Frank Oliver Wiziarde (1916-1987) Papers (KC322)

Frank Wiziarde was born in Westmoreland, Kansas into a family of performers and stayed in the entertainment business his entire life. His parents, Jack and Lou Wiziarde, had a circus and as soon as Frank and his brother, Jack Jr. were old enough, they were introduced into the act. After high school, Frank went to Hollywood and appeared in a few films. In 1947, he was a radio announcer for KFEQ in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was considered a pioneer in television, working in production and as a director when KMBC-TV went on the air in Kansas City, Missouri in 1953. Responding to requests for a children's program, Frank revived the clown of his earlier years and became "Whizzo" the clown, a role he played for the remainder of his life. The Whizzo program remained on the air in Kansas City and in Topeka, Kansas until three months before his death in September of 1987.

The papers include videotape and movies of Wiziarde's years as Whizzo, in the Kansas City area and Topeka, Kansas; clippings; correspondence; Whizzo material, show ideas; magazines; photographs, negatives; circus contracts, posters, masks, banners, and flyers. ca. 1930-1987.

11 cubic feet.

(KC322vid.mov  1.7MB)

© WHMC-KC, University of Missouri

updated: Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Kansas City
(816) 235-1543 WHMCKC@umkc.edu