The Howdy Doody Show (1947–1960) User Reviews

This Show Rocks!!

[Glen_and_Glenda · 9/10 · 15 May 2009]

This is one of the greatest TV series of all time, a stunningly imaginative program filled with wonderfully quirky story-lines. Buffalo Bob Smith, Flub-A-Dub, Princess Summerfall Windersping, Dilly Dally, Mr Bluster and Howdy Doody himself all provided safe, quality entertainment for children and even some adults. Though the in-show advertising may seem awkward today, there was still usually less minutes of advertising per an episode than many "current" children's programs. Plus, one must be impressed by the clever ways the writers managed to incorporate the products (Colgate Dental Cream, Royal Gelatin, etc) into the story lines. Many episodes involved Mr Blusters slightly evil schemes, which always failed. Comic relief was provided by Clarabell the Clown, who always seemed to make a mess of things.

Overall, I'd give this show 9 out of 10, though I'm slightly biased since I really like kinescope recordings.

'What Time Is It, Kids? It's Howdy Doody Time!'

[ccthemovieman-1 · 7/10 · 16 February 2009]

Howdy Doody" was the first television show I ever remember watching as a very young kid. I hadn't seen it in about 55 years so, at first, it was kind of shocking to view a few episodes just the other day. A new DVD by Mill Creek Entertainment came out last last year (2008) and contains a number of episodes from 1949-1952 and all of them with pretty good transfers.

The show is not something I could enjoy now as a 60-plus-year-old man, but it was interesting to see the principal characters again. I viewed three of the episodes and, frankly, that was enough. It was fascinating to look back, though. I can't believe how the plugs they did for their sponsors, like Halo Shampoo or Three Muskateeres candy bar, were worked into an audience-participation thing. It's so different from what we've known the last 40 years. Instead of cutting away to a commercial, they plugged the products as part of the show.

Speaking of participation, I had also forgotten exactly how young the audience - the famous "Peanut Gallery" - was, the kids all looking about five years old. This was definitely a show for very young kids. The only part that I still enjoyed was the old silent film comedies. In each half-hour Howdy Doody episode, they showed a silent-film comedy with Buffalo Bob explaining some of the things going on. The old slapstick films are still funny, of course.

It also looked like the show did a lot to promote the American Indian. Yeah, they might have been white men dressed up as Native Americans, but there were a number of characters in this show and they were not portrayed negatively. They were live humans and puppets.

The other "live" people included a star of the show: "Clarabell" The Clown. Clarabell was like Harpo Marx, a silent pantomime figure who honked instead of spoke and made a lot of faces, many of them sad. He was first played by Bob Keeshan, who went on to big fame as "Captain Kangaroo."

The only thing that baffled me was seeing "Princess Summerfallwinterspring," whom I always remembered as a beautiful young women. Here, she's a puppet. I did some research, though, and found out she started out as a puppet on this show and then became a real-life human, played by Judy Tyler. By the way, Tyler played opposite Elvis Presley in the 1957 film, "Jailhouse Rock." Tragically, the woman and her husband were killed later that year in a car crash. Elvis said he could never watch that movie again, because seeing Judy would be too much to bear.

All in all, I still can't have anything but the fondest thoughts for this show, which first brought me the joys of television entertainment. Buffalo Bob Smith will always be a folk-hero of sorts to me, and millions of other Baby Boomers.

Anatomy Of A Kiddie Icon

[redryan64 · 8/10 · 31 July 2014]

MIGOSH! WHERE DO we begin? It's truly incredible to think of how much we really do recall about a series of so long ago. It is even more unbelievable when one considers that when we viewed much of this, the age was about 4 or 5 years old!

IT WAS AN important part of the afternoon routine at the Ryan household of 1950 (when we got our first TV set) to 1952 (we moved into our won house) and beyond. Because of this early and elementary introduction, the show and its characters had a very profound effect on our development.

