If you were around as a child when the first television shows came on air, you probably quickly became a regular viewer of “The Howdy Doody Show.” I did not get to watch this show when it came on in 1947. It wasn’t until my parents purchased their first television set in the early 1950s that I began watching it. It captured my interest as it was of a western cowboy and cowgirl’s presentation. The show’s emcee was Bob Smith but his show name was appropriately Buffalo Bob. He was dressed in cowboy fashion. The star of the show was a puppet named Howdy Doody and he too was dressed in western clothes. They talked, sang and targeted the children’s interests. A clown named Clarabelle was added to the show and though he never spoke he just entertained with his actions. Through the years other characters were added.
The show ran on television until 1960 but by the mid 1950s, my television interests had shifted to a popular show for pre-teens. It was the Walt Disney show and the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with several boys and girls that danced, sang and talked about things of interest to pre-teens.
My favorite Mouseketeer Club Member was a pretty girl, Annette Funicello. She wore the outfit all the other girls wore, a pleaded skirt, a short sleeved white sweater with her first name printed on the front, and on the back of the sweater was a print of Mickey Mouse. The best thing was on all the Mouseketeer’s heads. It was a cap with mouse ears. This original show ran until the late 1950s. From there, my interests went towards the current television shows of the late 50s early to mid 60s, and included “Your Hit Parade” and the teenagers’ favorite show, “American Bandstand.” American Bandstand featured teen couples dancing to all the latest hits. The spotlight of that show was when the singing stars would make an appearance singing their hits. All the latest dance moves were shown. The host of the show was Dick Clark. American Bandstand show ended in 1989.
As the years passed and my two sons began watching television shows that suited their age, one of their favorites was Captain Kangaroo. I sort of remember watching this show as a youth as it started airing in 1955. It would continue running until 1984. Later I learned the part of Clarabelle the Clown on the Howdy Doody Show was performed by the same man, Bob Keeshan, who was Captain Kangaroo. Captain Kangaroo was entertaining and educational, too. Two generations grew up watching Captain Kangaroo.
Reader Comments(0)