"Puppet Playhouse" (1947) TV series 1947-1960

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Creator:

E. Roger Muir
(more)

Seasons:

unknown

Release Date:

27 December 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Family

Plot Keywords:

Marionette | Rocket | Clown

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win

Cast

Bob Smith

...

Buffalo Bob (2 episodes, 1955-1960)

(more)

Series Directed by
Bob Hultgren		(1 episode, 1960)
Sandy Howard		(unknown episodes, 1947-1959)

Series Writing credits
E. Roger Muir		(1 episode, 1955)
Willie Gilbert		(1 episode, 1960)
Jack Weinstock		(1 episode, 1960)

Series Produced by
E. Roger Muir	....	producer (1 episode, 1960)
Edward Kean	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Hal Schaffel	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Martin Stone	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Karl Hoffenberg	....	unit manager (1 episode, 1960)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eleanor Tarshis	....	associate director (1 episode, 1960)

Series Art Department
Norman Davidson	....	scenic designer (1 episode, 1960)

Series Sound Department
Tom McNamara	....	audio (1 episode, 1960)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Fred McKinnon	....	lighting director (1 episode, 1960)

Series Other crew
Carl Cabasin	....	technical director (1 episode, 1960)
Joe Dicso	....	stage manager (1 episode, 1960)
Dayton Allen	....	puppeteer (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1947-1960) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Image Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Moviecraft (2004) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

"Howdy Doody" (USA)
"The Buffalo Bob Show"
"The Howdy Doody Show" (USA) (new title)

Runtime:

30 min (2343 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (1955-1960) | Black and White (1947-1955)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Trivia:

Clarabell the Clown never spoke on camera until the very last episode. While large amounts of money were offered by advertisers to have him say the sponsor's name or product, all offers were refused. After the closing credits of the very last episode, a drumroll was played, and Clarabell, holding back tears, softly said, "Goodbye, kids."

Quotes:

Host: Say, kids, what time is it?
Peanut Gallery: It's Howdy Doody time!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Zoom (2006)

At least you could see their faces.

Back when Howdy Doody was aired at least you had characters that were not done up in costumes that disguise what the actors looked like as they are today.

I grew up during the early stages of children's programming on TV and watched Howdy Doody (Bob Smith), Captain Kangaroo (Bob Keeshan) and The Merry Mailman (Ray Heatherton). Now your children are watching Barney (a supposed stuffed toy who comes to life to play with the children). Does anyone know the actors name or know what he looks like?. You also are letting your children watch Bear in the Big Blue House (again, any idea who that is?). Our children, and in my case grandchildren, are watching Jim Henson-like characters in full body costumes and not seeing realistic characters who imparted the same moral standards (if not more so) on a daily basis!! I feel sorry for the person who thought that the characters on Howdy Doody were grotesque yet lets his children watch the Power Rangers and other shows that depict violence in every episode. At least those grotesque characters never threw lightning bolts, had to kick 15 ninja style characters into oblivion or otherwise teach children that violence is the only way to overcome evil.

Let me go back to the days when a children's TV host was seen as him/herself. I would be much more satisfied seeing the grandchildren learning lessons from a person rather than a purple dinosaur!!