Howdy Doody Christmas (1957) Classic TV Clown and Puppet Show

[lrd9999]

OK, I checked out the wiki pages for Clarabelle the cow and for Clarabelle the clown, but I still don't understand why "he" is called Clarabelle. Can (or could) Clarabelle sometimes be a man's name? Was Clarabelle the clown a part-time transvestite, along the lines of the killer in "Psycho"? Did they ever try to explain this, or was it just another bizarre detail left to the imagination?

[Hypsan]

Short & sweet, silly & snowy, Santa & Sam; raise your hands if you know that Buffalo Bob did the voice of Howdy Doody?? Sure helps explain why they were never on camera at the same time that Howdy was talking. Bob wasn't a ventriloquist. Hope I didn't ruin it for anyone, except for that one sixty year old man in upper state New York. Sorry Maynard! Thanks for your post. However, I think that Buffalo Bob would have sat you right down and explained to you what words we should never use!

[Hypsan]

Thanks for uploading this! Great fun!!

[mike54101527]

Ron Howard looks like Howdy Doody.

[Jocelynne21]

This scares me but yet I have to watch it every x mas =[

[krisruston]

This video sort of scares the hell out of me.

[XmasFLIX]

@krisruston kinda explains our parents, huh? :-) Merry Xmas! - XmasFLIX.com

[deliciousdazmo]

wow puppets are more scary in black and white love this stuff

[Johnnyboy792]

Excellent Memories !!! Thanks so much for your site !

[wa1lmc]

I was amazed to find our Governor in this (RI) You know, Clarabelle!

[blwbl]

Where's Princess Summerfall Winterspring?!

[midmodgal]

I bought this on a video tape from a dollar store when my son was very young. He was raised with this show every Christmas...It is so.....weird.

[PissedOffLion]

I'VE GOT YOU BANDIT GANG!

[OvalGray]

Does anybody else find it odd that he narrates a show about "last Christmas Eve" instead of the show just being set in the present tense?

[atortheinvincible]

Ugly Sam is the greatest physical comedian ever to have lived!

[mxylpx]

Buffalo Bob always reminded me of a pro wrestler.

[Zippy7823]

Mr. Phinneas T. Bluster. I also liked Flubbadub! Was he part tortoise part seal??

I also like their GIANT model of a Hostess Cup Cake that opened on a hinge to show the cream filling inside. They did not sucker me into Wonder Bread, however!

[Zippy7823]

Great post brings back memories for this 1948 boomer. BTW, Phinneas T. Bluster !

And Flubbadub!! What was he anyway? Part turtle, part seal? Kowabunga!

[shubus]

Anybody remember Princess Summer-Fall-Winter Spring?

And then there was Mr. Buster.

[cozener1]

That clown is seriously fucking wierd!

[Adams42]

@cozener1 Exactly. Clarabel scared the be-jezzus out out me when I was little kid. Buffalo Bob was soooo agy but OK and Princess Summer-Fall-Winter-Spring was a hottie.

[lopo790]

i wounder why they dont show it anymore execpt its old mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[UTAOUB]

Why did Howdy Doody never celebrate Chanukah?

[crusher1944]

@UTAOUB BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE CELEBRATED CHRISMAS I DID AND I'm jewish and we celebrated chanukah also and so did a lot of my jewish friends it was no big deal back then we didn't NEED A COURT ORDER OR GOVERMENT TO APROVE IT.

[UTAOUB]

Why did Howdy Doody never celebrate Chanukah? As a kid, I REALLY felt L.E.F.T.....O.U.T..!

[shump458]

Get over it. The show is over and Buffalo Bob is gone now. God rest his soul.

[42whatelse]

Hello, silly clown!

[42whatelse]

Wells it really was a Flash Gordon serials' rocket ship!

[randoley]

That rocket ship is old footage from 1930's Flash Gordon serials.

[WytZox1]

Tho Bob Keeshan was 1st, there were numerous Clarabells. "Cowabunga" eventually became a popular exclamation for California surfers. I felt so sad when Clarabell finally spoke on the last episode, ending the show with a hoarse "Goodbye, Kids."

[Baiseybug]

I love Howdy Doody!!!!

[Baiseybug]

I wish it would come on today. :)

[Baiseybug]

Man, I love Howdy Doody!

[sayyes2bull]

the special effects are just amazing!!

[larrynamvet]

FYI a bit of clarabell trivia. Clarabell was played by Bob Keeshan... AKA Captain Kangaroo!!!

[XmasFLIX]

@larrynamvet Chief Thunderthud (played by Bill LeCornec) of the mythical Ooragnak tribe ("Kangaroo" spelled backward) introduced the word "Kawabonga," an expression of surprise and frustration, into the English language. :-)

[baloneybaloney]

What kind of legal responsibility does Buffalo Bob have with Clarabelle? Seems like a clown you'd really want to have nothing to do with, unless it was required by law.

[johneamer]

I can still remember that clown freaking me out

[Chey60]

I never saw this show and didn't realize how creepy Clarabell was!

[patmix]

@Chey60

ur right dude

i remember see this pupet when i was 5-6 years old in shadow during thunderstorm in my room and i freak on my pant at 3 am

at my 8 when i saw the bionic women i knew i was saved 4 life lol !!!!!!

HOOWDY DUDDY FREAKIN TV

the worst and the best we can see all this only on TV

[mmangum4444]

@Chey60

Clarabell definitely is creepy! Possibly related to the Joker...

[Chey60]

@mmangum4444

actually the joker was obvious!! but clarabelle kind of sneaks up on us in the creepiness department!.. it's really ..ewww....I truly get sicked out when I see him :)

[mmangum4444]

@Chey60

yeah, You're right, and who's idea was it to name him Clarabell? I'd like the story behind that.....

[jonnythecuteboy]

Wait a second! Was this used to be Hellboy's childhood favorite TV show?

[ilovemayo123]

this was on a video i used to watch called 'christmas puppies'

[samswhore]

OMFG i remember watching this when i was small, i'm 20 now and this brings back sooooo many memories...thanks so much for posting :D

[fromthesidelines]

This was actually filmed for the "home movie market" in 1952; Bob Keeshan was "Clarabell", and Dayton Allen was "Ugly Sam" [both of them were fired from the TV show around Christmas 1952].

[tinylittlewings]

Christmas time at our house was so silly my dad wrapped my sisters ring in a Big Mac Box because we were poor.

[tmichals]

By 1957 Keeshan was long gone, Clarabell was played by Lew Anderson at this point.

[WierdIguanaBoys]

i remeber this

[sautee01]

The clown was played by Bob Keeshan who later became Captain Kangaroo.

[stanich054]

Takes me back to a fun and glorious youthful time. Come and get these memories!

[LiveFromTheCatHouse]

I am in no way afraid of clowns but that clown is CREEPY with a capital C!