THE HOWDY DOODY SHOW is well-remembered by many of us baby-boomers.
The Doodyville Historical Society was established in 1978 and, incredibly,
still publishes a monthly newsletter and has members in the U.S., Canada and
Australia. The long-running TV children's show ran for 13 years (1947-1960)
on NBC. This December marks Howdy's 60th birthday. The landmark show
won a Peabody Award, pioneered TV product merchandising, introduced the
first split screen broadcast (Chicago and N.Y.) in 1949, aired the first live
broadcast of a total solar eclipse (Mar. 4, 1951), was the first show to reach
1,000 episodes, and was the first TV show to broadcast every day in color
(beginning Sept. 12, 1955). The Dell comic HOWDY DOODY #1 (cover dated
January 1950) was the first comic book based on a TV show and sold for 10
cents (a near-mint copy is now worth over $1500). Howdy and his mentor
(and creator) Buffalo Bob Smith made the cover of TV Guide magazine on
June 25, 1954. That issue is now worth up to $300. Add to all this the fact
that the second "Toy Story" movie owes much to THE HOWDY DOODY SHOW.
The fictional old "Woody's Roundup" Saturday morning TV show alluded to was
largely inspired by Howdy. Not to mention the fact that Howdy's friend Chief
Thunderthud uttered the word "Cowabunga" decades before the Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles or Bart Simpson! Just a bit of TV history for you.

i just finshed rereading say kids what time is it? last week and i have a few howdy doddy eps on tape it was a great show for kids to watch back in the day .and still 100 times better that the junk that passes for kids tv now

Okay, I've been wanting to do this for a while now, so I finally found my 'perfect soapbox' to stand on for this.

Even though I was born one month after Howdy was cancelled, I understand fully how Howdy Doody can melt someone's heart and, in turn, how it can affect someone's life for the better. I fell in love with the show in September of 2007 when I started watching the clips on YouTube. I mean - Howdy is the pinnacle of 'sweet and cute' (which got me interesed in the first place). Everything else soon followed - I downloaded a few of the complete shows from various web sites that had them available, I read up on everything possible about the show from every source imaginable. The more I read, the more I watched, the deeper my love (and admiration) became.

I guess what I really like most is the life lessons given - and HOW they were given - they are so applicable today it's real! A lot of the kids never knew they were getting lessons on ethics and life in general, because they were having too much fun! I understand that fully too - I get so wrapped up in the characters, plot, etc. that I have to watch it a second time just to figure out what the life lesson was! Of course I don't mind! I've watched them 3-4 times apiece and I still want more! I now fully appreciate the behavior of an older Boomer brother (or sister) when I meet one - I think I know (and of course appreciate) where they got part of their lessons from as kids.

When I started reading about everything everyone had to do just to get on the air every day my admiration and respect deepend tenfold. This wasn't work to most of these people - it was a labor of love - and it showed day in and day out. Even when the show went to just Saturdays after 1956 (I believe) you can tell - the performers were having so much fun and it was infectuous - not only on the peanut gallery but also on the viewers as well! (including this one)

I recently did another post in another thread - something about 'best kids' TV shows' - I believe that post succinctly describes everything I've said here abut why I love Howdy Doody so much.

In conclusion - the best there is - the best there was - the best there will ever be.

OK, OK, I'll get off the soapbox now. And gimme back my Wonder Bread! NEXT!! :wave: