Howdy Doody

Howdy Doody was a children's television program that aired on NBC from 1947 through 1960. It was a pioneer in children's programming and set the pattern for many similar shows. more...

It was also a pioneer in early color production as NBC used the show in part to sell color television sets in the 1950's.

Characters

Howdy Doody himself was a freckle-faced boy marionette, and was originally voiced by Bob Smith. Other puppet characters included Heidi Doody (Howdy's sister), Mr. Bluster, Dilly Dally, Princess Summerfall Winterspring, and the curious Flub-a-Dub (a combination of eight animals).

The show's host was Bob Smith (1917-1998), who was dubbed "Buffalo Bob" early in the show's run. Smith wore cowboy garb, and the name of the puppet "star" was derived from the western U.S. expression "Howdy Doody," a familiar form of the greeting "How Do You Do?" The name was the source of some childish crude humor, as "doody" was also a familiar child's euphemism for defecation.

There also were several human characters, most notably Clarabell the clown, who communicated by honking horns on his belt and squirting seltzer, and Chief Thunderthud, who originated the cry "Kowabonga!". Princess Summerfall Winterspring, originally a puppet, was later played by the actress Judy Tyler. The characters inhabited the fictional town of "Doodyville".

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