Marvin W. Fishman

He was born Marvin Fishman on January 6, 1927 in Cleveland, Ohio "to be close to my Mother".

Marvin sings on local radio for Billy Tilton at 8 years old while another boy tap-dances.
His buddies ask, "how do you dance and sing at the same time?"   The prodigy's mother
bribes him with a snare drum to get him to sing in public.

His voice cracks at age 13 ending his radio career.  Marvin switches to the saxophone when he inherits the instrument from his uncle.  He receives a ribbon of excellence every year in his junior high school band.

He becomes part of the Honeydale Street Gang; nickname: "Fish".  He's regularly beat up by a local Italian gang.  Hence his trademark closing as Flippo: "Love ya, keep smiling and don't fight!"

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Marvin W. Fishman joins the Army upon high school graduation in 1945.
He is such a good marksman that he becomes an instructor.  He's sent
to Pusan, Korea "and that's what it smelled like... poo-son."

At the Kimpo army base he creates the "Kimpo Combo" to play for both officers and
regular joes.  During the daytime, he types reports as second in command.  He obtains
early, hardship exits for soldiers who need to get home.  He doesn't take his own R & R
if it means someone else can't go home sooner.

He's discharged in 1946 as one of the Army's youngest Tech Sergeants at age twenty.

He attends Ohio State in the Spring Quarter of 1947 to study Optometry.
Bored, he joins the marching band and goes back to his first true love:
MUSIC!  Marvin W. Fishman plays jazz gigs in various bands and changes his
name to a more snazzy "Bob Marvin".

In 1951 while playing at the Neil House, Bob is spotted by a WBNS 10-TV
Producer and offered a job if he shaves off his mustache.  He was used to
doing this: "my Mother would give me $50 dollars to shave it off every time
I came home from college."

1953: Ward Baking Co. seeks a clown for a new afternoon kiddy show
called "Tip Top Bandwagon".   Bob rehearses intensely to audition for the
J. Walter Thompson Agency.   A real circus clown was to be his competition
but he caught the willies and left town.  Bob Marvin wins the job and becomes
Flippo, the King of Clowns (a role that will last 30 years).    The New York ad agency
J. Walter Thompson picks "Flippo" as his new moniker when the Channel 10
suggestions fell flat.

December 6, 1953 Columbus Dispatch article announcing Flippo the very first time ever.

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Ward Baking company pulled out after 18 months but by then, Flippo was The Clown.  His
program had different names, days and times but his popularity never waned.  By 1957,  he helms "Flippo's Big Show" which features "Our Gang" comedies.
 

Buying a BMW Iseta so The King would have the appropriate cool wheels, Flippo knew
how to make an entrance or a driveby.  Then a big dog caught the refrigerator-door car and
buried it.  (He used to say that.  He really sold it to a poor college boy after he made him
take all the decals off.  If you know where that poor college boy is today and/or the car
please email me.)

   He gets roasted on October 22, 2004
 
 

  Bob donates his costume and other Flippo items to the Ohio Historical Society

January 5, 2006: OHS throws Flippo Appreciation Night  (his last public appearance).

Dr. Bill Laidlaw presents the birthday cake to Bob 
 
 

January 6, 2006: Marvin W. Fishman turns 79, his advice: "Don't get OLD!"

After a lengthy illness, Marvin W. Fishman dies on Saturday, June 10, 2006.
                   (Flippo cartoon courtesy Columbus Dispatch, Jeff Stahler)