Howdy Doody - Final Episode

Final Episode

The final episode, "Clarabell's Big Surprise", was broadcast on September 24, 1960. The hour-long episode was mostly a fond look-back at all the highlights of the show's past. Meanwhile, in the midst of it all, Clarabell has what he calls a "big surprise." The rest of the cast attempts to find out the surprise throughout the entire show, with only Mayor Phineas T. Bluster succeeding, and promising to keep it a secret. ("But", he says upon leaving, "it won't be very easy to keep something like this a secret for long!")

Finally, in the closing moments, the surprise was disclosed through pantomime to Buffalo Bob and Howdy Doody. "You mean, you can talk??" said Bob. "Why, golly... I don't believe it!", said Howdy Doody. Bob said, "You can talk?!" Clarabell nodded. Gently shaking the clown's shoulders, Bob continued, "Well, Clarabell, this is your last chance. If you really can talk, prove it! Let's hear you say something!" An ominous drum roll began as Clarabell faced the camera as it came in for an extreme closeup. His lips quivered as the drumroll continued. When it stopped, Clarabell simply said softly, "Goodbye, kids." A tear could be seen in Clarabell's right eye as the picture faded to black.

The show quietly ended with a roll of credits as "Auld Lang Syne" was played on a celeste, and there was an announcement that The Shari Lewis Show would be on at that time next week. The recently discovered and restored color videotape of the final broadcast is now available commercially.