Bill-Britten-Obituary

Bill Britten

1928 - 2020

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Bill BrittenBill Britten, a gifted performer, TV personality and teacher who is remembered fondly by a generation of New Yorkers as "Johnny Jellybean" and "Bozo the Clown", passed away on February 4, 2020. Born William Cohen in 1928, Billy was the beloved husband of the late Mary Louise Jones for...

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On the 6th anniversary of the passing of our dear friend Bill Britten I'd like to celebrate his life with another candid photo... This time from his tenure as Bozo the Clown... A photo of Bill as Bozo performing at a local NYC area theater. Bill became alive when he came on stage, bursting with energy... Looks like he might be in the early stage of a Cartwheel? Probably not, but he does look ready to "take off". There will never be another such as Bill Britten... [email protected]

Hard to believe Bill has been gone now for four years... Still very much missed by many, many fans, friends and family... Here is a candid polaroid shot from Bill's short lived "The Cartoon Express" show which aired during the fall of 1962.. with Bill starring live as "Smokey Bill" the Engineer. Bob, a friend [email protected]

Bill Britten was my favorite acting teacher & personality in my years at Performing Arts HS. Sept 70 > June 73 ! Bill was also responsible for my Acceptance to P.A. H.S.'s Drama Dept. > seeing as how it was Bill, who staged & graded my (ultimately successful) Audition in Jan 1970, while still attending J.H.S. in the Bronx ! God & i LOVE & MISS U BILL !

Bill Britten passed away three years ago today, so in honor of Bill I´d like to share another candid photo of him from his days as Johnny Jellybean on Channel 7s "Time for Fun". The photo was taken at Cowboy City in Farmingdale, NJ.

I'm a former Brooklynite who watched Bill both as Johnny Jellybean and as Bozo before my family relocated to Florida in 1963. I was sorry to learn of his passing, and I thank him for some fine entertainment during my childhood years. I well remember both the water fountain and confetti gags of Johhny Jellybean. I also remember Joe Bova as another host of "Time fo Fun" when it was sponsored by Tip-Top Bread. New York kiddie shows were the best... and i salute all of those TV pioneers......

I've already sent in my memory and tribute to Bill Britten..I'm adding a photo of myself.

I was lucky enough to interview Bill Britten for my research on the history of NYC based kids tv shows..back in 1989 at NYC's Laguardia High School For The Performing Arts..We became good friends and I would see him occassionally in NYC..I remember his performances as"Bozo" and he was a sweet, talented and kindly gentleman..(Crying)I will miss him.

Bill Britten passed away a year ago this month, and so on this sad anniversary I’d like to share this candid photo of Bill during his all to short stay as Johnny Jellybean where for two years in the mid-late 50s millions of children for 30 minutes at lunch time would eagerly rush home from school to spend their lunch hour with Bill as Johnny Jellybean, or for those that were not yet in school who would bother Mom incessantly to turn on the TV and “Tune” to channel 7 so they could watch their...