Chicago TV legend Ray Rayner dies

[Chris D]

If, like me, you came of age in Chicago in the '60s or '70s, Ray Rayner was part of your life.

He was Oliver O. Oliver, a clown on the Bozo Show. He also had a morning kids show on which he'd show cartoons, feed Chelveston the duck and visit the "dog" Cuddly Duddly.

He also would show sports highlights; he had a goofy cap with the Sox on one side and the Cubs on the other, and he'd turn it around for whichever highlight he'd be showing.

For a long time, he lived in my hometown, and his place was well-known as one of the best trick-or-treat stops in history. One year, he gave out cans of pop.

Here's the story from the Tribune:
Television host Ray Rayner, who entertained Chicago's children for decades, is dead.

WGN-Ch. 9, where Rayner played several roles, announced his death on its Noon News. He was 84 years old and died of pneumonia at his home in Fort Myers, Fla.

Rayner appeared as "Sgt. Henry Pettibone," host of the "Dick Tracy" show on WBBM-Ch. 2 beginning in 1961, WGN reported. Also that year, he joined WGN's "Bozo's Circus" as "Oliver O. Oliver," WGN recounted.

Rayner also presented WGN's "Breakfast with Bugs Bunny," later renamed "Ray Rayner & His Friends," the station said.

Rayner left "Bozo's Circus" in 1971 but continued with "Ray Rayner and His Friends" until 1981, when he left Chicago to become a weather forecaster for the CBS affiliate in Albuquerque, N.M.



Ray with Chelveston in the '70s.