A Little Background on Howdy Doody – My favorite TV show as a child

Howdy.BobHowdy Doody is an American children’s television program (with circus and Western frontier themes) that was created and produced by E. Roger Muir and telecast on the NBC network in the United States from December 27, 1947 until September 24, 1960. It was a pioneer in children’s television programming and set the pattern for many similar shows. One of the first television series produced at NBC in Rockefeller Center, in Studio 3A, it was also a pioneer in early color production as NBC (at the time owned by TV maker RCA) used the show in part to sell color television sets in the 1950s.

The character first came to life from the creative mind of Bob Smith, who created Howdy Doody during his days as a radio announcer on WNBC. At that time, Howdy Doody was only a voice Smith performed on the radio. When Smith made an appearance on NBC’s television program Puppet Playhouse on December 27, 1947, the reception for the character was great enough to begin a demand for a visual character for television. Frank Paris, a puppeteer whose puppets appeared on the program, was asked to create a Howdy Doody puppet.

As both the character and television program grew in popularity, demand for Howdy Doody related merchandise began to surface. By 1948, toymakers and department stores had been approached with requests for Howdy Doody dolls and similar items. Macy’s department store contacted Frank Paris, the creator of the puppet, to ask about rights for a Howdy Doody doll. While Paris had created the puppet, it was Bob Smith who owned the rights to the Howdy Doody character; an argument ensued between the two men, as Paris felt he was being cheated out of any financial benefits from having made the puppet. After one such disagreement, Paris took the Howdy Doody puppet and angrily left the NBC studios with it about four hours before the show was to air live; it was not the first time Paris had taken his puppet and left, leaving the live television program with no “star”.

Credit for this synopsis about Howdy Doody goes to Wikipedia @ Wikipedia.com.  You can go there for more information concerning this pioneering children’s television program.

 

Howdy Doody 4 Wonder Bread Flip Tag Pins, 3 Handkerchiefs, Dilly Dally, Bluster

howdyFabulous framed set of original 1950’s Howdy Doody items, mounted and professionally custom matted under glass. This set includes 4 original Wonder Bread Flipper pin badge tags, each with original string and pin and 3 assorted bandana handkerchiefs. You are purchasing SEVEN collectible items, all in one framed under glass design.

  • Original Wonder Bread pins include Includes Dr Sing-A-Song, The Featherman, The Inspector, and Mr Blulster.  Each still retains original string and pin. condition excellent. Flip side shows “Wonder Bread” if you could see the reverse.
  • 3 assorted handkerchiefs include Howdy Doody with Clarabell and Flub-A-Dub, Dilly Dally, and Mr Bluster.howdy2
  • Framed size measures 18″ x 34″.
  • Handkerchiefs shown measure 9″ x 9″, circle for flip badge pins are 3-1/4″.
  • Excellent condition for these collectible items which appear nearly new; natural wood frame shows some wear and has scrapes along the bottom.

You could easily remove the frame and move the matted contents over to a new one if you prefer.
Instant Fabulous collection,ready to display! We have another set listed separately with different bandanas and pins.  This and other Howdy Doody items in our eBay Store Connectibles.