Link (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jxfmdsxGt2FT6O04xZE9lwWdSTugD9HP9VUG0)


WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A family friend says "Howdy Doody Show" writer Edward Kean has died at the age of 85.

Kean was the primary writer for the show and penned the theme song to which millions of American children sang along each week during the show's run on NBC from 1947 to 1960.

Family friend Del Reddy said Monday that Kean died Aug. 13 at a nursing care facility in Oakland County's West Bloomfield Township from complications of emphysema.

Reddy says the New York City native wrote the song "It's Howdy Doody Time," which was sung during the show's opening.

Kean is credited with creating the exclamation, "kowabunga," made popular by one of the show's characters and borrowed by Bart Simpson, the animated problem child on the long-running comedy "The Simpsons."

:rip:

:rip: Edward Kean

:rip: Eddie Kean, and (from one soul who just missed the final train going there) thank you for making Doodyville the special, wonderful fantastic place it was (and still is) for millions of lives. You will be greatly missed.

...was the primary author of all the "Howdy Doody" scripts, as well as its lyricist, and author of the various comic books and hardcover books involving Howdy from 1948 through '55. After he left, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert became the new head writers, continuing with the series until it ended in 1960 {they later wrote the book for the Broadway musical, "How To Succed In Business Without Really Trying"}. But Kean was the "architect" of everything that took place in "Doodyville".....and he did it five days a week, with very little time off. One of the most prolific writers ever involved in television....what a talent!


:rip: