Bob Smith

Children's Show Creator/Host - The Howdy Doody Show

"Kids would come home from school, sit in front of the television, listen to the recorded music and watch the test pattern until I got there. And at five-thirty we’d say, 'say kids, what time is it?' Then the whole world blasted out, 'it's Howdy-Doody time!' If they were watching television, they were watching Howdy-Doody."

About This Interview

Full 6-part oral history interview with "Buffalo" Bob Smith's (1917-98). Mr. Smith discusses his early success at the CBS and NBC radio. In 1947, he created "Puppet Playhouse", which was re-titled "The Howdy Doody Show" and ran on the NBC television network for 13 years. Not only was this one of television's first children's show, but the first show aired in color on a regular schedule. Conducted April 30, 1998 by Michael Rosen.

Featured Content

Video: Full episode of The Howdy Doody Show from 1949 (Internet Archive)

Resources

DVD: Howdy Doody Show 40 Episode Collection (includes interview segments from the Archive of American Television)

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Highlights
Chapters
Shows
Topics
Genres

Highlights

Chapters

Shows

Howdy Doody

Topics

Memorable Moments on Television
- "Buffalo" Bob Smith on going on the air with the very first Howdy Doody Show (00m 53s)
Pop Culture > TV Theme Songs
- "Buffalo" Bob Smith sings the theme song from The Howdy Doody Show (00m 54s)
TV’s Golden Age (1940s & ‘50s)
- "Buffalo" Bob Smith on going on the air with the very first Howdy Doody Show (00m 53s)

Genres

Children’s Programming
- "Buffalo" Bob Smith on going on the air with the very first Howdy Doody Show (00m 53s)
- "Buffalo" Bob Smith on the actual puppet "Howdy" on the Howdy Doody Show (00m 49s)

Submitted by Horrormaniac99 on Tue, 2010-09-14 03:21.

A True Legend !

Submitted by brainsareus on Sun, 2010-08-15 01:36.

it really does seem as i he disliked the soon to become "captain" . gaging by the comments,it seems as if people realy don't read body language and inflection very well. bob smith comes accross as contrived and arrogant. he is telling his story in a somewhat smug "look at me" posture. with bob 'kangaroo' keshan,you got an honest soul,who cares deeply about children,and is disturbed by the relentless crap that is on t.v. today.

Capturing Television History, One Voice At A Time