ODDLY ENOUGH, DUE to our family's explanation of things, we understood that all we saw on the show was make believe. Our Mom and Dad, as well as older Sister Joanne, clued us in as to the fact that the people we saw were Actors, who portrayed the participants of the festivities on the show.

AND WHAT A GRAND cast of characters it truly was! In addition to the marionette main character, Howdy Doody, himself, there were a number of other supporting puppets. The action was provided by: Mr. Phineas T. Bluster (Howdy's elderly nemesis), Flubadub (a crazy-quilt of an animal*), Dilly Dally (a lackadaisical boy), Captain Scuttlebutt (Dilly Dally's uncle and Tugboat Operator) and others.

LIVE ACTION REAL actors who were featured mainly consisted of some whom portrayed multiple roles. For example, we have: Judy Tyler** as Indian Princess Summerfall Winterspring, Robert Keeshin (Future Captain Kangaroo) as the original Clarabelle the Clown and Chief Featherman of the Tinka-Tonka tribe (the Princess'father), with Bill Le Cornec taking the versatility honors with a triple assignment of renegade Chief Thunderthud (of the Ooragnak tribe & often ally of Mr. Bluster), Dr. Singasong (visiting 'trubador' and look alike for Mandrake the Magician) as well as Oil Well Willie (old coot of a Prospector).

THERE ARE CERTAIN incidents that we well remember, without benefit of any refresher. There was a continuity called "The Search for the Golden Goat" (a treasure hunt).

THE SHOW'S MOVING from the original Howdy Doody Circus setting to "Doodyville" was particularly memorable, if mean spirited. In it, Howdy said that Mr. Bluster could have the Circus for his own. But as that day's show was closing, a wrecking crew was "tearing down" the set! Can you say "CRUELTY?"

THE CREATOR, ONE 'Buffalo Bob' Smith served as host and did have some time off for recuperation from a heart attack (when he was temporarily replaced with one 'Bison Bill') Although Bob (born Robert Schmidt) sported a costume that was patterned after a buckskin outfit, he was not truly a man of the Old West. He derived the name from having been born and raised in Buffalo, NY!

THE ENTERPRISING AND versatile Mr. Smith also provided the voice for the wooden-headed Howdy!

NOTE: * The "Flubadub" was a combination of many animals; having the ears of a cocker spaniel, flippers of a turtle, etc. It was sort of like a fictional version of a Platypus!

NOTE ** Judy Tyler was killed in a car accident in 1957. At age 24 she was just embarking on a promising career; having just co-starred with Elvis in JAILHOUSE ROCK!

Wonderful Television Program

[the_matman · 28 April 2005]

Howdy Doody went off the air fourteen years before I was born. Until today, I had never seen a single episode. Oh yes, I had seen the clip of Clarabell crying on the last episode, but it was not until today--at age 31--that I saw the show for the first time with my five year-old son.

I can't say that I have ever seen such a quality children's program. Maybe this is because Bob Smith & Co. were trained in radio and live television back in the 1940's, but there was something authentic about their performances. Their diction, their facial expressions, their chemistry, and their interaction with the kids... And then the story lines were not bad either. Plus, after seeing the live commercials, I was expecting my son to ask for Wonder bread.

All you have to do is compare their work product against any children's show today and you will see what I mean. They had a connection with the audience--something the Power Rangers don't have. Frankly, I feel sad for my son's generation, because there is nothing so real on television for him today. Instead of finding role models like Buffalo Bob on TV, all he has are impersonal cartoons; and if, God forbid, he should ever change the channel from these shows, he might find Jerry Springer and Maury Povich.

Wonderful program for children

[hockemeyer · 10/10 · 18 February 2007]

I watched this show everyday when I was a child in the '50s. I was even on the show once as a member of the 'Peanut Gallery'. Kids need more of this type of programming today and less of the pseudo violence and political programming that is labeled as 'kids TV' today. This stirs imagination, which in turn stirs creativity in children. The actors were wholesome people. Bob Keeshan who played 'Clarabell the Clown' for several years, later became successful as 'Captain Kangaroo'. Bob Smith who was also known as 'Buffalo Bob' did a lot of touring and public appearances. He was kind to children, I remember the day that I got to be in the 'Peanut Gallery', I was 8, Buffalo Bob was kind and not at all flustered by a bunch of young children. He seemed to really like kids.

