Howdy Doody Ventriloquist Doll
The Howdy Doody Showwas a phenomenal success. After its  1947 crossover from radio to television, lines to see the show were  tremendous, as fans were eager to watch the antics of the spunky,  freckle-faced marionette and his cohorts. Goldberger's Howdy Doody  ventriloquist doll is a playful reminder of those days. He's the mirror  image of Buffalo Bob's pal, with everything but the strings. He has  fiery hair, great big ears, wide blue eyes, and a liberal peppering of  freckles. Howdy sports a dark blue neckerchief, sunny yellow armbands  over a red plaid shirt, and red-and-white plastic cowboy boots. He's a  30-inch, lightweight stuffed fellow with a vinyl head and hands. The  string pull hidden on his back gets his jaw a-flappin'. The doll's  action is a bit stiff--it takes some expert positioning to keep Howdy's  head from following the motion of the string--but after a little  practice it gets better. Included in the case is a set of simple,  encouraging (and quaintly illustrated) black-and-white instructions for  the beginning ventriloquist. You'll want to practice in front of a  mirror before you lasso your own admiring fans. It's Howdy Doody time!--Julie Ubben