The "Bozo" character did not originate in Washington, DC., 
but in California of the 1940s.
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According to WGN-TV's Bozo Timeline, (which was compiled and maintained
by George Pappas), "Pinto Colvig, the original Bozo the Clown, was chosen by
creator Alan W. Livingston to portray the character for Capitol Records in
1946.  Successful record sales led to Colvig's live portrayal of the
character on the first Bozo TV show in 1949" (for the Los Angeles market).
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Bozo's first live appearance on a regular DC TV program came when the
rights for a local "Bozo the Clown" show were bought by WRC-TV 4 in '59...