HOWDY DOODY SHOW - the original kid's show & prototype for many to follow

[IanRayonline · 10/10 · 22 June 2017]

I don't think some of those reviewing this show understand that TV was in the process of being born in the late 1940s and early 1950s. You have to take into account that this was the first experiment in kids' TV programming - the very first attempt to do a show that would entertain kids. Radio people, being the only "broadcasters" around, were basically trying to do their thing - but with cameras suddenly on them. Buffalo Bob Smith invented the Howdy Doody character on radio - the puppet we usually see as Howdy was the second version, the first one having been horribly crude. Budgets were next to nothing. When Buffalo Bob asked NBC to add a clown to the show, they turned him down. He hired Bob Keeshan (who later played Captain Kangaroo on his own program) to play Clarabelle the clown and paid him $5 a week out of his own pocket. To appreciate the impact of this show you need to close your eyes and listen to the content. Doodyville is an imperfect world with many surprises. Phineas T. Bluster is the mayor and the authority figure. He frequently does thoughtless things but often comes to see the error of his ways. Watch practically any episode of the hit show NORTHERN EXPOSURE and see the same character interactions! Contrary to several internet posts, Smith was not a ventriloquist. He simply voiced the puppet, Howdy Doody, when he himself was off-camera. At some point, actor Allen Swift took over the voicing of Howdy to facilitate more live interaction between Bob and Howdy. Those who know the reality of the early days of TV recognize Bob Smith as one of TV's founding geniuses for his insight into children's entertainment.

Loved, loved, loved this show.

[gkeith_1 · 10/10 · 9 June 2014]

Loved, loved, loved this show (repeating, I know). It is true, however. It is from my early childhood. Clarabell honked. No one ever expected him to talk. Howdy was wooden, and you could tell he was on strings. He was folksy, and had tiny little cowboy boots. Buffalo Bob was a warm character who could always make children welcome into the famous Peanut Gallery. I loved Princess Summerfallwinterspring. She was so beautiful and so nice. Dilly Dally was a slow cutie. Mr. Bluster was annoying but maybe with a heart of gold. Chief Thunderthud I have some kind of memory of as being gruff. I don't remember the on-show commercials or product placements, but they must have been subliminal and pleasing to me as part of the audience. I wish this show had gone on forever. My heart was totally broken when Buffalo Bob passed away.

15/10

brilliant show

[rodinnyc · 10/10 · 15 March 2019]

Howdy Doody is beloved by people of my generation. The characters were inventive, they were funny, they taught lessons about human nature and the different kinds of of people the kids would encounter as they grew older. The interaction between the the cast and the puppets made this exceptional with only Kula Fran and Olly having that same unique spirit. I'm writing this because the child on Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is watching and screams when his grandfather shuts it off, only to have it turned on again. I only remember watching this show on Saturday mornings from 10 to 11AM. The boy on MMM is watching in the evening in 1956. That might be a small error of the show because that's when I was watching. In college in 1969 or early 70, Buffalo Bob toured campuses. The auditorium or gym was packed. Everyone loved this show.

Say kids what time is it.

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 7 October 2019]

With that greeting came the arrival of Howdy Doody, a marionette boy and leading citizen of Doodyville. Later on that name was the subject of much scatalogical humor.

The show's cast divided between marionette creations and some live players in roles. Chief villain of the show was one Phineas T. Bluster the mayor of Doodyville who probably stuffed the ballot boxes. He was a marionette and looked like a Scrooge character. Bluster had all kinds of nefarious schemes which always came up short. A worthy antagonist for the All American Howdy Doody.

