Hey Kids, What Time Is It?
By Alicia Hatton
Just about anybody born in America
between 1943 and 1955 can answer that question with just four little words
and a silly bobble of the head. Leaving an indelible brand on the
baby boom generation, those notorious inhabitants of Doodyville colonnaded
the consciousness of post war American children and made as strong an impression
as the atomic air raid drills and polio shots, with which we grew up.
Howdy Doody was born in New York City late in 1947, the
creation of Bob Smith, alias Buffalo Bob, as an outgrowth of his radio
kids show, the “Triple B Ranch,” with his strong charismatic way, Howdy
was destined for stardom.
Time capsuling back, 1947 was a most interesting year
to come alive. America was still reeling from the depravations and
heart breaks of the war. Rationing was in partial effect, and folks
lived with Eggless Thursdays and Meatless Mondays. A film about the
difficulties faced by returning Combat Vets, “The Best Years Of Our Lives,”
won an academy award. President Harry Truman ordered General Marshall,
the Army Chief of Staff to oversee an immense plan to rebuild the industrial
word at American expense. The United Nations partitioned Palestine,
An English princess named Elizabeth married Phillip Mountbatten, Al Capone
died, and Bugsy Siegl was machine gunned. Boss Petrillo of
the Musicians Union banned all recordings as unfair to musicians.
General Eisenhower was named President of Columbia University, Tommy Dorsey
punched out the King of Swing, Benny Goodman, Jackie Robinson broke the
color barrier in major league baseball, and Babe Ruth’s farewell at Yankee
Stadium choked up millions of Americans. New Yorkers were stunned
by Mayor O’Dwyer’s request for an 8 cent transit fare, and the new Loew’s
State Theatre on Broadway was dropping vaudeville to show just movies.
Televisions were a new concept, with only 10 stations in 1947. Meet the
Press and Kraft Television Theatre were attracting audiences. By
1950 we all loved the tube.
As parents discussed these major upheavals in American
life, kids threw their bodies onto the floor at 5:30 every afternoon to
become transported to another (not always friendly) dimension of the imagination.
Enjoying aggressive sponsors like Wonder Bread, Hostess
Twinkies, Kelloggs, Polly Parrot Shoes, Ludens Cherry Cough Drops, Welches
Grape Juice and Ovaltine. The shows advertising time was totally
sold out during its 13 year run, 1947-1960.
The big appeal for kids was the shows rotation of unusual
characters. Just about the time we forgot one, he’d amble back in
for some freakish adventure.
Howdy was the star, of course, and we loved his freckles,
bandana, jeans and red high heeled boots. With Buffalo Bob they held
it all together, trying to prevent the Doodyville Circus from falling into
the clutches of the elderly capitalist, Mr. Phineas T. Bluster, and his
unwittingly stooge, Dilly Dally. At the same time, Howdy was running
for re-election as President of the Kids of America, trying for a repeat
of his previous years stunning landslide.
But there were always other problems. Chief Thundercloud
was outraged because that maniac with the seltzer bottle, Clarabell the
Clown, was seeking admittance to the Chief’s sacred tribe, the Oaragnak.
And it goes on; The Flubadub, a bizarre marionette composed of portions
of animals, was totally upset because another puppet, inspector John J.
Fadoozle, the world’s number one (sound effect BOINNGG!) Private
Eye, had made off with Flub’s favorite food, a plate of meatballs and spaghetti.
There was always a lot of light conflict, rivalry, and manipulation on
Howdy Doody; basically it was a soap opera for kids. But all
the slapstick stopped when they brought out Princess Summerfall Winterspring.
Singing the campaign theme, “I’m for Howdy Doody,” the children of America
had just died for love, (And so did many of their fathers, who started
watching after the irrepressibly sexy Judy Tyler got the part!)
This gorgeous Princess of the Tonkatribe, now a faint
glow in the collective imagination of the Baby Boomers, seemed to radiate
the innocence and security felt by many of us growing up in the prosperous
and safe 1950’s.
Of course Howdy wasn’t the only show for us back then. We loved
Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys, Gabby Hayes, (sponsored by Quaker Puffed
Oats shot from guns!) Sky King the Pilot, Mr. Wizard the Scientist,
Rootie Kazootie and his girlfriend Polka Dottie, Hopalong Cassidy, The
Lone Ranger and Tonto; and the silent Farmer Grey Cartoons, were it literally
rained Cats and Dogs! (Now considered too violent for children to
watch.)
It’s Howdy Doody Time, its Howdy Doody Time. Bob
Smith and Howdy too, say howdy do to you. Let’s give a rousing
cheer, cause Howdy Doody’s here. It’s time to start the show, so
kids let’s go!
Kowa bonga, those were the days.