[January 30, 2026] Since the days of being a babe (early 1950s), I would sit in front of a small black and white television set watching a children’s series, The Howdy Doody Show. My Mom claims it was my favorite, and she saw it as good ole wholesome fun. But there was more.
Howdy Doody was a marionette puppet wearing a cowboy outfit and appearing alongside Buffalo Bob. Howdy Doody spoke in a sort of child-adolescent golly-gee-whiz voice. It was basic, clean fun.
That wholesomeness made it popular among our parents. My eyes were glued to the TV. I don’t remember if it was a daily or Saturday morning series.
Buffalo Bob opened every show by asking in a loud, game-show host voice, “What time is it, kids?” And the kids in the audience would shout, “It’s Howdy-Doody Time!!” Then they would sing the Howdy Doody Song. This was huge.
Howdy Doody was an innocent like us, encountering the confusing, sometimes unjust, occasionally threatening world of adults, and yet always emerged unspoiled and with his good old-fashioned boyish American innocence intact.
I desperately wanted to be on The Howdy Doody Show rather than see it at home (was I not an ordinary American kid?). All those kids in the peanut gallery saw Howdy Doody, Buffalo Bob, and Phineas T. Bluster – resident skinflint, mayor of Doodyville, and nemesis of Howdy. There was also Clarabell, not a puppet but played by a real person who was a mute clown who communicated in a variety of ways. Oh, how I wanted that same experience.
Perhaps out of character for a babe like me, Mom tells me I was more “in love” with Princess Summerfall Winterspring who was a companion and supporter of Howdy. She was dressed in a sexy buckskin-fringed outfit. I barely remember her, but apparently she was like a mother-like figure, kinda creepy.
We can still see the show on the Internet, most for no cost. The 1947 first episode can be found on YouTube here. I recommend it for the reason that it shows how we become who we are, seeing the greater world, and that our struggles are shared by others like us.
NOTE: See more in this article “78 Years Ago Today: Howdy Doody Show First Premiered on NBC” at this link, or just watch the show.
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Who doesn’t like Howdy Doody? Watch the old tv shows and tell me you don’t like him. I love that guy.
Another great show from the past. This one was wildly popular among the youngest kids. I’ve started watching them on YouTube.
I never heard of Howdy Dooty but he looks like a really “cool” character. On this thought, I might add that your time as a kid must have been interesting, and I’m sure you drove your mom crazy with your antics. ✅
We all wanted to be on the Howdy Doody show. Well, that is if you were born sometime between 1940 and 1950’ish. We were enamored with him and his sidekicks (maybe he was the main sidekick to Buffalo Bob).
The Howdy Doody Show
Original title: Puppet Playhouse
TV Series
1947–1960
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https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165594/
Yeah!!!!!
It’s Howdy Doody time!
https://clickamericana.com/media/television-shows/what-time-is-it-its-howdy-doody-time-1947-1960
Gotta love him.
Hey folks, scroll to the very bottom and see Raw Hide’s ascii of Howdy Doody and Buffalo Bob. Good computer art.
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There are numerous Howdy Doody paraphernalia items on Etsy.
https://www.etsy.com/search?q=howdy%20doody&ref=search_bar
POWERFUL … “Howdy Doody was an innocent like us, encountering the confusing, sometimes unjust, occasionally threatening world of adults, and yet always emerged unspoiled and with his good old-fashioned boyish American innocence intact.” – Gen. Doug Satterfield
Eduardo, I haven’t seen you on this forum lately, so I do hope you and your family are well. Gen. Satterfield has also begun putting together more “rules for a good life” and he is now up to RULE #60. Let’s hope he continues. He put out one a couple of years ago, “Don’t Look Up at Seagulls”
https://www.theleadermaker.com/dont-look-up-at-seagulls/
My advice, Don’t Look Up at Seagulls. Men and women have different, often fundamentally different outlooks on life about those elements that affect us. If you are a woman, you will likely take my message to mean you should ignore something beautiful. If you are a man, you most likely take this as practical advice to avoid bird dung in your eye.
Another great quote.
We all loved Howdy Doody. 👋🤠
Surprise
Surprise
Surprise
Gen. Satterfield, once again, sneaks into his articles one out of the blue. This one about one of the very first children shows on television. All those that followed, had similar formats. The great thing about The Howdy Doody Show was that it was not scary or crazy. The only criticism I could find online was that it was too commercialized. Well, that’s how you sell the show.
Yeah, great how that worked out. I’m always coming to this website to see what surprise topic we get each day. And, I’m never disappointed. Thank you, Gen. Satterfield for highlighting this good ole wholesome show.
Here is an ascii Howdy Doody.
Let’s hope it comes out okay.
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WOW, nicely done, Raw Hide.
What a great show. I remember my dad telling me about it when I was young and he loved it. I’m going to follow the link and watch the first show.