Donated to History Colorado by Shannon Schrum, a longtime friend of Scott's and collector of Blinky memorabilia.
Blinky the Clown brought joy, comfort and unforgettable safety tips to generations of Colorado children every weekday for over 40 years. In fact, Blinky’s more than four decades spent on Denver’s airwaves set national records. He became the longest running television clown and host of any children’s television show in American history. Originally inspired by the circus growing up, Russell Scott, the man behind the face paint and plaid jacket, began his television career as Blinky in 1958 on station KKTV in Colorado Springs, just six years after Colorado acquired its first television station in 1952. In 1966, Scott and Blinky’s Fun Club moved to Denver’s KWGN-TV, where it would stay until it was removed from broadcast in 1998.