Howdy Doody

Howdy Doody was an early television series, airing from 1947 to 1960, starring cheerful marionette Howdy Doody and his human sidekick Buffalo Bob Smith (who also was the main voice of Howdy, while others performed the actual puppetry). Mingling marionettes and human characters, the show was one of the first nationally known children's series, using a live audience of kids (the peanut gallery). The theme song had the kids chanting "It's Howdy Doody Time" to the tune of "Ta-Ra-Ra Boom-De-Ay." 
Boisterous Native American Chief Thunderthud's catchphrase "Kawabunga/Kowabunga" would, respelled with a c, become popular with surfers, turtles, and a certain hungry Cookie Monster. A little green blab of clay named Gumby also made his debut on the series. A 1976 revival series, The New Howdy Doody Show, ran in syndication but lacked the impact of the original show.
A 1980 poster for The Smithsonian Institution's "Puppets & Things On Strings" exhibit at the National Museum of American History featured Edgar Bergen's dummy Charlie McCarthy holding Kermit the Frog who was manipulating Howdy Doody's marionette strings.
In 1986, for The Television Academy Hall of Fame induction of Burr Tillstrom, presenter Jim Henson segued to taped clips of famous puppets and their main human performers or guardians, including Howdy Doody and Smith. They all joined in, through multiple screens and along with several Muppets, to perform "Let's Sing a Song About Burr."
==References==
* The February 18, 1966 broadcast of The Jimmy Dean Show, with Rowlf the Dog spoofing Batman, has Jimmy Dean (in the Robin role) uttering holy exclamations including "Holy Howdy Doody!"
* When Oscar the Grouch asks his puppet Crummy if he knows what it's time for, Crummy sarcastically answers, "No. Howdy Doody?"
* Big Bird can be heard singing the "Howdy Doody" theme song to himself in Episode 1725 of Sesame Street.
* Elmo pretends to be a magician in Sesame Street Episode 2210, and his magic words includes the phrase "Howdy-Doody-Buffalo-Bib (sic)."
* The third season of Dog City featured "The Mr. Moogie (sic) Show," and the theme was a variation of Howdy Doody's.
==Connections==
*Bob Keeshan played Clarabell the Clown (1948-1952)
*Bill McCutcheon played Leo the leprechaun in several 1950s episodes
*Claude Rae voiced Howdy Doody, Phineas T. Bluster, and Mr. X on the CBC version
*Allen Swift voiced Phineas T. Bluster, Inspector Fadoozle, Captain Windy Scuttlebutt, and was a substitute voice for Howdy
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Category:TV References
Category:Puppetry