When Baby Boomers Were Kids--"Howdy Doody" Quiz

Answer: Princess Summerfall Winterspring

Princess Summerfall Winterspring from the Tinka Tonka tribe was originally played by Judy Tyler, who later starred in Jailhouse Rock with Elvis. Marionette Phineas T. Bluster was the mayor of Doodyville, Lanky Lou was a cowboy, and Dilly Dally was a dimwitted carpenter.

Answer: Peanut Gallery

The show started with Buffalo Bob asking the Peanut Gallery, "What time is it?" and the chorus replied, "It's Howdy Doody time!". They all the sang the show's theme song to the tune of "Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay". If you can still remember the words, feel free to sing out loud.

Answer: Yes and no horns

Clarabelle wore two horns attached to a box worn around his neck. The one on the right was "yes" and the left one was "no". Clarabelle also "communicated" by chasing Buffalo Bob and squirting him with seltzer water.

Answer: Lew Anderson

Bob Keeshan was the first Clarabelle but left the show in a salary dispute in 1952 and later became the famous Captain Kangaroo. Dayton Allen provided the voices of many of the characters. Pinky Lee had his own show which featured slapstick. He had a heart attack on live TV and it took his crew a while to figure out that it was not part of his act.

Answer: William Shatner

William Shatner played Ranger Bob in 1954 before being beamed up into bigger roles. Nick Nicholson (no relation to Jack) was Clarabelle after Bob Keeshan. Marlon Brando was not on "Howdy Doody" since they never made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Tom Cruise is probably way too young to even know who Howdy Doody was.

Answer: 48

Howdy had one freckle for each state; this was before Alaska and Hawaii were admitted.

Answer: Mr. Green Jeans

Mr. Green Jeans was, of course, on the "Captain Kangaroo" show. Timber Tom was played by James Doohan, later beamed up to "Star Trek" fame with William Shatner. Flub-a-Dub, after the show ended, was rumored to have played for the 1964 New York Mets.

Answer: first original TV show that had not previously been a radio show

Howdy was first introduced on radio by Bob Smith on the Triple B Ranch Show as a character named Elmer who was always introduced with "howdy doody". The TV show ran for over 2000 episodes. NBC was an early pioneer with color TV and Howdy was on in living color in 1955.

Answer: Buffalo Bob

Buffalo Bob prerecorded Howdy's lines before the show and an engineer played them back at the appropriate time. June Foray, among other credits, was the voice of Rocky the Flying Squirrel and Natasha Fatale. Don Pardo was an announcer for "The Price is Right", "Jeopardy", and "Saturday Night Live". Frank Paris made the original Howdy Doody marionette; when merchandising of the character was first started, there was a dispute about money. Paris kidnapped the marionette from the studio just before a show was to go on live and a "new" marionette was later made by Velma Dawson.

Answer: Double Doody

Double Doody, Howdy's brother, is enjoying his retirement at the Smithsonian Institue. After a custody battle when Buffalo Bob Smith died, Howdy is living at the Detroit Institute of Arts. His sister was Heidi Doody and there was Photo Doody, who was not a marionette but was used at photo ops.