DVD: "The Last Howdy Doody Show" In 1960 NBC Living Color!!!

[DoctorDave]

I had no idea that Howdy Doody was ever telecast in color..

[Chip TRG]

That old NBC Color is just so damn BEAUTIFUL!!!! It's got such an undescribable warmth to it which modern video equipment just does not have.

Thanks for the link!

[Sean Keane]

Thanks for showing that. I bet some kids must have been shocked when Bob said it was the last Howdy Doody show!

[Steve Hoffman]

I showed that last episode to Karla (who wasn't even born when the show was on) and the last scene when the clown finally speaks after 13 years or so and sadly says "Goodbye Kids" she broke down and cried so you can imagine the effect it must have had on a 5 year old..

Bill Inglot would know best but I believe that the two 1/2 hour reels of the original 2" RCA color video tape were separated for many years until the two collectors who had them finally agreed to combine and the complete show was put back together again for the first time since 1960.

The DVD that I bought of this show (complete with slate, countdown, commercials, etc.) for 12 bucks in 2003 is now to my shock selling for $80.00 on Amazon. Woah..

Bob Lovely can tell of when he actually watched the live feed in color in the control room of NBC when his dad was working there. That's soooo neat.

Howdy Doody was actually broadcast in color for several years but this is the only color tape that survives. It's amazing that it is totally complete!

I sometimes hook my DVD player up to Buster, Zippy or Nigel and watch this old color show on a "TV Of The Era". It's quite an experience...

[Dan C]

Thanks for that link, Steve. I've seen a small part of that clip but never this much.

Did I hear kids whimpering in the studio at the end there? Man, tears your heart out!

dan c

[Steve D.]

Hey Steve H.

You know I had to chime in on this thread. Howdy Doody first broadcast in color in 1955. Like you I purchased this DVD on Amazon a couple of years ago for $12.95. The color episode is the frosting on the cake of the four included shows. I guess Karla wasn't crying alone, I got misty eyed when Clarabell said "Goodbye kids." Here's the link to Amazon's Howdy Doody page. "Clarabell Speaks" is the color episode.
Amazon.com: The Howdy Doody Show - Clarabell Speaks & Other Episodes: DVD: Bob Smith,Bobby Nicholson,Lew Anderson,Bill LeCornec,Judy Tyler,Marti Barris,Ted Brown,Allen Swift,Dayton Allen,Rufus Rose,Lee Carney,Robert Keeshan
Address:http://www.amazon.com/Howdy-Doody-Show-Clarabell-Episodes/dp/B000056N9F/sr=1-1/qid=1157929476/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-4512067-4009447?ie=UTF8&s=dvd

-Steve D.

[HGN2001]

I was nine when I last saw that, live and in black & white. And I remember being quite bitter about the fact that HOWDY DOODY was being replaced on the air. It had already been removed from daily weekday broadcasts and relegated to just once a week on Saturday mornings. To this day I've not forgiven Shari Lewis, who likely had nothing to do with the show's leaving the air. And actually, since I was nine, I think I probably had outgrown the show anyway.

Thanks for the link.

Harry

[indy mike]

Here's a little more in-depth look at the dvd: http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=25487&highlight=howdy+doody

[Doug Sclar]

Thanks for the links guys. I used to watch Howdy regularly as a kid.

Geez, was that Don Pardo doing the NBC ID? I'd forgotten how long he had been around.

[Steve Hoffman]

I was nine when I last saw that, live and in black & white. And I remember being quite bitter about the fact that HOWDY DOODY was being replaced on the air. It had already been removed from daily weekday broadcasts and relegated to just once a week on Saturday mornings. To this day I've not forgiven Shari Lewis, who likely had nothing to do with the show's leaving the air. And actually, since I was nine, I think I probably had outgrown the show anyway.

Thanks for the link.

Harry

I remember that it might have had something to do with the health of Buffalo Bob Smith? That ring a bell?

Hard to believe the DVD is now 80 dollars!

[HGN2001]

I remember that it might have had something to do with the health of Buffalo Bob Smith? That ring a bell?

I was only nine - so I don't recall hearing anything about Bob Smith's health. Could be, I suppose. I DO recall going to see a Howdy Doody revival/nostalgia show at nearby Villanova University with a college buddy of mine. This would have been in 1969 or so, and Buffalo Bob Smith was there.

Somewhere around here I seem to recall having an LP of Howdy Doody stuff.

Harry

[Michael]

I remember that it might have had something to do with the health of Buffalo Bob Smith? That ring a bell?

Hard to believe the DVD is now 80 dollars!


HOW ABOUT $149.94!!! for one of the other volumes in the 4 Image DVD set! Holy Moly!!!!

[Steve Hoffman]

After looking over this older thread I hope that some of you did grab that Howdy Doody In Color DVD. Too late now..

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=25487&highlight=howdy+doody

[Michael]

After looking over this older thread I hope that some of you did grab that Howdy Doody In Color DVD. Too late now..

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=25487&highlight=howdy+doody

yup, grabbed all 4 when they first came out for $8.99 each (IIRC) at DDDVD...man, I'm sure glad I did!

[Steve Hoffman]

Wonder why they went out of print? Weird.

[stereoptic]

thanks for the link, Dave. :righton: I was only 4 at the time, but my older brother and sister would watch the show, so it's buried in my sub conscience somewhere.

[fjhuerta]

Oh...K...

I had never seen Howdy Doody before, except for Mad's parody back in 1958 or something like that.

I can say two things for certain.

1) Howdy Doody is the stuff nightmares are made of. That puppet is quite scary.

2) Clarabell speaking, even after I had only heard about him, was truly heart-wrenching. :(

[HGN2001]

True story. My fourth grade teacher's name was Clara G. Bell.

Harry

[Dan C]

After looking over this older thread I hope that some of you did grab that Howdy Doody In Color DVD. Too late now..

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=25487&highlight=howdy+doody

I'm kicking myself now. :realmad: :sigh:

[Michael]

Wonder why they went out of print? Weird.

most likely their licensing ran out...

[Chip TRG]

I'm kicking myself now. :realmad: :sigh:


Sigh......so am I....too bad you don't live closer so we can kick each other. :D

[Chip TRG]

Well, I FINALLY tracked a copy of this DVD down, and it was worth every penny!

1 hour of glorious NBC color. Now I have to rig up my DVD player to my vintage Emerson to get the full "vintage" effect, although sadly it's a B&W model.

I would never have known that this disc existed without this forum...THANKS GUYS!!!!!

What I am REALLY impressed with is the soundtrack. What speed did the video tapes run at? The fidelity is supurb.

[billdcat]

I just last night purchased a $1- DVD of Howdy Doody at
(where else?) Wal Mart.

Its black and white kinoscopes from various years.
In a couple they make a big deal about the show
being broadcast in RCA compatible COLOR !

The sound on all 5 episodes (well 4 episodes and the short,
"Howdy Doody's Christmas"), is very low.

But for a buck, its okay.

[Michael]

Well, I FINALLY tracked a copy of this DVD down, and it was worth every penny!

1 hour of glorious NBC color. Now I have to rig up my DVD player to my vintage Emerson to get the full "vintage" effect, although sadly it's a B&W model.

I would never have known that this disc existed without this forum...THANKS GUYS!!!!!

What I am REALLY impressed with is the soundtrack. What speed did the video tapes run at? The fidelity is supurb.

if I may ask, how much?

[David P. Hill]

Can someone post the link again, please? This is showing up:
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