Barney Bean Show – Youngstown Ohio 1960’s

Barney Bean - Channel 33 - Youngstown Ohio

Some years ago in the 1960’s Barney Bean (David William Harris) was a local Youngstown, Ohio television personality. He hosted a “Live” children’s program where he played cartoons, interviewed children on set, had guest clowns, and did short fun sketches. Beans big draw was to use the initials of a child’s name and draw a picture using them. He was quite the artist.

During one particular broadcast, Barney Bean and Co-host Ronald McDonald (Yes, the clown from McDonalds restaurant) were interviewing the group of children invited on the program that day. The children were sitting on bleacher risers and both Barney and Ronald would interact with the children asking them questions on camera so parents and friends could see them on television. The questions were simple ones to not make the children nervous. The questions were, What is your name, What sports do you like, Where do you live, and Do you have any funny jokes to tell. Most of the children did well and answered the questions correctly.

As Ronald got around to the middle of the second row, he asked one young man who looked about 8-9 years old if he knew any funny jokes. The boy looked up and said, “I sure do!” “Why are girls and frying pans alike?” Ronald looked into the camera and said, “Well, I don’t know. Why?” The boy replied, “Cause you have to get em both hot before you put the meat in!”

Ronald was stunned, and for a moment, stood silently looking into the camera. He then regained his composure and said to the boy, “Now that wasn’t a very nice joke.” Seconds later, the little boy, not missing a beat looked up at Ronald and said in a raised voice,
“EAT IT CLOWN!”

True story.

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