Presiding over all of this was Buffalo Bob Smith who hailed from Buffalo, New York. He did it with grace and tact and never talked down to the kid audience. I remember that he had a real heart attack at one point in the 50s. A guy named Bison Bill came in for a bit and Smith's return was welcomed.

Buffalo Bob was assisted by Clarabelle The Clown played by Bob Keeshan who went straight into Captain Kangaroo when Howdy Doody finished its run of 13 years. Clarabelle the Clown usually ended quarrels with those oldfashioned seltzer bottles with the spritzers.

It was a great kid's show, just about in the boomer generation saw it.

Howdy Doody Was Certainly No Pinocchio

[strong-122-478885 · 4/10 · 8 November 2015]

Buffalo Bob : "What time is it, kids?"

Kids in audience: "It's Howdy Doody time!"

This 5-disc set contains 40, b&w episodes in all from The Howdy Doody Show of the 1950's.

Now, I certainly didn't watch all 40 of these episodes - But, of the many I did view - I have to say that, for the life of me, I cannot believe this bargain-basement kiddies' program actually endured for 13 years.

Silly, naively cute and, yes, downright demented at times - Not only did the Howdy Doody puppet (who was a literal mess of strings) totally give me the creeps, big-time - But I sure didn't appreciate Buffalo Bob frequently doing a plug for Rice Krispies cereal and Colgate toothpaste right on the show.

Yes. This children's show did try to be educational and fun - But, in my opinion - The only time that it actually came to life was when Buffalo Bob and his fellow cast members directly interacted with the live audience which consisted of about 30 giggling, restless, wild-eyed youngsters between the ages of 5-12.

And, finally - I ask you - What the heck am I supposed to think about a kid's TV show where one of its main characters was a mute, male clown who had an effeminate name like Clarabell? Eh? Like, what was that all about?

Entertaining, Creative, Educational

[Aegelis · 7/10 · 24 October 2023]

Catchy jingle at the beginning of the end of each episode is sure to have you bounding around the house singing. I like the interaction with the kids in the audience. There's some coaching but often kids give some very creative and funny responses. The old timey movie in the show is some goofy fun thrown into the mix. Puzzles and games provide interactive fun.

There was a bit of showboating the network which seemed awkward, but better than modern TV ads. The theme for the show tends to get a little lost in all the hoopla, but there is an attempt to tie it in and bring the theme back to the point. We can see how this definitely a template for future children's television programming.

Creepy

[user-5-855049 · 1/10 · 20 May 2014]

I disagree with most reviewers here. When this show wasn't incredibly boring it was extremely creepy. Although I was only 5 when it got canceled in 1960, it was on in re-runs throughout the 60s. Also I had older brothers who also never liked the show either. Out of the entire family nobody liked it.

We watched Captain Kangaroo, Tom Terrific, Bugs Bunny, Shari Lewis & Lamb Chops, Superman, & even local greats like Commander Tom & Rocketship 7 with Promo the Robot.

Clowns, wooden dummy ventriloquist acts, & puppets on strings were out & scared kids by the 1950s. The cowboy/western theme just made it creepier. Lamb Chops paved the way for more popular & cuter puppet styles like the Muppets.

The very first TV program I ever saw.

[atwalters0217 · 19 October 2005]

I first saw "Puppet Playhouse" at the age of 5 on a neighbor's 5-inch GE TV (with a magnifying glass over the screen so that we could all see it). At that time, I lived near Buffalo, NY. Buffalo Bob's constant references to places around Buffalo brought the context a little closer. Then there were the old time movies, featuring Mickey McGuire and the Tons of Fun.

I also watched The Camel News Caravan, I Remember Mama, Milton Berle and all sorts of programs which stimulated my curiosity and imagination. And all this without the benefit of special effects that are now available. And, more importantly, a lot more imagination at play, than one would find in later years.

Years later when I'm watching my children watch cartoon characters flying around with devastating rays coming from their bare hands, I quickly devise ways to get the kids away from this stuff. My opinion is that (like another commenter) is that my kids missed some pretty neat stuff.

