Howdy Doody Show Opening Sequence and Theme

[thrillbilly2]

That clown is surely in those poor childrens' nightmares now....

[ophello]

That clown is horrifying.

[duditon1]

@ophello this should be the top comment, i think everyone would agree

[madcitymcflyer]

The NBC 'Peanut Gallery' in later episodes was a tough ticket. Many, if not most, members of the audience were populated by children of NBC executives and 30 Rock NBC employees. (Susan)Signourney Weaver was the daughter of "Pat' Weaver, so she appeared frequently, as did Harry Shearer and other famous East Coast baby boomers with NBC connections.

[0108adri]

Besadc.  Xzzxdxçxfdynb

[fromthesidelines]

During the first two years of the show, it was officially titled "PUPPET PLAYHOUSE". This is an opening from early 1949, before Bob Smith became "Buffalo Bob" {note Howdy calls him "Mr. Smith"}, and he played his own opening theme on piano [later, Doc Whipple performed it on the organ, just offstage]. Bob {"Captain Kangaroo"} Keeshan is "Clarabell".

[ZZDaikun]

The perfect theme for a nuclear blast test.

[KonemKez]

I came here Because of Pawn Stars

[LunkerHunterz]

@KonemKez haha thats nuts me too

[ophello]

@KonemKez

No one cares why you came here.

[KonemKez]

@ophello And you reply to my comment 4 months later...

[CocteauDalighari]

Never cared for Howdy Doody or marionettes of any kind: always found them scary; the stuff of nightmares. In the early 70s, Buffalo Bob toured colleges, w/o any of the characters, doing dope jokes (Clarabell rolling papers, etc.) & pandering to the self-styled hipsters. Was never Howdy Doody time for me.

[cmulwee001]

In the later years of the series, the kids no longer sang the theme song. Instead an animated opening was introduced with a fast tempo instrumental theme song, and an announcer saying "It's The (episode Number) Howdy Doody Show! Starring Howdy Doody And Buffalo Bob, also featuring Clarabell The Clown." Then the story would begin.

Anyone recall that later opening?

[7NTM61Ic]

Nothing cuter than kids singing! With not a trace of self-consciousness. I used to watch this show sometimes.

[BranislavDJ]

Doc: "Howdy Doody Time?"

*turns off TV*

ROFL

[BOKnows1450]

this shit sucks, kids watched this?

[Guyinurshado]

@BOKnows1450 they also used to listen to radio shows, its better than fart jokes all day.

[BOKnows1450]

@Guyinurshado fart jokes?

[Guyinurshado]

@BOKnows1450 every time i see a cartoon meant for children all i see is fart jokes, it annoys me all the time...

[BOKnows1450]

@Guyinurshado your probably talking about family guy & south park. those are not meant for children

[Guyinurshado]

@BOKnows1450 no, i mean for kids! There is an entire episode of Chowder, a show on cartoonnetwork meant for children, that was entirely centered around a musical fart.... i find it immature and an embarrassment for even saying i've seen the episode

[BOKnows1450]

@Guyinurshado oh.cartoon network sucks

[zeeel1]

the clown is dead? oh no...the clown is eternal. check out your history...he just arises in different guises and masks.

[Loneviolinist19]

how many of us were watching Back to the Future pt III when we looked this up.

[WSenator1]

If this clip was from early in the 1950s, that's Bob Keeshan (later Captain Kangaroo) playing Clarabelle the Clown.

[mrmoneymaker05]

This is better than the Simpsons.

[AnthonyJameOudemolen]

That clown is dead... :_(

[ginteardrops]

@AnthonyJameOudemolen Let's all drink to the death of a clown

[Ratmaster100]

that was dumb!

[extruderofdertrude]

man...just..wow..so spiffy to see something like this

[Stesisesa]

It is in "Back to the Future III" and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull", right?

Seems to be a real classic...

[pressuretested1984]

I'm only 26 but I remember this show from 'Back to the Future'!!!

[4inches4u]

@pressuretested1984 same here.........lol

[AnthonyJameOudemolen]

@pressuretested1984 LOL me to I'm watching back to the future III right now...

[TheSPINOUTCAT]

I was on the show also. I went trough the 43 episodes on the dvd collection and didn't see myself.

[aliela135]

@TheSPINOUTCAT Oh sad :(

[thecatatemyhomework]

I was in the first row of the Peanut Gallery. Not in this clip. lol. Now I have to scour all the Howdy Doody clips to see if I see myself. I actually remember a lot about that day. It might have been the highlight of my five years at that time on earth.

[bucky468]

@thecatatemyhomework So why'd they call it the Peanut Gallery anyhow?

[lhcarter]

@bucky468 Because it was a gallery (audience section) filled with kids ("peanuts") - that's basically it.

[bucky468]

@lhcarter Why were the kids the peanuts? Where'd that come from? Keep in mind Howdy was way before my time.

[lhcarter]

@bucky468 According to the dictionary, "peanut" can refer to a small person. So that would be the usage here.

[143AC]

I remember those animated titles..of the cucko clock going

crazy and"Howdy"coming out to ask that imortal question? "Say Kids!?

What Time Is It?!".

[kunfukat]

GRAMPAS??? this was one of the oldest show alive

[cmulwee001]

Later seasons of Howdy Doody would drop the familiar Peanut Gallery singing the them song, in favor an uptempo instrumental, accompanied by an animated opening. The series finale has that later opening

[metsdudenj]

sounds like cats shrieking in an alley

[metsdudenj]

those kids cannot carry a tune to save their lives nor could they sing as one cohesive group

[Pieishman]

@metsdudenj well it figures, theyre all seniors now

[paintbokx]

@metsdudenj

they're just little kids having fun. give 'em a break.

[leafyutube]

These kids are now grandparents. Haha!

[Destructopancake]

@leafyutube

or dead!

[skytop1111]

And in 20 years, so will you! Ha haaaaa

[BearsFan054]

@leafyutube this scares me like nothing has ever scared me

[animationchambers]

@leafyutube And Howdy has decomposed...

[tdhooge]

how I loved this show !!!!!