The Howdy Doody Show 

The first nationally televised American children's TV program and a prototype for what followed. Buffalo Bob Smith hosts while the puppet, Howdy Doody, stars.

Creator:

E. Roger Muir

Stars:

Bob Smith, Robert Keeshan, Bill LeCornec

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Bob Smith	...	Buffalo Bob / ... 110 episodes, 1947-1960
Robert Keeshan	...	Clarabell the Clown #1 31 episodes, 1947-1953

Storyline

The first nationally televised American children's TV program and a prototype for what followed. Buffalo Bob Smith hosts while the puppet, Howdy Doody, stars.

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Plot Keywords:

rocket | marionette | clown | 

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Genres:

Family

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 December 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Howdy Doody

Filming Locations:

NBC Studios - 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min (2343 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White (1947-1955) Color (1955-1960)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Clarabell the Clown never spoke on camera until the very last episode. While large amounts of money were offered by advertisers to have him say the sponsor's name or product, all offers were refused. After the closing credits of the very last episode, a drumroll was played, and Clarabell, holding back tears, softly said, "Goodbye, kids."

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Quotes

[final episode. Clarabell speaks for the only time in the show's history]
Clarabell the Clown: Goodbye, kids.

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Connections

Featured in Words (1987)

User Reviews

At least you could see their faces.

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!!