|
Oopsy's creator Robert (Bob)
J. McNea was born in St. Thomas, Ontario Canada on June
12th, 1929. By the time he was six The Great
Depression had been sweeping through the country. Times
were difficult and happiness seemed illusive, even for a
small child. While
 paging
through a magazine he came upon a clown photo of Felix
Adler. From that moment on Bob knew he wanted to be in
show biz.
Bob McNea's first television
appearance was in the summer of 1950 while promoting the
Michigan State Fair GrandStand Show on WXYZ-TV in
Detroit Michigan. Early television was broadcast
LIVE in black & white including commercial breaks. Bob
became the Wonder Bread spokes-character for the “Mickey
Mouse Club” (WXYZ) in 1959.
Then fate stepped in.......
Bob won an audition at WWJ-TV to
portray the televised character "Bozo the Clown". It
became Detroit's favourite kids show televised in a 1/2
hour live-to- air format six days/week in front of a
studio audience for the
 next
eight years.
When WWJ executives decided not to
renew the licensing for Bozo in 1967, Bob was given the
opportunity to fill the time slot with his own clown
character which he called "Oopsy Daisy". The
American "Oopsy Daisy" show continued for another 12
years until Bob negotiated a deal which relocated
production to the Canadian CTV affiliate, CKCO-TV in
Kitchener, Ontario.
Through his production company
Sumfun, Bob, his wife Frances Kay, son Michael and
daughter Kathy McNea wrote,
 produced,
acted and developed puppet characters on the "Oopsy the
Clown" show for another 12 years.
During the same time, they produced
“Big Top Talent”, a television program showcasing
amateur talent of kids from cities, towns and rural
areas surrounding the K/W area. Oopsy was the on-camera
host for 16 years.
Courtesy
www.myspace.com/oopsytheclown
ROBERT (BOB) McNEA A.K.A. OOPSY
THE CLOWN 1929 - 2005 Passed away peacefully at
Freeport Health Centre of Grand River Hospital,
Kitchener, on Saturday, November 5, 2005 at the age of
76. Beloved husband of Frances Kay for 55 years; loving
father of Michael, Peter, David, and Kathy; dear
grandfather of Jason, Robbie, Willie, Natalie, Madeleine
and Micayla; great-grandfather of Cassidy; brother of
Shirley McNea and uncle of Shelley. Predeceased by a
brother, Bill. Friends are invited to share their
memories of Robert with his family at a memorial service
in the chapel of the Edward R. Good Funeral Home, 171
King St. S., Waterloo on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 at
1 p.m. A reception will follow in the Fireside Reception
Room of the funeral home. In Robert's memory, and in
lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriners
Hospital for Children, 1529 Cedar Ave., Montreal, PQ,
H3G 1A6, and can be arranged through the funeral home.
Condolences/Donations www.edwardrgood.com 519-745-8445
For more information join
Oopsy's blog at,
http://oopsytheclown.blogspot.com/
or go to
www.myspace.com/oopsytheclown
|
