The New Howdy Doody Show

WE RECALL WHEN our TV pal, Howdy Doody left us, never to be seen in Doodyville, as the puppet town* had also passed into broadcast oblivion. We were none too sad at the time, for the series had run its course during a successful 13 tear run (1947-60); which in the Television business is like an eternity.

FURTHERMORE, MUCH IN the same way that Jackie Paper's growing up led to the ultimate demise of PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON (in popular song), our own journey toward puberty removed us from following or even caring about Howdy, Buffalo Bob, Mister Bluster, Clarabelle, Chiefs Thunderthud & Featherman, Princess Summerfall Winterspring and all the rest of the supporting cast (be they of flesh & blood or marionettes).

SO WE MUST fast forward for 18 years and this formerly cute, little, freckle-faced kid was now a young father, complete with Wife (Deanna) and 2 daughters (Jenn & Michelle). It was at this time that somebody in Show Biz thought that enough time had elapsed and it was overdue that Howdy & Company should make a come-back. The same sort of revival had worked in the 1960's Comic Books with revivals of so many Superheroes, why not with HOWDY DOODY?

SO IT CAME to pass that a syndicated THE NEW HOWDY DOODY Show did a two year's run in our homes without benefit of a network. It was sold to individual TV stations in various markets and at least brought the lovable wooden head into the spotlight once more.

WHEREAS THE REVIVAL did reunite some of the original talent (Bob Smith, Roger Muir, Lew Anderson (Clarabelle # 2 or 3) and Bill LeCornec, things had to now comply with a sort of primordial version of Political Correctness. LeCornec's characterization was limited to one'Nicholson Muir' (being a fictional producer of the show). Gone were Doctor Singasong, Oil Well Willie and especially Chief Thunderthud.*

ALTHIUGH THERE WERE some specials and Bob Smith was active on the fan show circuit, this was Howdy's broadcast Swan Song.

NOTE * This change in characterizing American Indian in pop fiction extended to the other show's characters, Chief Featherman (Bob Keeshin), "father" of Princess Summerfall Winterspring, were both no where to be seen.

As a sidebar The Princess (actress Judy Tyler) was killed in an automobile accident after costarring with Elvis in one of his starring vehicles.

I gave this a 9/10 because the 2 (of 4 I believe) DVDs of compiled shows I have are very, very good. They follow a theme that last about 5 episodes, and it's hard to describe just how much effort and talent they put into it. The narrative, music, acting, variety... Our family has re-watched these many times over the years.. I have never seen the original show, but I am sure that the two series are quite different, how could they not be? Pains me to hear this wasn't well-received at the time; If people only knew that especially compared to nowadays, this is a splendid effort at wholesome, talented and sometimes educational fun! We are thankful to everyone involved!

My late mother worked for an American Express facility which in 1976 had just moved to Plantation, FL. Through some arrangement with the studio that was producing The New Howdy Doody Show, AMEX employees were invited to bring their children to fill up the "peanut gallery" for one day which was filming for one storyline (I think it was a week's worth of episodes) The question I have is, I don't see the plot I was in the peanut gallery for on the episode list. "The Phantom of Doodyville" . Nor are two other storylines listed that I definitely remember watching. "The Pied Piper of Doodyville" and "Happy Harmony's Birthday" Where are these? Does anyone remember these and when they were in the production order?

Sixteen years after Clarabell broken his silence to say "Goodbye kids", Howdy Doody returned in syndication in 1976.

Buffalo Bob Smith returned as host as well as the puppets Dilly Dally, Phineas T. Bluster, Flubadub and of course, the title character. Clarabell also returned, played by the same man in the latter run of the original show, Lew Anderson.

There were also some new characters added. Bill LeCornec, who played Chief Thunderthud, played the fictitious producer Nicholson Muir, named for the production company. Bobby Nicholson played Cornelius Cobb, Milt Neil played the artist Fletcher the Sketcher. Also, there was a new female character, schoolteacher Happy Harmony, played by Marilyn Patch.

The color barrier was broken on the show when Jack Davis served as the leader of the show's band the Doodlers.

Though it was great to see Howdy Doody and Buffalo Bob, two TV pioneers, the reason why The New Howdy Doody Show failed because it wasn't as intimate as the original. The Peanut Gallery on the original seated 40 members, while the new show held five to six times as much in Miami's Video City studio.

Second, the show tried to cater to kids as well as adults (referred to by Buffalo Bob as alumni) and it was hard to come up with material that catered to both aspects of the audience.

Unfortunately, The New Howdy Doody Show lasted only 26 weeks but it was a valiant attempt to revive a kids show classic.