Beloved Colorado TV Clown Blinky Entertained Generations

Blinky's Fun Club aired for over 40 years, setting records for longest-running children's TV host and show

Feb. 23, 2026 at 9:40pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Blinky the Clown, a beloved character portrayed by Russell Scott, entertained Colorado families for decades on his long-running TV show "Blinky's Fun Club." The clown gained fame for his singing of birthday wishes to children who attended tapings of the show, which aired from 1958 to 1998 and set records as the longest-running children's TV program and host in U.S. history.

Why it matters

Blinky the Clown was a beloved cultural icon in Colorado, representing the golden age of local children's television programming and bringing joy to generations of the state's families. His longevity and popularity highlight the power of community-based entertainment to create lasting memories and a shared sense of identity.

The details

Russell Scott, born in Oklahoma in 1921, started performing as a clown named Sears-O in Colorado Springs before adopting the Blinky persona. Blinky's Fun Club began airing on KKTV in Colorado Springs in 1958 before moving to Denver's KWGN in 1966, where it would run for over 30 more years. The show's most iconic segment was when Blinky would sing 'Happy Birthday' to children in the studio audience.

  • Blinky's Fun Club first aired on KKTV in Colorado Springs in 1958.
  • The show moved to KWGN in Denver in 1966 and ran until 1998.
  • Russell Scott, the man behind Blinky the Clown, passed away in 2012 at the age of 91.

The players

Russell Scott

The man who portrayed the beloved character of Blinky the Clown on Colorado television for over 40 years.

Blinky the Clown

The iconic children's television character created and portrayed by Russell Scott, who entertained Colorado families for generations.

Blinky's Fun Club

The long-running children's television program that featured Blinky the Clown and aired on Colorado stations KKTV and KWGN from 1958 to 1998.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

Blinky the Clown's enduring popularity in Colorado demonstrates the lasting impact that locally-rooted, community-focused entertainment can have on a region's cultural identity and shared childhood memories. Even as television has become more globalized, Blinky's legacy shows the power of homegrown programming to bring people together.