatles in 1963, but didn't think they were suitable for the American market. At Beatles' manager Brian Epstein's insistence he listened to them and signed the group.
MILLARD KAUFMAN 1917-2009
Writer helped create Mr. Magoo
Died March 14th at the age 92, served in Marines in WW II. Wrote the screenplay "Ragtime Bear" in 1949 that introduced the near-sighted Mr. Magoo, voiced by actor Jim Backus. Mr. Magoo was in part modeled after his uncle who had no problem with his eyes, but had his own unique perspective on things.
"Road HOG!!!"
From the Chicago Tribune.
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