Howdy Doody - Cultural Legacy

Cultural Legacy

The nostalgia interest in the 1950s during the 1970s that American Graffiti tapped into also resulted in an episode of Happy Days in its second season on February 18, 1975, having a Howdy Doody storyline featuring Smith as Buffalo Bob, with actor Bob Brunner as Clarabell. Shortly thereafter, Nicholson-Muir Productions (owned by Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir) acquired from NBC the rights to produce the New Howdy Doody Show, an attempt by Buffalo Bob and most of the old cast to recreate their past fame. It was broadcast from August 1976 to January 1977 in syndication. For this incarnation, which lasted for 130 episodes, the Howdy Doody marionette had actual hair in a contemporary 1970s style and was operated by puppeteer Pady Blackwood. Cast members included Bill LeCornec as fictional producer Nicholson Muir (named for the production company); Nicholson himself as Corny Cobb (now working as a "prop man" rather than a shopkeeper), bandleader Jackie Davis, and Marilyn Patch as Happy Harmony (filling in for the Princess Summerfall Winterspring role). Lew Anderson returned as Clarabell. It was staged before a larger Peanut Gallery of children and their parents, originating from and taped in Florida.

A decade later, the show celebrated its 40th anniversary with a two-hour syndicated TV special, It's Howdy Doody Time: A 40-Year Celebration, featuring Smith, Anderson, Nicholson and LeCornec, who reprised his former role of Chief Thunderthud for the special. In 2008, official DVD releases of selected episodes began from Mill Creek Entertainment, featuring special features (interviews, photo galleries).

On a 2012 episode of Mad Men, the character of Pete Campbell claims he is the "President of the Howdy Doody Circus Army" while verbally upbraiding a train conductor.