Howdy Doody

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Description: From 1947 to 1960, The Howdy Doody Show was the leading children’s TV program. Each episode opened with the question, "Say, kids, what time is it?" Resounding from the peanut gallery—and from millions of television-watching kids around the country—came the reply, "It's Howdy Doody time!" The creator of the Howdy Doody character, “Buffalo” Bob Smith, first performed him as a radio character. When the show transitioned to TV, Frank Paris transformed the voice into a puppet. In 1948, disputes over merchandising rights led to Frank Paris taking the original puppet with him. Velma Dawson created this new style of Howdy Doody puppet that debuted in 1949 after a break for “plastic surgery.” NBC retained the rights to the Howdy Doody name, and Bob Smith continued to voice the puppet. This object was one of three puppets made for the show.

Physical Description: wood, pine (overall material); plastic (overall material); paint (overall material); fabric (overall material); string (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 34 1/2 in x 8 in x 7 in; 87.63 cm x 20.32 cm x 17.78 cm

subject: Puppetry; Television; Radio and television broadcasting; Television broadcasts; Children's television programs

See more items in: Culture and the Arts: Entertainment; Popular Entertainment; American Enterprise
Exhibition: American Enterprise
Exhibition Location: National Museum of American History

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