It's Howdy Doody Time

The Howdy Doody Show introduced a generation of American children to a loveable cast of characters. Apart from Howdy Doody (a puppet voiced by show host Bob Smith), there was: Clarabell the (silent) clown, Heidi Doody (Howdy's sister), Mr. Bluster, Dilly Dally, Princess Summerfall Winterspring, Chief Thunderthud (who originated the cry "Kowabonga!), and the curious Flub-a-Dub (a puppet composed of parts of eight animals).

Indeed, these characters are so beloved that they cause adults to wax nostalgic about them lo these many years later. My father is fond of recalling a particularly stern elementary school teacher who, despite seemingly having had little warmth for anyone or anything, earnestly asked her students about Dilly Dally's exploits on a daily basis.

In addition to the memorable characters, Howdy Doody also gave us a handful of noteworthy inventions, including the Flapdoodle, Super Talk-O-Scope, Electromindomizer, Honkadoodle, and the Mangle Wurzel. Three Flying Gonkletwerps were also called into being on the show. Despite being invisible, these creatures scared the Peanut Gallery so they eventually went back to wherever they came from.

The popular refrain you hear began every episode of The Howdy Doody Show, to the delight of children everywhere.

So let's give a rousing cheer...




Howdy Doody and Buffalo Bob Smith.