The cynicism of early kids' TV shows.

[NewtonFigg · 3/10 · 26 June 2019]

There was no subtlety about the show: sell, sell, sell. Howdy told us how Wonder Bread helped build strong bodies 8 ways. Rex Marshall appeared in a yachtsman's costume and sold Mason Mints. Buffalo Bob made a fist and rapped the air. A thud, thud sounded which was the invisible shield, Gardol, which Colgate provided to protect your teeth. Poll Parrot Shoes, Ovaltine. At least Ovaltine offered a free Howdy Doody Ovaltine Shake up Mug. In addition to the puppet characters, there were actors who played Chief Thunderthud and Ugly Sam. When something surprised Chief Thunderthud, he exclaimed "Cowabunga!" Ugly Sam was dressed like a caveman. He considered "ugly" a compliment. When he entered, he said "Hello ugly Buffalo; hello ugly peanuts." He was played by Dayton Allen who went on to be a Man in the Street on the Steve Allen Show. In the middle of every show, Ugly Buffalo introduced a silent movie projected onto the big Scopedoodle. The movies featured unheard of actors like Fanny Hines, and the villain, Rudolph Razzendale, who was so crooked he would steal the 20th Century Limited if the engine was cool. On one show, Fanny Hines made a brief appearance to introduce his film clip and did voice over as the film ran. My mother was curious to see who he was and came into the TV room during the movie, but Fanny unaccountably bade farewell before the movie ended and was not seen again.

I see several other reviews rating Howdy highly. I was a a connoisseur of kids' TV shows at the time and, in my opinion, the Howdy show was lame. The plots were dumb. The show had none of the wit of Pinhead and Foodini, or Newton Figg, or Snarky Parker, or Time for Beanie, and none of the gentle charm of Kukla, Fran and Ollie. It hardly surpassed the lower budget witless Rootie Kazootie Show. And, believe it or not, there were other shows that had no puppets. They also ranged in quality from good, like Ray Forrest's Children's Theater, to awful, like Pinky Lee.

So, yes, Howdy Doody paved the way for future kids' TV shows, but that's not saying much. Think H.R. Pufnstuff.

At least you could see their faces.

[wlaporte · 18 April 2006]

Back when Howdy Doody was aired at least you had characters that were not done up in costumes that disguise what the actors looked like as they are today.

I grew up during the early stages of children's programming on TV and watched Howdy Doody (Bob Smith), Captain Kangaroo (Bob Keeshan) and The Merry Mailman (Ray Heatherton). Now your children are watching Barney (a supposed stuffed toy who comes to life to play with the children). Does anyone know the actors name or know what he looks like?. You also are letting your children watch Bear in the Big Blue House (again, any idea who that is?). Our children, and in my case grandchildren, are watching Jim Henson-like characters in full body costumes and not seeing realistic characters who imparted the same moral standards (if not more so) on a daily basis!! I feel sorry for the person who thought that the characters on Howdy Doody were grotesque yet lets his children watch the Power Rangers and other shows that depict violence in every episode. At least those grotesque characters never threw lightning bolts, had to kick 15 ninja style characters into oblivion or otherwise teach children that violence is the only way to overcome evil.

Let me go back to the days when a children's TV host was seen as him/herself. I would be much more satisfied seeing the grandchildren learning lessons from a person rather than a purple dinosaur!!

Horrifying

[chris-594 · 2 October 2002]

This show is a good example of how children have changed since the halcyon haze of the 1950s. Back then, this show and its characters were beloved to seemingly most children, but now, children would be frightened by evil-looking puppets and clowns.

It's hard to believe that a children's show, much less one like this, could endure for nearly 2500 episodes. Oh well. I suppose children's television hasn't changed that much since the 1950s, after all -- Mr. Rogers is still around, as he was in the 50s, and modern children's shows have retained their simple, mindless guile, while at the same time keeping kids glued to their TVs for a few hours each day.